All About Logos

When comes to corporate branding and logo designs too often designers get it wrong, usually under the influence of the clients they are designing for. I’ve always found it interesting that new businesses always want more “flair” in their logos. It’s as if they feel they are not getting their money’s worth unless it has bevel, drop shadow, and 15 colors. There is a misconception that a logo tells a story but in fact a logo refers to a story. The story is your brand. You need to create your brand way before a logo can refer to it. A logo is NOT a brand. A brand is promise and your value and the reputation you build for yourself in your industry. This misconception is often the thought process of fresh faced businesses or those who refuse to define themselves and their purpose.

In the industry this client misconception is often joked about. While the humor can ease the stress of working with a difficult client it is the designers responsibility to help the client to understand the process and purpose.

This is a terrific “insider” article discussing some of the rules and principles of what makes a good logo.

I would like to share a few great articles that are in relation to all this. The first is a great example of what happens to a logo redesign process as a company grows. You will notice in this article that these redesigns are for some of the most powerful brands out there and as they grew the goal was to simplify the logo.
10 Successful Logo Redesigns

Cheap logo design verses professional logo design

6 reasons why a logo should cost more than your lunch

An interesting article on the history of the Apple Computer logo (which is even at a simpler faze currently)
Apple Logo History

A collection of Saul Bass logos. Notice not one is beveled or polluted with drop shadow.
Saul Bass Logo Collection

With their newest album metal band Metallica got a brand make over.
Branding Metallica