Before anything else, you want to create a symbol that is versatile and can represent your business closely across different print and digital mediums. Since the logo is how people will identify the brand, it is important to make sure that the elements are clearly visible in various sizes or resolutions. Think about any of the most popular brand designs such as the Nike swoosh or Google’s wordmark.
Can you easily recognize the icon, color or typography on the website, social media accounts or on a brochure? Probably, yes. This is what a good logo design can do in the long run. It creates recognition and makes a lasting impression on the viewer. While you may be familiar with some of the dos of designing an impressive brand symbol, the don’ts are also very important.
Here are a few key things that you should avoid in order to design a professional logo that connects with the audience instantly.
Complex Or Detailed Design
This is one of the first don’ts that you need to remember when working on the brand icon. Most people find it difficult to recall or remember symbols that are highly complex or too elaborate. You want to avoid such a situation which is why it’s important to opt for a simple and minimalist logo design. According to a report, the average attention span of a consumer is decreasing quickly and went from 12 seconds to 8 from 2000 to 2015.
With a lot of elements or colors, you could end up losing potential customers. So it is a good idea to stick to a design that has an image, icon or text which can be recognized easily. You can stick to a monochromatic color scheme or a two-color palette to draw attention to any background.
If you are starting a real estate business for example or looking to revamp the brand design, you can choose a wordmark, lettermark or minimalist icon. Have you tried a logo creator software before? It’s very simple to create a customized brand symbol that reflects your industry, and nature of work and highlights the core values as well.
Update Regularly
Most designers focus on creating a timeless logo that requires minimal upgrades over time. Take the example of the golden arches of McDonald’s or Chanel’s interlocked ‘Cs’. The two symbols have continued to stay relevant since they were introduced and have not been changed. A powerful design is one that lasts for a long time and makes an impact on various demographics of consumers.
When designing an impressive logo, this is a key factor that you want to keep in mind. Don’t go with symbols or images that could lose their meaning in a few years. Otherwise, you may end up updating or changing the design frequently which could create a negative impression of the brand.
Follow The Competitors
Now, it is crucial that you avoid copying a competitor’s logo design or using similar elements. While some brands do take inspiration from others, it is essential to create a unique logo that represents the business in the best way possible. If the design appears very similar to another symbol, you might find it challenging to connect with the target audience or create recognition. It can also result in people criticizing the logo on social media, blogs or through word of mouth.
In 2019, Sears went through a huge transformation and launched its revamped brand design which was considered very similar to Airbnb’s logo. Due to the feedback, the corporation changed their logo in a year but it did some damage to its brand image. While the two companies are not considered competitors, you want to make sure that your logo is completely different from any other and relevant to your business.
Create Trendy Design
With a trendy logo, you may need to upgrade or make changes to the design in a short time. This is mainly because graphic design trends come and go quickly. So if you follow a popular one, your brand symbol may not be relevant or make a good impression in the future. This is a key ‘don’t’ that you need to keep in mind when creating a professional logo.
It is important to opt for solid colors and classic font styles that can make the wordmark, icon, pictorial mark or emblem stand out anywhere.
Have Only One Variation
This is a mistake that can impact the branding strategy in the long run. You want to make sure that the logo design is prominent and recognizable in different formats. From a black and white variation to an application or web icon, there are variations or versions that designers and most logo makers include in their deliverables.
It’s a good idea to create a logo in multiple formats for print and digital platforms. Sometimes, people miss out on this and end up with only one variation which can be quite limiting. This is what you don’t want to do when designing a brand symbol as that will appear on stationery, letterheads, business cards, social media accounts, and websites.
To Sum Up
These are a few major don’ts of logo design that you need to focus on from the beginning. Pay attention to all the things that you should avoid to create an impressive brand icon that boosts awareness and makes a strong impact on the target audience.
Related Article:
Business Positioning Research Helps Build the Best Brand Identity
