10 Tips To Create A Good Abstract Logo Design
Here are some inspiring tips you can easily follow to create a fantastic abstract logo design!
Created by Tornike Uchava | https://dribbble.com/shots/18088327-rotating-arcs
Logos are supposed to be unique. They are the face of a brand, which allows the brand to stand out from the crowd and, at the same time, attract potential customers. While there is a myriad of options when it comes to conventional logo designing, there is a limit to it.
If you want the absolute freedom to represent your brand, then your best bet is to create an abstract logo. Abstract logos can be defined as logos that incorporate unconventional shapes which may not be easily recognizable.
Conventional logos, on the other hand, incorporate geometrical shapes that we are all familiar with. Abstract logos typically don’t include shapes that match any known figure.
Created by Gennady Savinov | https://dribbble.com/shots/16535680-Distant-Echo-Logo
That is why it offers virtually limitless freedom, something that conventional logos could never do. The only limit is your imagination.
Note that as good as they are, abstract logos do have their downsides. The most important one is that creating a good abstract logo design is certainly not an easy task. Sure, it offers more freedom, but it requires creativity and ingenuity to create a unique, relevant, and attractive abstract logo.
Plus, like any other logo, an abstract logo must be able to tell a story about the brand. This makes it even more difficult, considering unconventional shapes are incorporated into the design.
Created by Fahim | https://dribbble.com/shots/16234650-Pointhex-logo-concept-design
Unlike creating conventional logos, creating abstract logos means you are basically creating something from scratch. The brand’s personality and values that must be presented in the logo increase the difficulty, too.
No need to worry, though. We are here to help. Below, we have a list of 10 tips that will help you create a good abstract logo. While we won’t create such a logo for you, our tips will make the task much easier. Without further ado, let’s start right away.
10 Tips To Create A Good Abstract Logo Design
- Check Your Target Market
- Know Your Brand and Values
- Find Good Inspiration
- Pick the Right Design Style
- Create A Bold Visual
- Pay Attention to The Color
- Experiment With Different Fonts
- Use White Space Wisely
- Keep It Simple And Memorable
- Implement A Clear Message
Created by Aine | https://dribbble.com/shots/18583279-Abstract-Logo-Design
1. Check Your Target Market
The purpose of a logo is to communicate what your brand offers to customers and what values they can expect. This is why understanding your audience is very important.
If you fail to take your audience into account, customers might not be able to connect with your abstract logo design. Worse still, your customers might not absorb the message you want them to have. Neither is ideal.
To understand your audience, you can look at your competition, conduct market research, or interview your customers directly. These will provide you with insights into your customers’ thought processes and why they will or will not purchase from you.
Created by Gennady Savinov | https://dribbble.com/shots/16488087-Moore-Museum-Logo
By understanding your audience, you will know what matters most to them, what parts of your brand story will connect with them the most, and the emotions to evoke in them.
It is true that when it comes to abstract logos, you can be as creative as you want. That being said, you will still need to take your audience into account.
Otherwise, you might end up with a good-looking abstract logo that your audience has difficulty connecting with or one that doesn’t communicate your message as effectively as it should.
Created by Sergio Joseph | https://dribbble.com/shots/17477394-Digital-Square-2
2. Know Your Brand and Values
Did you know that about 86% of customers care about the values and authenticity of the brands they purchase from? For these customers, authenticity is an important factor that they take into account when deciding which businesses to support.
An abstract logo design unique can help you in this, of course. But before you start pouring your ideas into mockups, you should know your brand and values first. If you don’t, being authentic and communicating your brand’s values will be difficult.
- When you know your brand and values well, you can incorporate them into the logo. The benefits of doing so include:
- Allowing your customers to know what really matters to your company
- Helping your customers know the values they support when they purchase from you
- Capturing the attention of customers who share and support similar values as you
If you can’t communicate your values effectively, it might hurt your brand. More than 80% of young shoppers prefer to support companies that share similar values as them. That explains why if you don’t let your customers know what really matters to you, you might lose them as customers. So, know your brand and values well.
Created by Khabib | https://dribbble.com/shots/17758645-Z-modern-logo-design-unused-mark
3. Find Good Inspiration
While we did say you will create something from scratch when it comes to creating abstract logos, that doesn’t mean you can’t find inspiration. In fact, that is exactly our next tip: find inspiration. You can find inspiration from anywhere.
For example, major and successful brands you like that happen to have an abstract logo. You can find inspiration from your competition, too.
When you check out your competition, make sure to learn what design elements work and what don’t. This is very important because you and your competition share the same target demography.
Created by Victor Murea | https://dribbble.com/shots/15040485-Albums-Logo-Concept-1
In addition, by checking out your competition, you can set your brand apart from them. For example, if your competition uses a monochrome color scheme, you can opt for the opposite. Likewise, if they use a traditional style, you can opt for a modern and simple style. Abstract or not, being different is a must.
Note that while finding inspiration is helpful, never steal others’ ideas. Stealing ideas is a no-no. It will only hurt your brand, so avoid it at all costs.
Find inspiration, find out what works and what doesn’t, then use what you have learned to create your own unique logo.
Created by Dalius Stuoka | https://dribbble.com/shots/15427331-Vortex-Logo-Design
4. Pick the Right Design Style
A good abstract logo design has the right style that fits the brand. Here’s the thing: there is no one-size-fits-all design style that works for every brand. There is only what’s best for your brand. Knowing your brand well can help you figure out which design style is the right one.
There are four common design styles: classic, vintage, modern, and quirky. Each has unique characteristics:
- Classic: A classic design style emphasizes design elements that have staying power. The style is simple and doesn’t venture out into unusual elements too much. As such, it is able to reach a broader audience.
- Vintage: A vintage design style incorporates design elements that evoke feelings of nostalgia. It is the epitome of “old but gold.” It usually involves a worn or aged look as well as beige and brown color palettes.
- Modern: The opposite of the vintage design style, the modern design style is all about the present. The style uses simple lines, minimal details, and lots of white space.
- Quirky: The quirky design style tends to incorporate design elements that are cute and colorful. It often uses illustrations or symbols that create a positive and friendly vibe.
Created by Deividas Bielskis | https://dribbble.com/shots/18671652-Opal
5. Create A Bold Visual
One of the ways you can enhance your overall design is by incorporating contrast. Keep in mind that while contrast is often associated with color, you can incorporate contrast by using shapes and lines as well.
Using shapes and lines, you can make your logo more interesting and, at the same time, guide the viewers’ gaze through the design elements. Not to mention contrast can make the image more distinguishable as well.
Contrast can help you do the following:
- Emphasize certain parts of the design
- Spark interest as the design elements are much easier to spot
- Make your logo easier to read and digest
Created by Usarek™ Studio | https://dribbble.com/shots/14671127-AURORA-logo-design
Harmonious elements are great. So are contrasting elements. Without any contrast, a brand’s visual representation may appear plain. In contrast, it can draw attention, allowing your customers to see what you want them to see.
If you decide to incorporate contrast using a complementary color scheme, try to limit the colors you use. Colors are important, but overusing them will only be counterproductive.
A logo with many colors may have contrast, but it will appear busier and, thus, more difficult for the viewer to recognize and remember. So, incorporate contrast but keep things simple.
Created by Tornike Uchava | https://dribbble.com/shots/18100106-Abstract-sun-symbol
6. Pay Attention to The Color
Whether you create a conventional logo or an abstract one, you must pay attention to color. Different colors have different meanings. They can help you convey messages and evoke emotions.
Below are some colors and what they mean.
- Red: The color red stands for passion and excitement. It makes an excellent choice if your brand is passionate, youthful, and eager to stand out.
- Orange: While orange is not as often used as red, the color is just as energetic. Orange is a playful, vibrant, and invigorating color.
- Green: A very versatile color, green can work for just about any brand. The color is particularly good for brands that want to establish a connection to nature.
- Yellow: Perhaps you want to make your brand look friendlier and more accessible to your audience. In that case, incorporate yellow in your abstract logo design. Yellow gives off a youthful and cheerful vibe, too.
- Blue: A classic and common choice, the color blue is calming and cool and symbolizes trustworthiness and reliability. If you want your brand to give a reliable feel, blue is your go-to color.
- Gray: Gray is the best choice if you want a serious and mature look.
Created by Deividas Bielskis | https://dribbble.com/shots/17483567-qewam
7. Experiment With Different Fonts
More likely than not, you will include text in your abstract logo design. Almost every brand, including even major ones, still includes text in its logo. Only a few major brands can go without the text in their logo.
As such, you want to experiment with fonts. See which font reflects your brand’s personality and values the best.
If you want to get a timeless feel and versatility, your best option is serif fonts. Similarly, if you want your brand to appear modern, sleek, and simple, use sans-serif fonts.
Created by Jisan Branding | https://dribbble.com/shots/18176790-abstract-logo-mark
If you want to customize your design further, consider script fonts. These fonts have a huge variety, from down-to-earth and relaxed to elegant and sophisticated.
You want to experiment with casing as well. Try writing the letters in uppercase and see if it fits your brand’s personality. If it doesn’t, try lowercase. You can also combine the two.
Getting the right font and casing is very important in logo designing, even if it is an abstract one. If you succeed in doing so, you will be able to communicate your brand’s personality effectively. In addition, you will show your customers what they can expect from your brand.
Created by Lucas Fields | https://dribbble.com/shots/14927729-Otam-Logo-Concept
8. Use White Space Wisely
While it can be tempting to add as many elements as you want, you shouldn’t do it. An abstract logo design is as much about what is not included as what is. That’s right. We are talking about white space or negative space here. White space refers to the parts that don’t have any design elements in them.
If you use white space, you give your logo a breathing room and prevent it from feeling too overcrowded or chaotic. White space also makes your design easier to understand and, more importantly, makes it easier for your customers to process the design.
Created by Imon Ahamed | https://dribbble.com/shots/16998917-Xaveus-Logo-Modern-X-Letter-Logo-X-Logo
White space also creates contrast and provides balance. Both of which make a logo more appealing. If there are too many design elements, the logo will become too complex. As a result, it might be more difficult to recognize and remember. These are the last things you want from a logo.
Note that you can also use white space to create hidden imagery or double meanings. In fact, there are many brands that do this. Another amazing thing about white space is that you basically add something of value to your design with nothing at all.
Created by Ashfuq Hridoy | https://dribbble.com/shots/15207191-Yelephant-Logo-Design
9. Keep It Simple And Memorable
Designing an abstract logo provides you with more liberty than designing a conventional one. However, the best practices in logo designing still apply. One of them is the focus on simplicity. A good abstract logo design is simple.
The simpler the design is, the better it will become. Here’s why: simpler logos are easier to understand. They make it easy for customers to absorb the message. Not to mention simpler logos are easy to recognize and remember, too.
If your brand’s logo is simple, your customers will be able to identify your brand quickly when they encounter you again.
Created by Jisan Branding | https://dribbble.com/shots/18612744-simple-letter-logo-design-dribbble
Besides keeping your logo simple, you also want to keep it proportional. Remember, it is your brand’s visual representation. It will be at the forefront of your branding effort. It will be deployed across different mediums.
By keeping it proportional, the deployment will be much easier. In addition, a proportional design is just visually appealing and attractive. The right proportion will create a positive impression, too.
To keep your design proportional, follow the golden ratio. When you follow the golden ratio, the design elements will be balanced. There won’t be a part that overpowers the other.
Created by Helvetiphant™ | https://dribbble.com/shots/16105998-Castle-logo-concept
10. Implement A Clear Message
Lastly, communicate with your designer. When it comes to designing your brand’s visual representation, there is absolutely no need to do it alone. Indeed. Hiring a professional graphic designer is a good idea, too. Your designer will help you translate your ideas into a fine-tuned logo.
Sounds amazing, right? To accomplish that, you need to communicate your brand’s personality and values to your designer clearly. Give your designer as much information about your brand as possible. If you can do that, things will be much easier for you and your designer.
Created by mparvej | https://dribbble.com/shots/17047219-Letter-H-Logo-Concepts
Revisions are expected. They are not a bad thing. Remember, a good logo doesn’t come by accident. They are carefully designed. Revisions are part of the designing process.
Branding, and by extension, your brand’s logo, is a necessary step to expand your business. Hiring an expert to help you create the best visual representation for your brand may cost money, but it will be a good long-term investment.
You may know your brand inside and out. But you will still need the expertise and experience to translate your ideas into a final product. Hiring a designer will provide you with the much-needed expertise and experience.
Created by Gennady Savinov | https://dribbble.com/shots/16528655-Doublex-Logo
Final Words
Our tips above will help you create a good abstract logo design. If you don’t know where to start, you can start the logo creation process by understanding your audience and knowing your brand and values. These will help because an abstract logo is essentially a unique visual representation of a brand.
When it comes to the design style and colors, choose the style and colors that reflect your brand’s personality and values. The same goes with the font and casing, too. Also, whether you create the logo yourself or work with a professional graphic designer, you should take your time. A good logo doesn’t happen by accident. It takes time, effort, and revisions to make.
If you work with a professional graphic designer, do communicate your brand and values clearly to them. By doing so, you will make it easier for you and for them to create a design that truly reflects your brand.
Creating a good abstract logo design is by no means easy. But when done right, it will help expand your business. Think of it as a long-term investment. Keep our ten tips in mind, and the process should be easier for you. Good luck.
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