How To Create A Logo Design Even If You're Not A Designer
But how can you create one even if you’re not a designer? Let’s find out!
Created by Tornike Uchava | https://dribbble.com/shots/19714466-modern-abstract-pictorial-symbolic-minimal-simple-logos
A logo, as a visual identifier of a company or business, tends to be seen as a pretty complex graphic product. It demands certain knowledge, expertise, and learning, which is also considered difficult even for a designer. It makes the projects a certain market for professional designers. But what if a non-creator or designer wants to make the sign?
If you are not a designer, it does not mean you cannot create a logo design. It is given that the creative industry is a very open and learnable business. People who have no particular education can learn the technique and fundamental points with varying sources, including the internet. There is also a lot of free software that is meant for beginners, which comes with easier usage.
Created by Mahjabin Afrin | https://dribbble.com/shots/19493369-creative-modern-minimalist-logo-design-branding
There are also many logo makers, which people can use for free or for small amounts of money. That is why even the non-designer or creator can get their hand in creating a logo design. But logo design is not only about good-looking visual identity. It also has fundamental elements to implement in every part of the creation.
Thankfully, those elements are also something that does not need any formal education to learn. Elements such as colors, typography, or other layout and style can be found on the internet. With extra experience and tries, you can also improve your skills in working or creating the design. So, don't worry about the lack of credentials or formal education.
However, it is also best to highlight or underline that there are certain degrees that only people or creators with education can achieve (higher fees). Since you are not a designer, you will likely be put as a newbie or beginner creator. With that, your market is limited. But you can always use the idea as a way to save some budget and create a logo design for yourself.
Created by Yoga Perdana | https://dribbble.com/shots/19626828-F-Fire-Logo
Creative Solutions For Non-Designers
There is an idea that everything is easier with the help of technology. Surprisingly, it also applied to logo creators. You can find tons of free or paid logo generators, online design platforms, or something similar with features that provide an easier process of design. Most of those options offer templates, images, and ready-to-use icons.
If you are not a designer but trying to be creative, adapting and working with those tools can be a nice solution. Your options include Canva, Looka, Squarespace, UCraft, and many more. However, it is still vital for non-designer or creators to learn the fundamental ideas and principles of logos. In other words, learning further or at least knowing the meaning of elements.
Therefore, come to the crucial part of learning what to highlight when people start to create a logo design. It goes as far back as the brand image, story, and inspiration to elements of colors and typefaces. Logos also appear in varying models or styles, which later shape or lead to the function of the visual identity itself.
Created by Pixtocraft | https://dribbble.com/shots/18849311-A-logo-mark-creative-modern-minimalist-logo-design
Learning those points will be the key point in creating a logo. Everyone can learn the basics and build or create the design from the basics. It is also best to understand that the visual identity is not necessarily should appear fancy. The key to its success is to ensure the sign fits the brand, which even the non-designer can learn how to make.
1. Determine Your Story
It is best to say that every logo has its story and message to tell; therefore, both the creator and designer need to talk about it to fully grasp the design idea. Regardless if you are a certified creator or not a designer, you should learn or know about the story before creating the design. This is where one should determine or decide the story in the sign.
Today's marketing found out that buyers tend to have a connection with the brand or product simply by the story, compared to the fact. In other words, a brand or product that has an inkling of certain imagery and story tends to win the customer's heart. It makes the first tips to create a logo design focused on story development.
The old 2012 Coca-Cola marketing hit the mark thanks to its touching story with polar bears. People who are talking about the brand will directly remember the polar bear story and the white script typeface. It makes people remember the brand simply by the touching and unique story, which also fits with the essence of refreshing carbonated drinks.
One way you can develop the story is by understanding what the product or company does. Find the answer to why you make the brand or the product, which later can turn into the root of the story. From the story, you can develop and consider other logos or design elements. With that idea, you don't need to be a designer. Instead, be a smart businessman.
Created by Pixtocraft | https://dribbble.com/shots/19644207-logo-logo-design-branding-identity
2. Describe Your Brand
One of the key pieces of information in creating logo designs is not the creator's background education. Even professionals can make a flop because they cannot fully grasp the idea of the company itself. If you create a logo as a non-designer to save a bit of budget, don't worry about making a mistake. Take this chance as the first step to learning about your business.
Generally, you who are not a designer but the owner get the best chance to describe your brand. It is similar to developing the story, but instead, here, you are trying to put highlight what kind of product, brand, or industry the business is. In this case, you can refer to or enter several terms that help describe your business.
To help better, you can use a mind map to understand or develop the brand values. The technique is pretty helpful in creating a logo design, especially if you are not sure what to do with the visual. You can connect keywords and the concept to the central or initial idea. It also helps you refocus on the designing process. Thus you won't overdo or go astray in the development.
Created by Turgay Mutlay | https://dribbble.com/shots/18949069-Brand-Zext
3. Look For Inspiration
To start the creative fire in mind, inspiration can appear in many possible options. You can look as an ideas booster when stuck on creating a visual or giving a clear idea about the logo and the market. But do not overdo it since it can lead to problems in having too many design ideas at once, especially for people who are not designers.
The overwhelmed condition is also known as analysis paralysis. It can occur when the experienced or people who are not designers get stuck overanalyzing the ideas, thus becoming unable to make a decision. To avoid the situation, you can refer back to the story and brand mind map. Keep in mind the main ideas and put pieces that fully relate or are necessary for the process.
In this case, you can learn many aspects and elements even with no advanced design study. All you need to learn is to get into the language of logos by looking at many favorite and successful designs out there. Learn why they work, how they work, and what makes them impactful for their industry. You can learn from similar industries, competitors, or unique creations on the internet.
Created by Pixtocraft | https://dribbble.com/shots/19702485-logo-logo-design-logos
4. Choose The Color
You will need to learn a bit about the fundamentals of color psychology, which show what moods, emotions, or ideas a shade will imply in the creation. Remember that the sign or logo will be ended up or used in varying mediums, including websites, social media, to printed marketing objects.
Going with universal colors will help you create a logo design, even if you are not a designer or are just interested in learning creative design. But choosing the color itself is not as simple as picking the most attractive one. The first thing to learn is color psychology and how the hues will create meanings or moods.
A bright or warm color is identical to fun and positive emotion. Red stands out but has a sense of passion. Green is organic, blue is trustworthy, and black is a dark yet sophisticated color. After that, learn how to use multiple colors. Using multiple colors means working with combinations for the logo.
A good design means highlighting or showcasing a complex rendition of a color scheme. You can learn it with color wheels, which help define the best combination of two or more colors in the design. Remember to pick the color that fits with the brand, and consider the combination, so your beginner visual design will look right to the eyes.
Created by Jeroen van Eerden | https://dribbble.com/shots/19421582-Linkd-Logo-Design
5. Consider The Typefaces
Typefaces are as vital as color in logo design. It comes with meaning and emotion and helps set the mood for the visual identity. Generally, you have the basic type of styles, which you can learn simply from the internet. You got the serif type which is Times New Roman (or similar fonts), with its small stroke or lines at the end of a letter.
Serif is associated with wealth, elegance, tradition, and formal image. The opposite is sans serif, which is the common gothic font for the more casual and modern image. You can create a logo design with this font to highlight minimalism and simplicity. Other than that, you got script font, the best for humanizing the text. Pick one that fits your brand.
If you go further about typefaces, try to take different attributes on the fonts. Try to use thick and thin lines, diagonal or vertical alignment, strokes, and low and high contrast, to the mood of the logo. Your typeface design is pretty much the representation of the brand. Therefore, refer to the design brand story to capture the best visualization.
Created by Gert van Duinen | https://dribbble.com/shots/19570746-Leaf-lion
6. Pay Attention to the Logotype
At this point, you will need to consider the logotype to create the work better. Consider what will work for the brand since there are at least six different types to choose from. Each comes with its unique creation, function, and bad and good points. You can use combination marks, which uses both text and icon.
Mascots can also turn into a good solution if you are looking for a fun, cartoonish, or colorful visual representation. But it can be a bit difficult for a person who is not a designer since it forces them to create a logo design with an authentic character. The abstract logo highlights conceptual marks, consisting of a unique symbol for the company.
The pictorial logo design will focus on graphics, which leads the audience to think about your brand right away. The prime example is Target, with its crosshair target icon. For more, there is a wordmark, a font-based logo that fully captures the company name. And the monogram is made up of letters, creating a brand initial. What should you take? Consider the brand and difficulty.
Created by Pixtocraft | https://dribbble.com/shots/19585998-logo-logo-design-branding-identity
7. Start Sketching
You can try every logo style during the sketching process. Try to sketch and do the manual design with varying ideas in mind, but limit it to the brand map or story to avoid overanalyzing the process. This is the step where you, as a person who is not a logo designer, can get more creative. Try different ideas, be free, add some more inspiration, and pick the best you can create.
Created by José | https://dribbble.com/shots/19635700-K
8. Maybe Use A Logo Design Creator
With sketches working as the fundamental idea, start digitizing it with a scanner and vectorize the image. But what if you don't know how to use advanced graphic design software? Try a logo design created on the internet. Some of them offer a quick logo maker, using a basic template and simple icons for the visual elements. But it can lead to mainstream imagery.
That is why you got the sketches and brand story for your grounding. When you create a logo design, try to keep up with the initial design idea. It will help you pick the best logo and add a certain personality, even using the free online creator. There is even great software, such as Canva, that allows you to use templates with huge or vast customization features.
Created by Second Eight | https://dribbble.com/shots/19498416-Rise-Branding-Design
9. Get Input And Feedback
Since you are not a designer, don't try to be hot-headed and strong-willed in creating a visual identity. A logo is a very crucial aspect of business, which many people or audiences will see and remember. If your logo is bad, it will affect the business's impression. Take this chance to get input and feedback from people around you.
You can ask or make a quick opinion share from the target audience, friend, or employee. See if the design fits with the buyer's persona or the brand. Nothing wrong with revision and refining your chosen sketch or ideas. Fixing your work is also part of the learning process, especially for people who are new to creative and logo design creation.
Created by Antonio Calvino | https://dribbble.com/shots/19562229-Emme-Logotype
10. Polish The Final Design
Polishing the final design can mean anything for your project. You develop the visual identity as a non-designer or a non-professional creator. So, you will be bound to see many revisions, changes, and shortcomings. Thus, take the final process seriously. Ensure its scalability, get every element right, gather your feedback and revise. Make the suggested revision, and make the work your best possible outcome.
Created by younique | https://dribbble.com/shots/17465460-MarketMove-dynamic-identity
Final Words
It is best to say that everyone can and can get creative. It includes when they want to create a logo design. People with no technical designing background can learn about the fundamental points in building visual identity. It includes learning and determining the aspects of the logo design itself. Those points include some basic elements.
The said elements are the company story, the brand, inspiration, color, logotype, and the process. The idea of learning the fundamentals goes to the sense of understanding that every color or element has its particular view and meaning. Thus, creating a logo is not just making a fancy identity or visual design.
Created by Milon Ahmed | https://dribbble.com/shots/19559559-Mountain-Logo-Design
Even a person who is not a designer can learn the basics of a company's or business's identity. After that, the next points focus on the designing process. If you are not sure about your ability to go around with design software, consider a logo design creator or generator. Some online platforms have powerful design functions that allow non-designers to get creative.
The key to fully establishing and using the online platform goes on properly using the function. Since you already have ideas or fundamentals, you can start picking the best templates or ideas from the platform. When it is done, get input and feedback. Revise the design and polish the final image. It will help you create a logo design even if you are not a designer.
At the end of the day, creating an effective visual identity is not only about the background education as a designer. Even non-designers or creators get the chance to make a successful logo as long as they get the fundamental elements and ideas for the design. With the help of online media and platforms, the process is made easier and more approachable for newbies. So, don't stop yourself from being creative.