Logo Design is as much a science and it is an art. In fact, it has a host of scientific and mathematic aspects to it! A good logo design is made to appeal to an onlooker so that the image stays with them and soon becomes instantly recognizable. Logos appear on almost everything: stationary, packaging, clothing, shoes, magazines, TV and movies, and much more! A clear, dynamic, symmetric and simple logo design should leave a lasting effect in the mind of a customer and create brand recognition. Follow these simple steps and your in-class handout to help you create an amazing logo to represent your work in this class.
STEP ONE: Think About How You Will Use Typography and Fonts
Typography- Typography is the art and technique of arranging type (the printed letters of the alphabet).
Fonts- A Font is a set of characters that share common design feature.
**THINK about how you want your initials to look. What kind of font do you have in mind? Do you want your letters to be curly, boxy, funky, formal, in cursive? Check out these fonts for ideas!
STEP TWO: Keep the Elements of Art and Principles of Design in Mind
A good logo design keeps the elements of art and principles of design in mind! When creating your logo make sure to keep these specific aspects in mind.
Line- Line is one of the simplest and most versatile elements of design. Line describes an object's parts, corners and edges. Look at the example above. It uses CLEAN, SMOOTH lines. The edges are very neat and the font used is very square with THICK lines. What kind of line do you want to use? Check out the examples below.
Shape- Our environment is composed of shapes. A shape is a flat, enclosed area. Geometric shapes are mathematical and crisp. Organic shapes are irregular and from the natural world. Both geometric and organic shapes give different feelings to a design. Which do you think will work best in YOUR design?
Balance- Balance is the visual weight in a work of art. When designing a logo, it is important to keep your design SYMMETRICAL.
Symmetry- When something is symmetrical, it means shapes are mirrored on either side of an axis. If you cut your design in half, both sides should look similar and carry the same visual weight.
To practice making your design symmetrical, cut each design box on your handout in half to help you!
Check out these amazing symmetrical designs:
STEP THREE: Keep it Simple!
Keep it Simple, Keep it Simple, Keep it Simple! It is important that you keep your logo simple. A complex graphic can have negative effects since it will take time to visually read and be harder to recognize. Simple, creative logos make the best impressions! So don't over-think it, and don't try to add too many elements. Remember, this project is about your initials, this is your stamp that will be placed on your finished projects. Also, you will have to animate your logo using iStopMotion, so keep it in mind that your logo must be easy to duplicate! Have fun with your logo, get creative and don't forget to take risks!
