With the “Valentine Fever” taking all over, I decided to showcase 30 heart logo designs to rejoice the Valentine Day. This heartwarming festival is celebrated by loved ones all over the world. Flowers, confectionaries and expressive greeting cards have remained a constant fervor among dear couples. “Heart shaped” symbols are excessively used on this festival to express love and care for our dear ones. Hence, graphical use of hearts in logo designing is a great means of communicating your love and enthusiasm to your customers.

Besides the heart shape, several other love related logo designs are existent. Some of these logo designs include an apple, cupid, rose, love knot and love birds. But there is one intriguing aspect of the heart logo designs. Every symbol in logo design has a significant meaning… similarly heart logos can convey your message of sincerity and trust to your special “customers”.

While there have been numerous heated debates on this topic of “logo design contests” or famously branded as “spec-work” I wish to propose a different viewpoint today. Firstly, let me make it clear that I am neither speaking in support nor against spec-work in logo designing. It is you who will take a better option for yourself. What I intend to achieve through this post is to elucidate the topic from a different perspective.

Before coming to my topic, let us be a little realistic about a logo design contest. A logo design contest requires participation and nobody can be forced to participate. Those who believe they have the mettle to outclass other logo designers voluntarily participate. Your participation shows your support and interest in being part of that game and your absence clearly states that you are not interested. In short, if you do not approve of logo design contests and claim it to be unethical, simply don’t participate. However, your disapproval does not grant you the privilege to mortify the contests and the logo designers who participate. My words may sound a little harsh for some logo designers but guys “Live and let live” is the dictum we should follow.

Let me remind you that I am discussing exclusively about spec-work in logo designing. Like every business, spec-work has its share of pros and cons. Let us look at some of the merits and demerits of logo design contests.

How is spec-work in logo design a Boon?

• Provides opportunity for in-experienced logo designers to show their talent.
• Logo design contests serve as a wonderful inspiration spot for other designers.
• It provides a level playing field for logo designers who are not in developed countries.
• An amiable cure in recessionary periods for both clients and unemployed logo designers.
• A chance for logo designers to gain experience through trial and error.
• A platform to display your logo design portfolio and gain recognition in the design world.
• An easy way for logo designers to test their design skills.
• A chance to get acquainted with other logo designers.

How spec-work may become a Bane?

• In some cases, spec-work in logo designing may provide no guarantee of any reward money.
• Spec-work poses legal risks for both parties. Intellectual property, trademark and copyright infringement of logo designs are the major issues.
• It devalues the logo design industry and undermines the well-established logo designers.
• The logo design contests are judged only by the client’s personal liking.
• It can be time consuming and without compensation can be frustrating for logo designers.
• Clients trying to obtain low cost solution are compromising on quality of logo designs, as spec-work may involve little time, energy and thought for research.

Have you ever wanted to come up with a new logo design but just could not tap that creative part of your mind? Or do you curse yourself for not coming up with a creative logo design ideas, when required the most? Think again!

Logo design is an imperative tool which builds trust, recognition and respect for a company. A logo design idea surfaces when your thoughts are organized and mind you, there are simply no creative bounds when we talk about logo designing. So briefly, designing an ultimate logo design can be an extensive practice.

Today, I would like to provide you with 10 pointers that can help you strike up a terrific logo design idea:

1. Pour out your thoughts on paper:

2. Consultation and discussion:

3. Evaluate of your business:

4. Bulls eye on the target:

Studying your target market can lead you to a unique logo design idea. The age factor, gender issues, spending power, education level and a complete study of demographics can lure you to a fine notion. Think of a soft spot of your audience that you can exploit and then design your logo.

5. Slogan echoes your logo:

A company slogan echoes your intention and the level of motivation to do business. Normally the slogan is accompanied with the logo. This creates a factor to be associated with your logo design. Many customers link the catchy slogan to remember your company.

6. Think differently:

7. Think of associations:

8. The Twist game:

9. A little Inspiration can do the trick:

10. Think future:

So keep striving for a logo design idea till it you finally conceive one. Remember, in logo design it’s not a matter of do or die, it’s a matter of how much you try.

These are the keys of a designing a unique logo but do you know what happens when you make mistakes while making a logo design. For this reason you need to know beforehand all the common blunders that you might commit in logo designing. After all, prevention is better than cure, isn’t it???

For your due awareness, I have enlisted some frequent blunders that most people make while creating a logo design:

7. Say No to Plagiarism; always remember the PEPSI-COKE Case

11. Haste makes waste….give your logo design attention it deserves!

Logos these days have become an increasingly important means for effectively marketing your company image. The appropriate use of logo design can boost your reputation to the skies. Cleverly designed logos are imperative for brand recognition and easy company recall. While company logos may be one the most valuable asset of any corporate entity, it may prove to be a symbol of doom if not properly designed.

History has witnessed some of the famous logos falter against controversies which have either destroyed the companies or annihilated them completely from the scene. But then again controversies are controversies; you can never be too sure about the validity of any. So just for the discussion sake I’ve searched a few controversial…let’s see if you knew about these stories.

1 ) Vodafone Logo:

First on my list of controversial company logos is the Vodafone logo. In 1997, Vodafone introduced its Speechmark logo, as it is a quotation mark in a circle; the O’s in the Vodafone logotype are opening and closing quotation marks, suggesting conversation. But controversy arose that the logo had something to do with the number “6” which represents the devil and the red colour strengthens the case even more. A debatable logo I must say:)

2 ) Apple Logo:

Next on my list is Apple’s choice for its corporate symbol. The company’s logo is an apple that has had a bite taken out of it. To many occult insiders, this signifies that the eating of the forbidden fruit (symbolically, the apple) by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was a good thing. Occultists and New Agers teach that taking a bite out of the apple gave the first two humans knowledge, or gnosis, putting them on the path to self-divinity and godhood.

3 ) Walt Disney Logo:

Everybody loves cartoons isn’t it? And especially cartoons produced by the all-time leader Walt Disney turn out to be instant hits. Disney has been much in the news lately. Christians are not at all happy with what they say is the smutty, anti-Bible direction the company is now taking with its movies (including the sexual references hidden in a few frames of cartoon movies as well as backwards voices glorifying child molestation), television shows, and CD albums. Is Disney’s hostility to traditional Christian values reflected in its corporate logo? Rumors are that “does the Walt Disney corporate logo conceal three cleverly disguised "6s"–thus, 666?” Carefully examine the Disney logo pictured here. Can you find what are alleged to be three 6s (666) concealed? Or is it just a coincident?

4 ) Lays / Shell Logo:

Next I have found a series of company logos that are caught up in “The Rising Sun” controversy. The symbol of a rising sun can be associated with sun worship. In ancient Egypt, it was associated with Horus. Occultists consider it to represent the new age of Aquarius and the arrival of new radiation from the galactic core, the “Golden Dawn”. The blazing sun is also associated with the Promethean/Luciferian concept of bringing fire (knowledge) to man.

5 ) Obama Healthcare Clinic Logo:

The hottest of all controversy is the Obama Healthcare Clinic. Controversies are that the Obama health care logo associated  to a swastika. On this the website Sweetness and Light compared Democrats to Nazis.

Don’t believe it???  See for yourself…

In the end I would like to conclude that company logos must carefully be designed keeping in mind the repercussions whatsoever there may be. Specially one has to be extremely careful regarding sensitive issues such as religion, culture, prejudicial references and bad resemblances.

If you think that I’ve missed out any popular logo controversies, then I would appreciate it if you guys come and share them with us.