Comments 26

Jan 21, 2010

12 frequent logo design mistakes – AVOID!!!

Categories: Logo Design Tips, Logo Designers, logo designs

Written By: Nora Reed

Today, I start my post by quoting a logo designing blunder. A few years back, a Las Vegas company launched an energy drink called Cocaine. Not long after its launch, the FDA pulled the drink from the market. Reason??? The word used as its logo was that of a notorious drug itself. The font in its logo design resembled a white powder (cocaine). Its marketing language was rife with drug references. Short and sweet, while designing a logo we need to apply many things and avoid number of things.   Is your logo design capable of making your customers SMILE Simple Memorable Inviting Limited in references Exciting

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:

1. Avoid amateurs; your logo design demands professionalism from you.

2. Don’t just conjure up meaningless logos…design your logo with a purpose! You might think the arrow does nothing here. But it says that amazon.com has everything from a to z

3. Don’t be PC reliant…sketch your idea on a paper

4. Never clog the beauty of logo with complexity, just KISS (Keep it Simple Straight)

5. Make your logo design compatible for all mediums. The FedEx logo is easily visible on all formats of media.

6. Avoid adding unnecessary inclusions (co, Ltd, Inc) Notice what vague inclusions have been made under the “Families” logo!

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

8. Dreadful color combination: Although the logo is one of the creations of “Paul Rand” but the uneasy color selection is making it very awkward

9. Avoid certain typography issues (improper spacing, predictable, crazy and thin fonts). Geez, what’s this supposed to mean???

10. Never initiate in color mode; start logo design in black and white.

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

12. Don’t stick to logo design trends ….create something original.

Have you ever encountered a logo design mistake other than the ones I mentioned?? Also analyze your logo design closely and tell if you have made any of these mistakes.

26 Responses to “12 frequent logo design mistakes – AVOID!!!”

1. Nick Says:
   January 21st, 2010 at 6:59 am

   Every one of these points are completely overshadowed by the ‘Free Logo Maker” featured in this site.

   Oh the hypocrisy of it!

2. Alma Hoffmann Says:
   January 21st, 2010 at 7:49 am

   Then why would you have a tab for Free logo maker? These steps or points imply knowing and interacting with the client to understand their needs and conceptual approaches.The Amazon and FedEx logo were NOT made in a cookie cutter website offering a free logo maker function. Making logos for free disrespects everything we designers stand for and disrespects the No SPEC effort.

3. David Andrew Says:
   January 21st, 2010 at 8:16 pm

   Great post! The future of logo’s will be signature symbols and sounds. Start in black and white but end in color…..Keep up the good work!

4. xRommelx Says:
   January 22nd, 2010 at 1:32 pm

   i never designs a logo, but i have to do one day, and this article is very interesting, thank you

5. 12 frequent logo design mistakes « ImJustCreative Says:
   January 23rd, 2010 at 5:57 am

   [...] January 23, 2010 · Leave a Comment via logoblog.org [...]

6. Sergiu Naslau Says:
   January 23rd, 2010 at 6:09 am

   Good information, but explain something to me, what is it with the KISS interpretation?
   kiss – “keep it simple and stupid” , “keep it simple stupid” , “keep it simple straight”

7. randy Says:
   January 23rd, 2010 at 6:33 am

   yea, the “Free Logo Maker” tab ruins it all.

8. Logo Search Says:
   January 23rd, 2010 at 10:13 am

   Arrows are used in a lot of the designs

9. 5 amazing resources to help you design a better LOGO Says:
   January 23rd, 2010 at 8:03 pm

   [...] 12 frequent logo design mistakes to avoid: Logoblog is an excellent blog on logo design. This article discuses some keys to logo design like [...]

10. Linda Says:
    January 24th, 2010 at 1:13 pm

    Agreeing with Nick here. And what’s up with the “avoid amateurs” nike swoosh? That logo was designed by a student!

11. Shawn K. Says:
    January 24th, 2010 at 7:07 pm

    Good article, I do like the notion behind it.

    I just don’t like how you didn’t clearly differentiate between what is right and wrong in the images.

12. Mark Says:
    January 25th, 2010 at 4:27 am

    I cannot follow the logic in your propostion/argument. You make reference to a “do not” but then illustrate it with a ‘do’ logo. It’s all very muddy thinking. Much better resource is definitely http://www.logodesignlove.com/

13. Web Design Maidstone Says:
    January 25th, 2010 at 10:46 am

    I don’t like the London 2012 logo either but you should show the real one not the fudged one!

14. Larry David Says:
    January 25th, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    Alma and Randy, you are such whiners. The Free Logo Maker is obviously not meant to be a legitimate design tool, just something fun on the internet. Jeez, get off your high horse.

15. Nora Reed Says:
    January 26th, 2010 at 5:06 am

    hey thanx for the compliments Sergiu but there’s no real philosophy behind the kiss Just a different way of saying “keep things simple” thats all ..

16. STRAIGHTALK Says:
    January 26th, 2010 at 7:48 am

    Yeah I can see where not using proper spacing and /or spaces can really change the whole concept of a logo..

    Thanks for the insight!

    Norman Flecha
    STRAIGHTALK

17. 12 frequent logo design mistakes – Avoid! | Design Newz Says:
    January 28th, 2010 at 1:32 pm

    [...] 12 frequent logo design mistakes – Avoid! [...]

18. Patrice Says:
    January 28th, 2010 at 1:53 pm

    @Alma Hoffmann yes its a fail

19. johnkanesmith Says:
    January 28th, 2010 at 1:55 pm

    this post = lost credibility

20. Webdesign Rosenheim Says:
    January 28th, 2010 at 11:52 pm

    One should think the most of those “rules” are going without saying… but it’s always good to think twice!

    Thanks for sharing!

21. Samoo Says:
    January 29th, 2010 at 2:50 am

    Really nice article. Agree most with “rule” #2: but unfortunately logo design is commonly mistaken for agreeable colors + shapes put together.

22. Nora Reed Says:
    January 29th, 2010 at 4:42 am

    @ Linda…thanks for pointing out the “Nike Swoosh” placed under the wrong title. I think while writing a post on “Logo Design Mistakes” I made the first mistake myself

    @ Shawn Kay, Samoo, Straightalk….glad to know that you all liked the post but once again i would like to excuse for the wrong image placement

    @ Alma Hoffmann, Nick, Randy, Patrice, Johnkanesmith… I completly understand your discontent for the “Free Logo Maker” option available on top but I would say that its a matter of choice, as said by Larry David. My blog aims to cater all the designers with different perspectives.

    However, thanks to all the readers who stopped by and dropped their comments.

23. joe witte Says:
    January 29th, 2010 at 3:50 pm

    I’m not sure what the logomaker has to do with the post. This post makes sense, we’ll pass on to our design team as “reminders”.

    Designers.. consider this- not every business has $1500 to design a logo (some new bloggers, literally have $0)- so, better to have something for free, than nothing they can afford. As their business grows, hopefully they’ll recognzie the importance and re-brand themselves, and hire professional designers.

    Also, I think that LogoBlog has a right to monetize the site with this tool. Designers dont work for free, neither to bloggers. Wake up, we aren’t in a communist country, we are in capitalistic country, and have a right to make money, right?

24. Gareth Coxon Says:
    January 30th, 2010 at 9:38 am

    KIDSEXCHANGE, what were they thinking?!

25. wien Says:
    February 1st, 2010 at 7:18 am

    nice article, thanks

26. joe witte Says:
    February 5th, 2010 at 1:34 pm

    Originally, “KISS” is another acronym coming from the Army (Which swims with acronyms.. it’s awful, if you’ve been in the Army, you know). Keep it Simple Stupid, but it’s since been tones down to “Keep it simple Silly”, as know one wants to be called Stupid, not even Forrest Gump.

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