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It’s not new for logo designers to hear this excuse from their clients, “I’ll have my neighbor design my logo”. But they never tell you why. Most of you might not know what the reason behind this statement is. In fact there may be many reasons for clients to have their logo designed by their neighbor.
Today, I reveal the lame reasons as to why clients prefer their neighbor over professional logo design companies. Check out the top 10 amusing reasons why clients have their neighbor design a logo:
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1. “He lives close to me – just next door”
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| Now that is one amusing reason to prefer your neighbor over a logo designer. I mean who wants to travel far off to meet a logo designer when you can go next door?
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| Image source : Gettyimages.com |
2. “How about a beer in exchange for a logo design?”
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| All it will cost you is a beer, by golly that’s going to be one cheap logo.
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| Image source : Gettyimages.com |
3. “Peep from the window to get an update on the logo”
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This is fun. All these days peeping into the neighbors for no reason, now finally I have a reason to do so. 
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| Image source : Gettyimages.com |
4. Let’s discuss revisions over dinner, shall we?
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| You can have numerous revisions with your neighbor over dinner or maybe at the game.
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| Image source : Gettyimages.com |
5. He’s a nice chap – duh!
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| Of course he’s a nice person, you’ve been clubbing with him for years.
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| Image source : Gettyimages.com |
6. “He went to a design school…so what he was kicked out!!
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| A day in design school… that should be enough, isn’t it?
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| Image source : Gettyimages.com |
7. He has designer friends” – Impressive!
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| He has a great social gathering, including contacts with many designers.
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| Image source : Gettyimages.com |
8. “Just installed the latest version of Photoshop” – Coool!
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| Oh great, he managed to rip off a full version of CS4 from rapid share.
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| Image source : Gettyimages.com |
9. “He likes what I like” – My car!
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| Their thoughts are so alike; they eat from the same restaurant.
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| Image source : Gettyimages.com |
10. “He’s so creative; painted his garage himself” – Amazing!
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| What a band up job the neighbor did with the garage. You should have a logo design similar to that.
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| Image source : Gettyimages.com |
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Have you ever gone to your neighbor to get a logo design for any of these lame reasons or you have a better reason However, jokes a part, don’t you think it’s better going to professional logo design companies where you pay a little more but it’s worth…what say?
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April 13th, 2010 at 7:32 am
11. “It’s cheaper.”
April 13th, 2010 at 11:06 am
Whaha, genius article.
It’s better going to a professional logo designer, but not everybody needs a perfect logo. It maybe sounds crazy, but if you just start with your little company you want to spent your money in marketing or something, not just a few thousand dollars in a ‘picture’.
April 13th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
This is hysterically funny and on some level so true!!! Thanks for sharing. I’m puting it on the fridge.
April 14th, 2010 at 1:21 am
@Max – Yes and no. It is important, of course, to prioritize budget, and a small company won’t want to blow all their capitol on any one thing. Nevertheless, that picture is what you’ll be putting in front of prospective clients while you do all that marketing. It’s the face you give your company; you need your face to be as trustworthy, attractive, and professional as possible if you want to make a good first impression. Often, a first impression will also be the last if it isn’t a good one.
April 14th, 2010 at 1:43 am
So true !!!
Maybe we can add an another reason, I don’t want to waste time to found a logo designer
April 14th, 2010 at 1:58 am
“It’s better going to a professional logo designer, but not everybody needs a perfect logo. It maybe sounds crazy, but if you just start with your little company you want to spent your money in marketing or something, not just a few thousand dollars in a ‘picture’.”
just don’t forget that a logo should follow you over years!!!
it is always a good investment to have a good appearance,
it can bring you much more than a few clients.
i have clients wanting me to redesign their logos, because tehy are
sure that they can raise their income by a better appearance…
don’t forget that if you look cheap, you will get payed cheap
April 14th, 2010 at 6:59 am
I definitely found the humor in this article but I am a freelance graphic designer and have designed a logo for 3 of my neighbors already. Two of them being right next door and across the street. haha.
You don’t have to go to a huge company or someone who owns a storefront to get a well designed logo. There are plenty of freelancers out there that are more talented and have slightly lower prices (still not cheap by any means) than someone who owns say, a sign shop and thinks they know how to design. Don’t judge a designer by where they are located because you just might miss out on something great.
If you do get a cheap logo designed by someone who claims to be a “designer” or “knows” photoshop or even a logo farm, then your business will ultimately suffer. I understand small budgets and starting out but if you don’t have a strong identity or brand then there is no point wasting your time. I tell my clients that your logo and your brand are one of the most important investments you can make while starting a business. If you don’t have a strong presence or can make someone understand your purpose/product then it’s quite pointless. If you use a logo farm then you risk someone else having your logo but with their name on it. Do you really want that?
Also, most freelancers have payment plans and usually no major time restraints so you can invest in it slowly but ultimately end up with exactly what you want and need. You definitely get what you pay for these days.
*standing down from my soapbox*
April 14th, 2010 at 7:20 am
@Max –
If it’s just a picture (and by god you have no idea how much that phrase rankles any professional designer) then why not design it yourself with MS Paint – or better yet, use clip art. Hey, it worked for that other guy, and that other guy, and that other guy, and that other guy, and that other guy, and that other guy, and that other guy……
April 14th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Roxanne hit the nail on the head. You should care enough about the face of your business that you won’t go to just any old neighbor for your visuals but be conscious of your budget. You don’t want your business to go under before it gets started.
However if I’m your neighbor, then by all means ask me to do your logo and I’ll also take that beer.
April 15th, 2010 at 12:59 am
You know I can relate with Dexter, it totally rankles a professional designer. If there were nobody designing and taking their profession seriously, everyone would have the same mediocre logo “clip art” designs that they took off their computer. For me what i look for in a good designer is confidence, someone who is eager and really hungry for my business, that follows up and stays on top of the situation. There are a lot of flakes out there, but you go with the guy who radiates dedication, someone who you can tell by the conversation that every extra minute they have is researching and improving their design weak spots. More times than not this person will in return give you what you expected. I just think that maybe that kid next door has just as good of skills as a design company, but if he’s not hunting for my business, than I’m not going to give him it. In that same argument that doesn’t mean the kid next door isn’t qualified, he may be better, you don’t know. You pick someone who radiates passion and drive for designing.
April 15th, 2010 at 6:05 am
Hi LogoBlog.Org – Hahahha…. I wish I have you as my neighbour! LOL !
I always enjoy blog walking to your blog. Nice article and it’s soooooo funny! Good job!
April 15th, 2010 at 6:53 am
I can’t believe that “He’ll create a cheap logo” isn’t on the list. (double entendre intentional)
April 15th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
LOL – very funny points. What we’ve found is that sometimes you just have to roll with a sucky logo for a while until you can afford a proper designer.
April 16th, 2010 at 8:09 am
11. You can discuss about the logo with his wife.
Cool reasons, especially the 3. “Peep from the window to get an update on the logoâ€. The image seemed very amusing, hehe. Great post, thanks
April 16th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
I’ve had several people who you could classify as neighbors ask me for design for cheap, I’ve been trying to build my portfolio in order to have something to show for myself. I think that this article was influenced by passive aggression from not having the social capabilities to do business with their friends and acquaintances. Perhaps the author could spend some time networking and spend less time writing angry articles on how they cant get any business because clients will choose familiar friendly designers (with impressive portfolios) over corporate designers in suits who charge too much.
April 16th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
@marc
fully agreed
April 21st, 2010 at 10:52 am
12. It can’t be that hard, right?
April 21st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
I actually lost a design contract in favor of a client’s neighbor’s dubious design work.
All I can say is that they deserved everything they got. A logo that sucked.
Good article. I will pass on to clients (anonymously). Thanks.
April 22nd, 2010 at 9:02 am
@ Marc
I think you’re missing the bigger picture. The article used the concept of a “neighbour” designing a logo, but that was just a small example of the real issue being represented:
–> Potential clients do not value the graphic design profession.
Some of the jokes listed above (e.g. trading a logo for a beer, being able to talk revisions over dinner) shows that the client does not take the graphic design profession seriously (and maybe even their own corporate identity). For these types, it’s good enough to hire anyone (neighour or not) without credentials who can maybe draw a good picture, but has NO clue about Pantone colours, printing procedures, type treatment etc. These are the clients that end up having a 72 dpi RGB raster logo that then becomes the bane of any print shop. Even if it looks great, if it’s not practical it’s useless.
Of course, if this client’s neighbour (or whomever they preferred) WAS a professional graphic designer, than one shouldn’t be insulted, it just means they took their business to another professional whom they are comfortable with.
This article was meant to illustrate when clients undervalue logo design and take their business to an AMATEUR because it costs less or is more convenient for them.
April 29th, 2010 at 3:03 am
Haha if you have a look at our logo you will see a case in point!
November 30th, 2010 at 10:12 am
Haha this is a great article! Thanks for sharing!