Have you ever had a favorite TV show that went off the air? You may watch reruns five or ten years later and wonder what happened to all those actors you liked so much. In fact, there are TV specials, magazine articles, and websites like Biography.com that are devoted to asking the question, “Where are they now?”
But you probably haven’t realized that the same question could be asked of some of your work. Every web designer or developer has helped create logos for clients in the past—but where are those logos now? Are they still in use? Are they helping make sales for your client?
If you think you can just slap a logo together any time a client asks, you’ve got another thing coming. Truly great logos take thought and effort—and they all follow the rules of good logo design. Here’s why those rules matter for you:
You’ll learn the difference between good and bad design
The fact is that knowing how to fabricate a logo doesn’t mean you know how to create a good logo. A logo that’s missing important elements won’t have the lasting benefits your clients crave—and that means they’ll start looking for a new graphic designer to create a better logo.
When you know the rules of good design, it’s easier to recognize that a certain shape, color, or other element isn’t matching up with your client’s needs. You’ll have a much better idea of how to use each aspect of the design to convey the appropriate brand message.
You’re less likely to forget things
There are dozens of apps designed to help us get things done smarter and faster, like Any.do. It acts as a calendar, personal assistant, and—most important—a to-do list. Having a to-do list is crucial to any major project, including logo design. After all, it takes a lot of work to keep track of all the different design components and how you plan to revise them.
As far as we know, there’s not an app specifically created to help people design logos (yet). That’s why it’s doubly important for you to know the rules of good logo design. When you understand what every logo needs—or doesn’t need—to succeed, you can create your own to-do list that will help you remember all the steps you need to take to make a successful design.
You can collaborate more easily
Chances are that your clients have no idea what makes a logo good or bad. At best, they might have an idea of a style they like or dislike. If you don’t know the rules of good logo design, you won’t be able to talk your clients out of making harebrained choices that make their logos less effective.
You’ll benefit in more ways than just communicating with your clients(although that’s certainly important). Learning the rules of good design will help you collaborate with experienced logo designers like the ones at Company Folders. When you know the basics of how to create a good logo, you’ve got the vocabulary and skills to talk to these professionally trained logo designers about your needs—while still being able to absorb the decades’ worth of expertise they bring to the table.
Now you know why these rules matter—but do you know what the rules are? This great resource breaks down all the ins and outs of logo design, plus showcases examples from some of the most popular brands in the world. Save it as a helpful guide for your next project, or share it with a friend who could use a little help with their logo.