This post is a long time coming… and a lot of you business owners need this info more than anything!
Logo design is the sacred art of cramming your entire brand identity into a teeny-tiny graphic that somehow needs to look good on a billboard and a business card. No pressure.
Whether you’re DIY-ing it, working with a designer, or just wondering why your cousin’s logo looks like clipart from 2003 — here’s a professional (and slightly sarcastic) guide to the Dos and Don’ts of Logo Design.
✅ DO: Keep It Simple
The Nike swoosh. The Apple… apple. The McDonald’s arches. What do they all have in common?
Simplicity.
A logo should be easily recognizable and digestible at a glance — not a Rorschach test. If someone has to squint, tilt their head, and Google a decoding guide to figure out your logo… start over. ALSO, and PLEASE DON”T OVERLOOK THIS… no more than 3 colors!!!
💡 Rule of thumb: If it can’t be embroidered on a golf shirt without looking like an oil spill, it’s too complicated.
❌ DON’T: Use 8 Fonts
Typography is not a buffet. Pick one or two fonts. Max. And please — make sure they get along. A cursive script and a techy matrix font in the same logo is like pairing sushi with Mountain Dew. Just… no.
Bonus tip: If your logo has Papyrus or Comic Sans, your designer might be legally required to throw their laptop out a window.
✅ DO: Make It Scalable
Your logo should look just as sharp on a billboard as it does on a social media profile pic. This means: vector files are your friend. PNGs are okay. JPEGs are… a cry for help.
🎯 Pro move: Ask your designer for horizontal, stacked, and icon-only versions. Versatility is sexy.
❌ DON’T: Use Stock Icons
Yes, that globe made of swooshes might feel “professional,” but it’s also been used by 600 logistics companies, 4 consulting firms, and one aspiring DJ.
Your logo should be unique, not a template with your name Photoshopped over it like a name tag at a networking event.
✅ DO: Think About Color Psychology
Colors have meaning. Blue says “trust me, I’m a bank.” Red says “buy now or feel shame.” Green says “I’m eco-friendly or maybe just Irish.”
Choose colors that reflect your brand — not just your favorite shade from a Crayola box.
❌ DON’T: Follow Trends Too Closely
Remember when every logo in 2010 had a “Web 2.0” gloss? Or when everything was suddenly flat in 2015? Trends are fun — for now. But your logo needs to age like wine, not milk.
Design with longevity in mind. You’re building a brand, not entering a Pinterest competition.
✅ DO: Consider Your Audience
If you’re a high-end law firm, your logo shouldn’t look like a circus. And if you’re a kids’ party planner, your logo shouldn’t look like a law firm.
Always design for the people you’re trying to attract — not just what looks “cool” to you.
❌ DON’T: Ignore Feedback
Your logo isn’t your firstborn child. You can take constructive criticism without having a meltdown. Share drafts with colleagues, potential customers, and preferably one brutally honest friend who always tells it like it is.
✅ DO: Hire a Professional (If You Can)
Sure, your nephew might be “really good at Canva,” but there’s a reason professional designers exist. If your brand matters (and it does), invest in someone who knows kerning from colonoscopy.
👔 Good designers don’t just make it look nice. They make it make sense.
Logo design is equal parts art, strategy, psychology, and common sense. Do it well, and people will remember your brand forever. Do it poorly, and you’ll be the punchline of a blog post like this one.
So be bold. Be thoughtful. And for the love of Helvetica — no more swooshes.