Did you ever wonder how to design a logo?
Better yet — how do designers create logos that are simple, memorable, and effective?
In today’s post, I’m letting you inside my designer brain so you can see what goes through my head when I make website images, logos, and other visual content.
In the infographic below, you’ll see the process I went through to design a logo for a product called The Image Lab.
How to design a logo — for non-designers
The Image Lab is about how to make website and social media images that create a visual language for your brand.
I wanted the logo for The Image Lab to say:
“Discover how to make images that get you attention and devotion.”
It’s a tall order for a single image.
Here are the three simple steps I went through.
- Start with paper. I began the process by sketching ideas that came to mind when I thought about the product and what it will do for people.
- Simplify and refine. Once I found the image I wanted to develop, I created many, many versions. (Many more than you see in the infographic below). My goal? To express the concept in the simplest visual terms possible.
- Add type. Some logos are primarily composed of type. But for a symbol-based logo like the one I created for The Image Lab, I like to make the image work first and add type later.
Three simple steps which — by the way — doesn’t mean they were easy. I spent time over several weeks coming back to this logo, refining it until I was finally satisfied.
Total time elapsed? About three hours. Total time it took me to learn how to design a logo like this in three hours? 30 years. 😉
The creative process always feels like a messy miracle. If you push your way past your messy first ideas and continue to refine them over time, your best solutions will come to light.
Below, see how the logo took shape over a few weeks — and what I was thinking along the way.
The Image Lab was once available to purchase along with my verbal content creation course The Content Lab. Now both are included in my Offer Accelerator program, which helps online business owners create high-value online offers.
To learn more about The Offer Accelerator or to apply, visit TheOfferAccelerator.com
![How to Design a Powerful Logo in 3 Simple Steps [Infographic]](https://www.pamelawilson.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/How-to-create-logo-infographic.png "How To Design A Powerful Logo In 3 Simple Steps [Infographic]"){kind=logo}
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8 thoughts on “How to Design a Powerful Logo in 3 Simple Steps [Infographic]”
It is basically what I do. It is awesome to have it organized like you did so I will not overlook a step or go too cute and fuzzy or forget what the company is providing.
Glad to hear it was helpful to a fellow designer, Jim! Thanks for stopping by.
Of all the emails I get every day (to which I subscribe), yours (along with Joanna Wiebe from Copy Hackers) is the best. Very useful, timely information, links, and resources for web creation and copywriting. You are a gift. Thank you.
Donald, thank you. I’m so happy to hear you’re finding it useful. Thanks for taking a moment to let me know!
Very interesting Pamela. I wonder though, the shapes you use in your logo will appeal to a certain type of audience. (E.g. community-minded, friendship-oriented, B2C). What about designing a logo for a B2B audience, that might find values like strength, courage, purpose and precision more appealing?
Derek, you’re absolutely right: when designing a logo, you have to keep your ideal customer in mind.
In this case, the logo is representing a product that will be B2C so I believe this style works. For a B2B type product you’d likely take a different approach — unless you wanted to make your business look community-minded and approachable. 🙂
So “The Image Lab” is for consumers? Or businesses?
Hey Derek,
The Image Lab is a course I’m developing for individuals who want to benefit from using images on their websites and social media. They will be business owners, but the specific group I am creating the course for behaves more like a consumer when it comes to this type of purchase, which is why I created this kind of logo.
That might be more information than what you’re asking but hopefully it helps explain my thought process. 🙂
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