What makes a great logo?
A logo is the visual representation of your business. You cannot create it in haste. It’s something that you have to really think about.
Tech startup logos, too, have to be different. Since you are talking about a technology-based startup here, your logo should also be more techy.
You might be tempted to just use your name as the logo. If you can, though, it might be better to have a visual logo instead. Besides, when you put up your logo, as long as the format or space allows, you can have both the logo and name on it.
For example, most storefronts, if you have a physical store, would carry both the name and the actual logo. The same could be done with stationeries or even advertisements.
When you have to create an icon, though, the visual logo would suffice.
But if you have to use the visual logo alone, it has to be something that people will easily recognize.
How do you create a tech startup logo?
Investing in a design agency can really take you a long way. If you have to launch a tech startup, you should be prepared financially.
As such, you should set aside a substantial amount for hiring a design agency. The firm can do a lot for you. That would include creating your logo.
The logo is the visual representation of your company. That’s why it has to be done right. You don’t want to change your logo every couple of years, do you?
Even if you want to because you want to keep up with the trend, it’s not advisable. When you do that, you will lose the identity of your business.
Consistency is important especially if you want your company to be in the business for a long time.
But if you have to create a logo by yourself, you should know the top three characteristics of a logo:
Every person wants to be unique, right? Be it in physical features or in personality. Nobody wants to be stereotyped.
That should also be your goal as a tech company or as a company in general. You want to be the first thing people think about when your industry is mentioned.
In the same manner, you want people to immediately refer to your company even if they just take a glimpse of your logo.
That’s what it means to have a truly distinctive logo. One way to have a distinctive logo is to actually create one that is attractive.
When something is attractive, that usually sticks to people’s mind.
But what constitutes an attractive logo? Using a bright color will also attract people. But you can’t just choose the brightest color you can find. This color should also be appropriate for your brand.
Plus, this color should look good on any surface. Remember that your logo is the company’s visual representation. This means that the logo should look good on anything.
For example, the logo is going to be in the storefront or office. Since you will be using a bright color, the logo should not blind people if it’s going to be created in a large scale.
The logo should get on quite well on paper, too. The logo will spend a lot of time on paper. And if you have to use black-and-white print, the logo should retain that identifiable aura.
When the logo is distinctive, there is a higher chance of it being memorable, too. But that’s not always true.
Aside from having a distinctive feature, it should also be something that people will think of even if they haven’t seen the logo anymore.
One way to really make a logo memorable is if it is significant to the brand.
This is easier to explain if we put examples. Let’s take a look at two of the most popular web browsers: Google and Mozilla Firefox. The Google logo is simple enough to remember, it’s a colorful G.
But what of Firefox? When you look at the logo, you will see a fox encircling a globe. The tail looks like a fire. Quite simple enough, right? Fire and fox will get you Firefox.
The interesting thing about it is that the logo was supposed to show a red panda surrounding a globe. But of course, people saw it as a fox instead. But that’s a story for another day.
The Firefox logo is memorable because even if you forget the name of the company, the logo will remind you of it.
That’s something you should aim for your logo as well. It should remind people of your brand and what it represents.
In the case of the Firefox, the logo will tell you that Firefox is there to help you navigate the world—or the World Wide Web.
Creating a logo is really a lengthy process. It should not be something that you do on a whim or just because there is a thing that you love most in the world.
The logo should have a story. In order for it to be effective and memorable, it should have a significant tie to what your company wants to represent in the world.
The logo is not just a visual representation of your tech startup. It should also represent the values of the brand.
The most popular logos in the world are usually the simplest. Apple and Nike are probably among the most distinctive and memorable logos right now. They are also very simple.
Less is more totally encapsulates the logo game.
Having a simple logo also makes it more versatile. You can put the logo anywhere you want, as it should be, without thinking about how it would stand out while blending in.
There are so many things you can do with a simple logo. There is also that notion that it will be simple to remember and would be easily recognized by consumers.
But if you’re truly creative, the simple designs don’t have to be boring. The Instagram logo, for example, is a simplistic camera. It used to be an image of a camera but has since been changed to a much simpler rendering of a camera but with brighter colors.
It may be a simple logo but it tells you everything you need to know about Instagram. It’s an image-sharing site, hence, the camera icon. You don’t even need the name Instagram anymore just to identify the logo.