Are you planning to order new custom apparel for your business, organization, or school this year? Adding embroidery, screen printing or other form of decoration is a simple and cost-effective way to look professional and stylish. There is one catch, however – you first need to create a logo that works.
What does it mean for a logo to “work,” exactly? It’s probably easier to picture a logo that doesn’t work. A bad logo is unclear, hard to read and confusing. It doesn’t make it obvious who the company is, what they do, or why it matters. Basically, printing or embroidering a bad logo is a waste of money.
If you focus on creating a great logo before creating your product, however, you can guarantee great results. Whether you’re working alone or with a designer, here are seven design tips to keep in mind for your logo (brought to you by Tallahassee design expert, Vince Labolito).
1. Simple, clean fonts work better than fancy ones. You need to read the name of your company quickly and at a distance.
Beautiful scripts, funky modern letters, flashy typography styles – we get it. Fonts are fun! In this case, however, you need your logo to be easy to read. Simplicity is key. Create a logo that shows your personality, but in a font that doesn’t distract from the name of your company. Go with a choice that is clean, classic and traditional. (Don’t worry – you can always use the fun fonts for your email signature.)
2. Don’t use the font “Comic Sans,” not once, not even a little bit.
When you create a logo, you want to choose an appropriate font. Comic Sans is perhaps the most talked-about font of all – and not in a positive way. From internet memes to an actual campaign to ban it, this childish, informal font is often hailed as being inappropriate for anything more than a children’s birthday party invitation. It’s probably not the best font choice for your logo (unless you’re a children’s birthday party invitation company. Even then – maybe reconsider).
3. Remember that your logo needs to work at all different sizes, from a billboard to a pen. Don’t make it too complicated.
You’ve probably seen it before – a billboard with minuscule text, way too small to read while passing on the road. The same goes for a logo. It needs to look good on a large-scale sign on a building but also embroidered on the front of a polo shirt, in a size that may not exceed a square inch. Focus on including the details that matter, and cutting out the extra noise so your logo is clean, readable and effective. You don’t want people to see it, squint and ask, “Wait, what did that say?”
4. While color is important, your logo should work easily in one color, as some items can only be decorated that way.
Using vibrant color can be a great way to capture everything you want to showcase in your logo. It’s important, however, to ensure the same logo still looks good in a single-color version. Depending on what branded apparel items you create, some can only be decorated with one color. If you’re not sure, a designer can help you test this out and adjust your design as necessary.
5. Geometric shapes and icons work better for logos than photographic elements. Photos often don’t reproduce well at smaller sizes.
If your original logo idea includes a photo of your face – first, we like your gusto. Second, we might unfortunately recommend switching it up. While photos are amazing for advertising your business on billboards, your website or even on your business card, photographic elements are tough to reproduce at a logo-size. Stick with simpler, cleaner design elements, such as geometric shapes and icons, for a logo that looks great at any size.
6. It’s good to have horizontal and vertical (or stacked) versions of your logo, so you can pick the best one for the item you’re decorating.
You never want to be stuck with a logo that doesn’t “fit” on an item you’re creating. That’s why designers almost always create multiple versions of a logo, including horizontal and vertical versions. While the shapes may be different in each one, the essence of the logo remains the same, which means it is still instantly recognizable. This is another instance where a designer’s expert help is a really good idea.
7. Never forget rule #2.
Trust us on this one.
Create a Logo That Works at Full Press Apparel
Logos are important and can help you make a great first impression when it matters most. Don’t waste time, money and energy on a logo you’re not 100 percent confident about. At Full Press Apparel, our team of designers is helpful, responsive and will work with you to bring your ideas to life. We produce beautiful custom embroidery and also specialize in branding, screen-printing, promotional products and more. Call or click today to get a quote.
