Every designer should be aware of the golden rules of logo design. These rules are designed to provide structure and guidance for every designer – at every stage of the process. They are also designed to provide a benchmark against which designers can compare their work and evaluate their progress. Simply put, every designer needs a list of basic guidelines that they need to follow every time they create a new logo or redesign an existing one. It will help them focus on the things that will make their work more solid and meaningful.
You join a logo creation business to make your dream become a reality. Even if that approach could work, it may also backfire, which is why it’s so important to follow the golden rules of logo design. If you want to refresh any of the old golden rules you may have learned along the road; you’re in the correct place. We’ll give you just a couple of quick pointers that you can start using today to bring a refreshingly classic perspective to your next marketing campaign. Let’s get started.
The golden rules of logo design are elementary but not easy to follow. That’s because they are designed so simply that the requirements of each discipline are not usually specified. But even though these guidelines may seem quite vague, they have a set meaning that can be applied to all logos and visual identities. Here are the three most essential components of the golden rules:
What are the rules of logo design?
There are a lot of things that a logo should not do.
One mistake that many companies make is that they overload their logos with information. A good logo will tell the story or concept behind the company, but if the story is so large that it overwhelms the logo, then it is pointless. A good logo should be simple yet elegant. Remember, it needs to be recognizable on everything from banners to business cards.
Lettering: A common mistake is excessive lettering. Too much lettering can distract and confound the viewer. If there are too many fonts to choose from, then it isn’t apparent. You want your logo to be clear and easy to read.
Busy logo: A logo that is too crowded is unappealing. A logo that is too busy is confusing. A messy-looking logo is distracting and often offensive. Allowing the lettering to be too free of lines or dots will make the logo more difficult to read.
Flat logo: A logo that is too flat looks boring. One of the golden rules of logo design is that flat logo is unappealing because it lacks visual appeal. A logo with too much color has no visual appeal. Suppose it looks like a stamp. Then it is too busy.
Colour: Excessive colors and unnecessary gradients are also annoying. Your logo should have an easy-to-read, consistent look.
- White is always a good choice, especially for logos that are white with black text. This matches anything white, like a website, brochure, or advertisement.
- Black is always a no-no for a logo. Even on dark backgrounds, it is unattractive and hard to see.
Specks and dots: Specks and bubbles are never acceptable. No one wants to see them, and they are distracting. Also, too many of them will make your logo look repetitive. Just remember to make sure that the text on your logo is clean and straightforward. No one wants to read garbage.
Spacing: The same applies to spacing. A little more than is necessary is terrible, too. If it is too much, then it looks like you overfilled the box. Make sure that it flows well without it making your text look sloppy.
Height: Height should be appropriate. It should not be too low or too high. This can confuse and distract from the principal lettering. A good rule to follow is that the background color should make it easier to read the text.
Fonts: You shouldn’t use fonts that are too fancy. It would help if you also didn’t have text that is too small or that blocks the actual lettering.
Shape: Using the wrong type of shape. It doesn’t matter if it’s an upside-down “A,” a rectangle, or any other weird shape. It should always be centered, and it should fill the entire frame of the logo. You can do this with a stroke or a pattern, depending on your preference.
Text: Your text should be easy to read and well-spaced without making it hard to read. This is one of the most important rules of logo design.
