Your brand logo design is your first impression, your handshake, and your brand’s voice before you say a word. Think about Instagram’s colorful camera icon or the four-pane window that instantly signals Microsoft. You recognize them in a split second, right? That’s the power of a well-designed logo: it speaks volumes about a brand before a single word is said.
But how do you even begin creating a logo that speaks for your brand? What colors should you pick? What fonts feel right? Should you add a symbol or skip it altogether?
If you’ve been staring at a blank canvas wondering how to bring your brand to life in one simple design, you’re in the right place. This blog will walk you through each step of the logo creation process, from defining your brand’s personality to testing your design on real-world mockups.
Let’s turn that idea in your head into a logo you’re proud to put on your website, business card, or even a hoodie!
11 simple strategies to create a logo
1. Define what your brand stands for
Before you even think about colors or fonts, you need to get clear on your brand’s personality. Your logo should reflect who you are and what you stand for.
Ask yourself:
- What does my brand promise?
- Am I fun and playful or serious and professional?
- Do I want to appear premium or affordable?
For example, if you’re starting a luxury skincare brand, your logo might need to feel clean, elegant, and high-end. If it’s a dog walking service, you might go for something friendly and approachable.
2. Get to know your ideal customers
You’re not designing for yourself, you’re designing for your audience. Think about who you’re trying to attract. What do they care about? What type of visual style appeals to them? A logo for a trendy coffee shop targeting Gen Z should feel completely different from a logo for a legal consultancy firm.
If you’re unsure, look at brands your audience already follows. What kind of logos do they connect with? This will help you pick the right tone: modern, minimal, bold, traditional, or something else entirely.
3. Research logo design basics and color psychology
Good design is about communicating clearly. Take some time to learn the basics of logo design. There are different types of logos and each works well in different situations.
- Wordmarks: Use full brand name in a unique font (e.g., Google, Coca-Cola).
- Lettermarks: Use initials or abbreviations to create a simple logo (e.g., HBO, IBM).
- Symbols (Icons): Use a graphic or symbol without text (e.g., Apple’s apple, Twitter’s bird).
- Combination marks: Combine text and a symbol together for flexibility (e.g., Adidas, Starbucks).
- Emblems: Text inside a shape or badge, often traditional and formal (e.g., Harley-Davidson, Starbucks badge).
- Abstract marks: Use abstract geometric shapes or designs to represent your brand (e.g., Nike swoosh, Pepsi circle).
- Mascots: Use a character or illustrated figure to represent the brand (e.g., KFC’s Colonel Sanders, Michelin Man).
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, just pick what fits your brand best and keeps things clear at any size.
Also, get familiar with color psychology. Colors trigger emotions and shape how people perceive your brand. Blue builds trust (used often in finance and tech), red grabs attention (great for food and retail), green suggests nature or health, and black signals luxury. Choose colors that match the feeling you want your audience to get from your brand.
4. Pick a color palette
Choosing the right color palette is more than just picking your favorite color. Your colors should match your brand vibe and work well together. Aim for 2–3 core colors that you can use consistently across all your branding.
Think of how your logo design will look on different backgrounds. Will your colors pop on both light and dark surfaces? Use tools like Coolors to test color combinations. A bakery might go for warm pastels, while a tech company may lean toward cool blues and greys. Keep it simple as less is more.
5. Select fonts that reflect your brand tone
Fonts are powerful. They can make your brand look friendly, serious, creative, or bold, all without saying a word. Serif fonts (with little strokes at the ends) often feel classic and reliable. Sans-serif fonts (clean, no strokes) feel modern and approachable.
You might choose a soft, flowing script if you’re starting a yoga studio. For a software company, you might pick a clean sans-serif. Be careful with decorative fonts as they might look cool but can be hard to read. Always test how your font looks in different sizes and formats.
Here are some font examples to consider:
- Serif fonts (classic and trustworthy): Times New Roman, Georgia, Garamond
- Sans-serif fonts (modern and clean): Helvetica, Arial, Open Sans
- Script fonts (elegant and flowing): Pacifico, Brush Script, Great Vibes
- Decorative fonts (creative but use sparingly): Lobster, Comic Sans, Impact
6. Add shapes or symbols that support your brand message
Adding a shape or symbol can help reinforce your brand identity. This is optional, but a well-chosen symbol can make your logo more memorable. Think of a leaf for an eco-friendly brand or a flame for a hot sauce company.
Just make sure the symbol is simple and works well in both small and large sizes. You don’t want to lose detail when your logo appears as a small profile picture. Also, check that it still makes sense without color, you may need a black-and-white version too.
7. Explore logo design templates for inspiration
If you’re not a professional designer, templates can give you a solid starting point. Platforms like PosterMyWall offer various customizable logo templates that cover a wide range of industries and styles.
Browse through different layouts and pay attention to what grabs your attention. Look at font pairings, icon placement, and spacing. Don’t just pick and use a template as-is; customize it to fit your brand’s identity. Change the colors, fonts, and icon to make it feel uniquely yours.
8. Create a few logo drafts or variations
Don’t stop at the first version. Design a few variations of your logo. Try different layouts such as horizontal vs. stacked. Test it with and without a tagline. Play around with spacing, font weights, and icon positioning.
This gives you options to compare and helps you see what works best. Often, your best design is version #3 or #4 and not the first one you create. It also helps to step away from your designs for a day and come back with fresh eyes.
9. Test your logo
Your logo design won’t live in a vacuum, it’ll be on social media, websites, packaging, t-shirts, and maybe even billboards. That’s why testing your logo on mockups is crucial. What looks good on a blank screen might not work on a real background.
Upload your logo to a website header, place it on a mock business card, or try it on merchandise like a hoodie or tote bag. This will show you if your design holds up in the real world. You’ll spot issues with sizing, contrast, or readability quickly.
10. Get feedback from trusted sources or potential customers
Before you finalize your logo, get a second opinion, or a few. Show your top versions to friends, family, or even ideal customers. Ask them how the logo makes them feel and what kind of brand they think it represents.
Avoid leading questions. Instead, ask:
- What does this logo say to you?
- If you saw this, what kind of business would you think it is?
- How does this logo design make you feel?
- Is the logo easy to read and understand?
- What stands out most about this design?
Look for patterns in feedback. If multiple people say it feels too casual or hard to read, take note and tweak accordingly.
11. Finalize the logo and start using it consistently across platforms
Once you’re happy with the final version and it performs well in testing, it’s time to lock it in. Save your logo in multiple formats: PNG for digital use, SVG or EPS for printing, and JPEG for quick previews.
Then use your logo design everywhere: your website, social media, email signature, product labels, invoices – you name it. Keep your colors and fonts consistent. This builds recognition and helps your brand feel professional and polished across every touchpoint
How to create a logo with PosterMyWall
Designing a logo with PosterMyWall is quick, easy, and beginner-friendly. Here’s how to get started:
- Look through the templates and pick one that feels right for what you do, whether that’s a restaurant, a salon, or a retail store.
- Add your business name, change the colors, try out different fonts, and swap in icons or shapes that match your style. It’s all drag-and-drop, so you can tweak it as much as you like.
- Once it looks good, share online or download your logo and use it wherever you need, including your website, social media, business cards, or even packaging.
Learn more about logo design via this logo creation guide.
FAQs
- How do I know which type of logo is right for my brand?
Think about how people will see and use your logo. If your brand name is short, a wordmark might work great. If it’s long, a lettermark or symbol could be better. Consider your industry, audience, and where your logo will appear: online, on products, or in print.
- How many colors should I use in my logo?
Keep it simple. 1 to 3 colors are ideal. Too many can make your logo look messy. Pick colors that reflect your brand’s vibe. Use online color theory tools to find combos that look good and mean something to your audience.
- How do I test if my logo works well?
Try placing it on different backgrounds; white, black, colored, and even photos. Put it on mockups like business cards, websites, or T-shirts. Ask others for feedback. Make sure it’s clear, balanced, and still looks good when scaled down.
- Do I need a tagline in my logo?
Only if it adds real value. If your brand name doesn’t explain what you do, a tagline can help. But keep it short and easy to read. And test how it looks with and without it; sometimes, simple is stronger.
