5 Essentials When Designing a Logo
I've been lucky enough to work with a lot of clients the past year to create logos for and want to share a few essentials I've learned or realized.
These tips work for anyone buying a logo, picking a logo from someone they hired, or when making it themselves.
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1) It has to work on all sizes. Can it fit on a business card? Will it look good on a t-shirt?
2) Be clever but don't be cliche. For example, no one will be impressed by an idea company using a light bulb.
3) The execution has to look professional, keep it proportional. Remember, almost everything is made out of shapes. Use them as your guide. I said proportional not symmetrical, it absolutely depends what you are doing. Symmetrical may or may not be a viable option.
4) It MUST fit your brand. If it doesn't look associated with your brand, it does more harm than good.
5) Does it help tell your story? If you are gonna have animations, is it the type of logo that can be animated? Can it be used in your messaging? Can it be on merchandise? Can it be used on marketing materials and advertisements in a clever way? It all has to consolidate at the end.
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There are a lot of nightmare scenarios and science fiction stories that detail the events of laws being passed that will force people to surgically implant microchips into their bodies and/or brains. I come bearing news, that will never happen because humanity will do so without force most people will do it. That may sound like a big claim to make and may immediately think "I would never do it" but imagine this scenario, Bob is your OKAY co-worker. He goes day-by-day but is by no means exceptional. Bob goes in for surgery and comes out and several days later is objectively a better employee. Why is this? Well Bob had surgery that allowed him to literally boost his processing power which has resulted in him working faster. He also spent money on an add-on which allows him to monitor/influence his emotions. As a result, Bob has become more consistent of an employee operating at a faster/more efficient rate. Naturally, Bob will only continue to improve while everyone else slows down unless everyone else does what Bob does.
If you don't change you will be left behind. This will have a direct impact on your economic lifestyle, your social life, your role in society, as well as numerous other ways. Now, does that mean there won't be glitches, errors or hacking? Most likely no, there will be plenty of that. But as monumental and large as the problems may be, I presume the solutions will be just as monumental and just as quick. An entire sector in the economy will form to manage and enhance the new hybrid lifestyle. You don't ask people "do you have a smart phone?" you ask "what kind of phone do you have?" Eventually, the question won't be "have you become a hybrid?" it will be "which operating system/upgrade are you running on?"
There's also another reason we will do so, survival. Why? Technology is exponentially growing (if you want to look more more about this, look up "Moore's Law." If you are truly curious and want to explore more of this I would look up what the chief director of technology of Google [Ray Kurzewil] has to say on the matter). Will technology evolve so far that it will generate a consciousness of it's own (artificial intelligence)? IF this happens (what I've said before this paragraph is irregardless of this happening or not), A.I would be a separate conscious being whom unlike us, would be growing exponentially. To put that in more blatant terms, it as a potential species would be drastically improving while we would be limited to our biological limitations. Would a more evolved creature we essentially created be hostile to us? It's hard to say, but there is no disputing what we do to other sentient beings. We know dolphins are a thinking, self-aware being to the point they have their own language, , but despite this we pollute in their homes. What's to stop A.I. from growing so far that it wouldn't be such a big deal to harm our lives if it meant improving theirs? One way to stop a potential catastrophe is by merging with it so we too would grow exponentially. If we are on the same playing field, our chances of survival is much greater and we can live on as a species.
Almost everyone in the tech world does not ask "if" they ask "when", and when this time happens we will voluntarily merge with machine. Why? Because when machines prove to us they can improve their lives we have few hesitations in making them part of our lives. Even if we are hesitant, there will be others who will not be and they will quickly seek the benefits. Eventually in order to compete in society we too will make the leap and perhaps this will be the decision that saves us from potential extinction.
#technology #tech #phones #apple #artificialintelligence #robots #machine #microchips #chips #quantumcomputers #quantummechanics #virtualreality #reality #philosophy #debate #thought #thinking #creative #blog #writing #mood #awesome #elonmusk #markzuckerberg #raykurzweil #google #microsoft #cars #life
Most students who study art, graphic design, anything in those fields do not become designers. These harsh but very possibly true words came from my former teacher who is the Director of the Type Club (large prominent group that hosts prominent speakers constantly). He was making a whole other point at the time and it was a point he casually mentioned but what he said there is what stood out to me. Most design students don't become designers? Why is this?
This was just a few months ago. Since then I've done freelance work, branding work for upcoming companies, and I currently work as a graphic designer for a company doing various things for them ranging from managing/updating their website, designing emails that go out to customers and partners (such as the NY Yankees), aid in 3D work/presentations, layouts, sell sheets (basically advertisements sales people use) and so on and so forth. Despite all of this, what my teacher said has stayed in my head and I've tried to let time provide an answer and I think it has.
So many artists, designers, etc are extremely talented and creative however because of this they know what is the 'best.' Many designers and artists who are constantly practicing know their flaws so much so it is basically glaring them in the eyes. The internet is a blessing and a curse because we are surrounded by SO MUCH amazing art by people around the world. You can either use it as inspiration or get drowned in how good other people are.
If you are reading this blog you probably have browsed through this site and if you haven't I implore you to do so. Go to the homepage, search 'most popular by last month' and wait to be amazed by some of the work. The detail, the success, the beauty...and then you click further and you find out the artwork you were amazed by was done by a 14 year old and reality sinks in. Or you look up work in the respective field you are trying to be in and look at the best and you just imagine how long it will take with constant practice and effort to get to that level.
Doubt is GOOD, it means you are humble and you are being realistic. However, letting doubt debilitate you is the saddest thing that can happen and after the last two years I believe this is what happens to designers. I think many designers become anxious by their flaws and are constantly in doubt about themselves. Many designers have a hard time taking criticisms as well that can further their career. I have seen way too many talented and amazing artists become absolutely stagnant due to self doubt.
The only person you should be challenging is yourself and if your path is solid then you will get to your destination. If your path is wobbly it will be apparent and you need to spend time developing a genuine game plan to get to where you want to be. If your worry is employment, I will tell you this, if you are willing to learn what the market place asks for then I promise you will find a job in the design field. There are many design jobs out there because most companies that are successful need designers around the clock. There has been no better era to become a professional artist/designer.
Let your doubts debilitate you or help you reach your goals, you decide.
#art #design #graphicdesign #school #education #artist #anxiety #moods #depression #happy #artschool #designschool #comics #comicart #illustration
This seems like a radical divergence from the current protocol because right now everyone's profile looks the same, why? Because when Facebook first launched they were competing with MySpace. MySpace's default profile page was wonky, there was no question about that. Facebook's standard design is far superior to MySpace's, not to mention Facebook had a pretty brilliant marketing plan (intentional or not, make an exclusive club people want to join). MySpace believe it or not is still around but they are no longer trying to compete with Facebook, Mark you won the fight years ago.
Facebook clearly has no issue replicating good ideas that companies have (or attempts to buy them outright). MySpace allowing customization through HTML and CSS introduced an entire generation to coding. I am one of those people, and although I abandoned coding years after the MySpace days, the basics were there and I was able to utilize that when I actually got serious about web design.
If Mark Zuckerberg is serious about wanting more coders on this planet then he must allow customization on Facebook. Mark, I ask you to seriously consider this proposal. What do young people want to do more than anything? Create an identity. Making Facebook profiles customizable through HTML and CSS would force people to learn these languages so they can have a style. Mark, I have zero question this would be the case.
#MakeFacebookEditable #MoreCoders #MakeMoreCoders #MakeTheWorldCode #CodeTheWorld #Facebook #SocialMedia #Marketing #Branding
How to Get into Art/Design School
Let me start by saying this isn’t for the lazy, the unmotivated, those who do not have some type of vision. This isn’t for those who aren’t willing to work hard starting today (even if you have obligations and cannot physically do work, you can start mentally getting in gear).
Hi, my name is Dave and I recently started working full-time as an in-house graphic designer for a medical company and do freelance work for Pivot Brands and other side clients. A year ago I was starting design school undergoing an accelerated two year program condensed in one year. It was an extremely rewarding experience and certainly helped catapult me to where I am today. SHOULD you go to art/design school? Perhaps I will write another article or make a video answering that question.
With that said, you are here because you are thinking about or actively attempting to get into design school. First, do you know what you want to do? Graphic design? Fashion design? 3-D design? Web Design? It’s okay if you don’t know. I am 27 and this path I took is completely different from the one I was on just a few years ago. A few years ago I was wearing a tie and shirt as a salesman and that’s what I wanted to do. Things can change in the early years of career development and that’s okay, but even if you aren’t sure about your path give it ONE HUNDRED percent. If I didn’t give it 100% when I was in sales and recruiting and experience all there was to offer then I would never have been satisfied with switching careers. I would have always in the back of my mind wondered “what if?” Yet, because of the fact I give it my all I can proudly say I use the skills I learned every day and in every conversation. When you apply yourself you will grow as a person and that is never something to be worried about or be ashamed about.
Around the time I decided to apply to design school I managed to integrate some of what I could do in Photoshop in one of my recruiting jobs. I made simple but effective banners that I used in social media and while recruiting. Eventually as I began to focus on it, like anytime you focus on something, I improved at it and started getting more relevant tasks. I decided it was time to go full in and apply to design school. I looked at the portfolio requirements and — I had barely anything what they were looking for. I had to essentially start my portfolio from scratch and learn the fundamentals of design quick.
And this is why this it doesn’t matter where you right now, what matters is where are you going to be by the time you submit your portfolio? No matter what the deadline is, time is of the essence. Do not get comfortable, do not wait, now is the time to act. The first step is to aim to be diverse. Look to see what the portfolio requirements are. Some schools simply want your 12 best work. Others have general guidelines which you want to make sure you do not want to stray from. There are those school however, like the one I applied to, that has some explicit instructions with also some best work that I could choose from. Regardless of what the requirements are, you want to start learning and working quickly.
Don’t try and be the best, be YOUR best. If you are constantly measuring yourself and your work by how it was yesterday then you will be surprised how much progress you will make.
Find the leaders of the industry you want to be in and flood yourself in their work. Literally make a folder on your desktop titled “Portfolio inspiration” and put everything you like or makes you think in there. The type of work you surround yourself with will have a direct impact on the work you produce. Now remember, often times the people producing the work you’re inspired by are people who have been immersed in the field for years and years and years. Do not be discouraged if your work isn’t at the same caliber, THIS IS WHY YOU ARE GOING TO SCHOOL! Schools are looking for those who develop themselves, who can show they tried new things, who show potential.
If you want to show potential and show diversity then put yourself in uncomfortable shoes. Often times the brain storming process can be painful, THAT IS FINE. Actually, some designers will argue the best ideas come from intense moments of discomfort. Find tutorials and make cool stuff. This is the type of initiative schools want to see! Even if you don’t have the latest programs in your field, you would be amazed at what you can accomplish with these utilities. Even if you stick with the more traditional approaches, follow tutorials! If you illustrate, look at some of the cool effects people figured out to replicate with just a pencil and paper. If you paint, look at some of the innovative ways painters learned how to paint.
Make it rain design and art. The more drafts you do, the more work you create, the better ideas will come. You will have A LOT of awful ideas, THAT IS FINE. Some of my best ideas have sprouted from the worst ones. Literally take out a paper and pencil and start sketching. If you haven’t done this before it’s going to feel awkward, THAT IS GOOD. You want to be in a different state of mind and uncomfortable spots is great for sprouting creativity. Make it rain and it will flood.
THERE IS A REASON why when the most famous, most legendary people speak about their accomplishments they often times marginalize what they have done and give credit elsewhere, because many of these people would not have been able to do if it wasn’t for the people before them.
“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants” is obviously the quote in the banner and was said by one of the most capable people in known history, Isaac Newton. Even a man of his incredible intellect (seriously, google the history of calculus and you will be shocked) and talent is responsible for a quote like that. We don’t have the burden of figuring every little thing out, people have already done so in the past and have recorded it. Learn from the people of the past, learn from the people now, it is the only way.
Art and design can sometimes feel overwhelming. Do not let yourself get trapped in your own head, I have seen some of the most creative talented people get stuck because they are a prisoner of their own mind. Are there successful people and people who have been doing this forever? Yes. But there are many more who are lazy, not motivated, perform tasks half-assed and many of them are in the pool that you’re competing with. If you are reading this blog you are past several groups of people because you took the initiative to see what people have done to accomplish what you are trying to do.
Put this into context but do not underestimate the situation either. You are auditioning to give an institution money. That’s not to say many in the institution don’t want to help their students, of course they do, but at the end of the day that is the foundation of what a school like that is. Look at things through their perspective, if you wanted to fill your classrooms what kind of students would you want? You have been in class before, which kind of students do teachers like better? They like the ones that actually progress right? They want the ones who work hard and can show their work. Of course everyone likes the Michael Jordans, the super stars, but no one everyone is delusional. Most people know those people are rare and often times they fizzle out anyway. Schools are looking for those people to take advantage of what they have and to use what they learned after they graduate.
If you enjoyed this, please do me a favor and click the following link (original location of the blog) perezperspective.com/2017/08/0…
If you have any questions or comments, comment below!