Bring it all Together - Logo
You will design an effective logo for a fictitious restaurant, clothing store, or musical group of your choosing. The process of logo design will be emphasized as much as the end result.
Step 1: Target market - example
During class we have previously learned what a target market is. You will be designing a logo which appeals to a specific demographic (or target market).
Step 2: Type of business - example
During class we will distinguish between a for-profit business, non-profit organization, specific product and event. You may design a logo for any of these.
Step 3: Planning for your logo design - example / example
1. Create a name for the band or restaurant.
2. Describe the band or restaurant. Who are they? What's their genre? Be clear because nobody has ever heard of them before.
3. Clearly describe their target market. Include information on their gender, age, and annual income. Describe their lifestyle characteristics.
Step 4: Brainstorm - example / example
List as many things that relate to the entity as possible. There are no wrong answers at this point. Brainstorm! Use the internet. Ask friends. Ask your parents. The more you come up with, the easier the next step will be!
Step 5: Competitor Research - example / example
What do the competitors' logos look like? What styles, fonts, imagery, and colors are they using? Use Google's image search to download images and neatly arrange them on the page.
Step 6: Demographic Research - sample - band / sample - restaurant
What does the target market/demographic look like? Who are you trying to attract? What gives a clear visual snapshot of the demographic?
Same specs as the previous step...Read, Do, Excel!
Print to the color printer.
Download the demographic research Illustrator template.
Step 7: Thumbnail sketches - example / example
Thumbnail sketches are small (thus the name 'thumbnail') and quick. The emphasis is on the logo CONCEPT as opposed to the drawing ability. CONCEPT, CONCEPT, CONCEPT!
Step 8: Rough sketch - example / example
Step 9: Digital Rough Drafts - sample - band / sample - restaurant
Now, use your knowledge and skills to create 2 different digital rough draft concepts. Explore fonts. Design for the target market! Carefully consider text size and placement. These aren't supposed to be perfect...they are rough concepts. Design for the target market!
Final - example
EXAMPLES OF COMPLETED PROJECT
Compile - example
Hand-write your name on the cover page. Staple all pages in order. Turn in. Smile! Eat chocolate! Boo-yah!
During class we have previously learned what a target market is. You will be designing a logo which appeals to a specific demographic (or target market).
Step 2: Type of business - example
During class we will distinguish between a for-profit business, non-profit organization, specific product and event. You may design a logo for any of these.
Step 3: Planning for your logo design - example / example
1. Create a name for the band or restaurant.
2. Describe the band or restaurant. Who are they? What's their genre? Be clear because nobody has ever heard of them before.
3. Clearly describe their target market. Include information on their gender, age, and annual income. Describe their lifestyle characteristics.
Step 4: Brainstorm - example / example
List as many things that relate to the entity as possible. There are no wrong answers at this point. Brainstorm! Use the internet. Ask friends. Ask your parents. The more you come up with, the easier the next step will be!
Step 5: Competitor Research - example / example
What do the competitors' logos look like? What styles, fonts, imagery, and colors are they using? Use Google's image search to download images and neatly arrange them on the page.
- Question: How many?
- Answer: How many will it take for you to feel confident that you have a grasp on what appeals to the demographic? Don't you hate when teachers answer questions with other questions?
- There is no "minimum" number of examples because we are Northside and we don't strive for minimum effort. We strive for excellence.
- Print to the color printer.
- Download the competitor research Illustrator template.
Step 6: Demographic Research - sample - band / sample - restaurant
What does the target market/demographic look like? Who are you trying to attract? What gives a clear visual snapshot of the demographic?
Same specs as the previous step...Read, Do, Excel!
Print to the color printer.
Download the demographic research Illustrator template.
Step 7: Thumbnail sketches - example / example
Thumbnail sketches are small (thus the name 'thumbnail') and quick. The emphasis is on the logo CONCEPT as opposed to the drawing ability. CONCEPT, CONCEPT, CONCEPT!
- Remember to keep your concepts SIMPLE! Text is a vital element of a logo design so don't forget about it.
- Remember the professional techniques that you clipped out of magazines: reversal, attach to path, comstock (offset path), hard shadow, replace type with image, type modification, & type contrast.
- Extra credit will be awarded for generating more thumbnails than are required.
Step 8: Rough sketch - example / example
- You are now the host of ABC's "The Bachelor - Logo Edition." You are tasked with sending a lot of logo concepts home.
- Narrow down your thumbnail sketches to the concept with the most potential. You will be dating this concept exclusively from now on. Choose a concept that is creative and follow the rules of effective logo design.
- Use a pencil to refine the concept so that it clearly communicates your ideas to your client. Drawings don't need to be perfect, but they do need to account for placement, proportions and clarity. Imagery is not a requirement, but if you choose to use imagery then make sure that you can create it yourself using Illustrator.
- Show your rough sketch to Ms. Turner before going on to the next step.
- Extra credit will be awarded for doing an additional rough sketch for a different concept.
Step 9: Digital Rough Drafts - sample - band / sample - restaurant
Now, use your knowledge and skills to create 2 different digital rough draft concepts. Explore fonts. Design for the target market! Carefully consider text size and placement. These aren't supposed to be perfect...they are rough concepts. Design for the target market!
- Design in black, white, and grey for now.
- Extra credit is available for a 3rd concept. sample - band / sample - restaurant
- Download the Digital Roughs Illustrator template.
- Concept Brief: Briefly explain the overall concept of your logo. Explain WHY you designed the logo concept the way you did. 50-75 words.
- Print to the black & white laser printer.
- Use a pen to check off which techniques you used.
Final - example
- TIPS & TRICKS FOR CREATING A FUN LOGO
- Download: Control-click on this link to download final logo Illustrator template directly to the desktop.
- It's the "final rose" ceremony at this point. Dress up nice and propose to your rough draft. You'll break the hearts of all of your previous concepts. Send the dirtbags packing!
- Finalize the logo. This is the place to fine tune it. Attention to detail is key. Nail down exact colors. The final logo is a 2 or 3 color design... not 1 color, not 4 colors.
- Layout and placement very important because this is the logo that is locked. It won't ever change.
- Company/Organization Info: Briefly explain who this company, organization or event is. Who is their target market? You have ALREADY DONE THIS! Use your work from earlier in the project.
- Concept Brief: Briefly explain the overall concept of your logo. Explain WHY you designed the logo concept the way you did. You can probably just copy/paste most of what you wrote for your rough concept. You have ALREADY DONE THIS!
- Print final logo to the color printer.
EXAMPLES OF COMPLETED PROJECT
Compile - example
Hand-write your name on the cover page. Staple all pages in order. Turn in. Smile! Eat chocolate! Boo-yah!