Bookstores are complex businesses with wide and diverse clientele. Kids, young adults, everybody goes to a bookstore, so it’s important to maintain a universal logo -and a general look- which everyone can rely on. And you will also need to give it a distinctive touch and make it unique. The perfect balance is what makes a logo successful. Yes, it sounds a little contradictory, but it’s not so hard to achieve; keep reading and learn some tricks to find the path to the right logo.
Plan your design process around the bookstore’s concept
The first step for any creative project is to arrange a plan, and logo design for a bookstore is no exception. You need to determine the system you will follow to create a great concept and define practical aspects like style and character. Here are some steps that will help you go on the right track when planning a logo design project.
- Do good research. Look for brand references and read about the publishing industry.
- Get to know the client. Interview the owners, check other bookstores’ logos, determine the spirit of the store and its books.
- Define the brand style. Minimalism? Expressionist? Abstract? Typography-based? Determine what style fits best the brand and work from there.
- Choose a color palette. Colors are one of the pillars of a logo, try to always follow the principles of color theory. For bookstores, it is recommended to use maximum two colors.
- At this point, you have what you need to start sketching and compiling ideas. Try different ideas and versions before sticking to one.
- After this, comes the presentation to the client and final adjustments. If all that goes well, you will end with the perfect logo design.
Look for the right references
You cannot create without a reference, because it is impossible to have an entirely original idea. That is why good references are key to have a good logo. When designing a bookstore logo, you have two options. The first option is the “traditional”: look into books. There are many publications dedicated to the art of logo design. You can go to a library or bookstore to find physical copies of these books, or buy them online.
The second option is also online. On the Internet, you can find everything you need. For example, writing is not my thing, so when I need a speech to make, I look for speech writers online delivering a helpful professional service. In the same way you can find countless references from other bookstores to inspire you. Concentrate on brands that have a style and energy similar to the brand you are representing.
The task is not just to see the references, you also need to study them. So, while doing your research, take note of references you consider are on the concept line you need for your logo. Take a photo of them and make annotations about the aspects that most called to your attention. Later you can compare all the references and identify the resources that will work your logo.
Think about Social Media
Social Media is a virtual life parallel to the “real life”, and even though the bookstore is physical, the brand must be part of the virtual world too. In consequence, the style, general design and logo have to work perfectly on social media interfaces.
Many find this useless because of the belief that books don’t fit on the internet. It’s true that the rise of e-books promoted by easy access to internet was harmful to bookstores. But social media has turned up to be a platform where bibliophiles share their passion for books. So, in social media, bookstores have all the space they can need to find new clients.
Here are some recommendations you can take into account in order to design a logo that fits perfectly with Social Media.
- Instagram – On Instagram, profile pictures are always small. A logo with too many details won’t look good.
- Facebook – You could add a complementary slogan or animation. These are attractive on Facebook.
- Twitter – Keep a square format for the logo, and, if you can, design a wider version for the header.
- Youtube – If possible, make animated logos to use as intro and outro.
Four logo design trends to take into consideration
Trends come and go, but when it comes to logo design, you should always be up-to-date. Here are some of the most popular graphic resources used in logos for bookstores.
- Dots, dots and dots. The patterns that use dots give a sensation of “halftone”, a vintage detail that usually fits bookstores. Make the best of the colors, but be very careful not to overdo the details.
- Doors. Books are portals to other universes, so a door as a part of the logo can give a nice symbology to the design. Works perfectly as a small detail or as a background.
- Zip Tone. Contrasting tones stripes, mezzotints, dual-tone dots, woodgrain, these are colorful ways to give your logo a touch of zip tone. For bookstores is cool, because books always fit with vintage styles.
- Spell Signs. This resource is generally discarded at first mention, but for bookstores is actually convenient. Why? Readers and literature lovers are familiar with it because it’s a resource frequently found in literature, especially in fantasy. Think about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Logos are a particular representation of a brand, so they have to capture the essence of it. While designing a logo for a bookstore you must consider that these are intimate and usually independent businesses. In these cases it’s always better to keep it simple and nice.
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