How To Become a Logo Designer
Graphics are a succinct and efficient way of expressing information about anything. Whether it’s a brand or a product, a logo plays a pivotal role in impacting the company’s public perception. Logo design is an art of providing suitable representation to a product, organization, or brand with a recognizable graphic element that may include the name, symbol, or trademark of a company.
Responsibilities of a Logo Designer
A logo designer is responsible for creating visuals and pictures pleasing to the eyes and identifying with the brand’s face. A logo designer has to perform specific tasks and responsibilities to develop a perfect design related to the organization’s principles or the product.
Preparing the brief
The first thing a logo designer does is prepare a brief that is relevant to the organizations’ principles, ideology, or products. Understanding what the company stands for is one of a log designer’s major tasks before designing anything.
Coordinating with the company
Designing is a constant process that requires a thorough conversation and coordination between the designer and the client. Meeting with the representative and making the company participate at every stage of the design process is another responsibility of a logo designer.
Modifications
Designs call for modifications. During the development phase, there may be several changes from the client’s end. A logo designer is responsible for incorporating these changes with the desired design.
Innovation and creativity
While understanding the company’s profile and amalgamating creativity and authenticity together, a logo designer takes care that the design serves its purpose while being innovative.
Final layout
After the design development process, the logo designer presents the final layout in the clients’ desired formats.
Educational Requirements to be a Logo Designer
Logo designers usually pursue a bachelor’s degree in graphic design with coursework in composition, marketing, and drawing. A bachelor’s degree is an essential requirement for a logo designer to work for a design firm, corporate design department, publishing house, or advertising agency.
He can also work as a freelance graphic artist. The visual design studies revolve around the basic principles of design, computer design software, and marketing concepts.
Companies prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree over others for entry-level positions. An associate’s degree program might be required for a technically advanced position.
The courses include a wide array of subjects and topics such as graphic design history, composition, drawing, typography, photography, computer graphics, advertising, and corporate marketing concepts. The educational programs are designed to develop a professional portfolio of the students to apply for jobs.
Market Demands for Logo Designers
There is no denying from the fact that every brand needs a logo as its face value. Hence, logo designers are always in demand; with the growing startups and budding businesses, everyone wants to stay in front of the race while being equally distinctive. The first and foremost thing any brand and organization looks for is the logo to create an eccentric and attractive brand identity.
This has led to some glaring statistics that show how logo designing has seen a surge over a few years. Several reports and surveys have analyzed that 67% of small businesses are happy to spend a whopping $500 for logo design, and the price can go up to $1000.
The rates can differ according to different countries exploring distinct opportunities, but the demand for logo designers is common worldwide. Although the world is continually looking for people to identify their brand with a tinge of their expertise and pleasing aesthetical graphics, some designers can still not explore the market.
Thus, they end up getting fewer clients as compared to others. Considering this, we have discussed some essential tips for logo designers at the initial stage of their career to move ahead in the designer community.
Tips to Become a Logo Designer
#1. Learning the Basics of the Art
To be the master of the art, one requires to have an in-depth knowledge of the basics. Being a logo designer, one must continuously strive for eye-catching and attractive designs to convey a brand’s identity. With a thorough understanding of numerous demographics to create some iconic representations, a logo designer should deliver the specifics demanded by the company while being conscious of the social, cultural, and industry trends.
A logo designer should know that his creation will last for a lifetime, and hence to be timeless, it should not get influenced by the trends in the market. The designer’s responsibility is to brief the client about his visions and know the exact details they are looking for.
That is why the industry is often termed as highly competitive as it requires authentic and innovative thought that should be distinctive for every brand. Keep your basics intact and be confident in your abilities to lead through your career.
#2. Learning formal concepts, methods, and training
As discussed earlier, logo designing can be challenging at specific points. Passion and hard work should be your constant mates while pursuing your career because there will be instances where you will have to put yourself together to serve the client. And that is why formal credentials will be crucial for you.
A professional degree in graphic design and robust knowledge of the field can take you to heights. Proficiency in the design software and appreciation for typography will help to be relevant to the time’s developing spirit. The constant need to think out of the box might exhaust you, but the formal training and methods will keep you going to deliver excellence.
#3. Building a Strong Portfolio
Always remember, an impressive portfolio is what keeps you different from the crowd as it is the appropriate method to measure your skills and accomplishments. Hence, creating a portfolio after you earn a degree is very important. A professional and robust portfolio depicts that you can do things according to the specifications provided. Add your freelance work to make a more concentrated portfolio.
Apart from the portfolio, you can also work towards creating your brand. Social media serves as an influential platform through which you can showcase your work and gain credits. A personal brand will provide you legitimacy in the eyes of potential clients.
Remember to interact, engage, and build a network. Attend events and workshops to meet more influential people. It can help you to land plenty of opportunities and can add fair points to your portfolio.
#4. Latest Softwares in the market
Software is the best friend of a graphic designer. Logo designers should be familiar with all the software available in the market. Strong working knowledge of this software can help them achieve excellent results in a shorter period. The standard software used by graphic designers is Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, Corel Draw, Jeta Logo Designer, and Apple Motion.
Always consider a logo design software that matches your skill level. Look for the software that offers customizations with more number of templates. Cost is another major factor while looking for preferred software to design. A logo maker is usually less expensive, but make sure that you don’t settle for fewer tools or low-quality logo design while saving money.
#5. Developing your Brand
Being a logo designer, you are going to develop and design for brands for every other person. But how to create a brand of your own?
The industry is growing, and every organization wants to be different. To do so, they seek a logo designer to provide them legit face value. In such high demands, you have to get identified in the crowd.
A brand will define your name, face, style, and a way of communicating. It is crucial to research your target audience and your competitors to figure out your place in the market.
Be true to your personality and be focused on your style to define your positioning statement. It will help people who would like to reach you to know how you work. While planning all of this, do not forget to provide a name to your brand. You can use it for your name or can have an eccentric name that draws attention and curiosity at the same time.
Write what your brand is all about by defining your style of working. Portray all your work, whether professional or development sketches out there. The process that goes behind developing a logo can help you connect to several people. If possible, provide testimonials of the clients you have worked for. Their words can hugely impact the people who are looking out to work with you in the future.
Developing your brand while designing for others will help you evolve as a designer as you grow.
The Bottom Line
The professional field of Logo Design offers a vast scope. Branding and marketing have gained much importance lately. Every brand wants to ensure that they appear different and look unique amidst the pool of other products available.
Big and small businesses in today’s day and age are willing to spend a decent amount towards creating a brand identity that starts with a logo. To be a logo designer who stands out and creates an impression through his work, it is important to be true to the skills and potential as the industry has a lot to offer.
About the Author!
Saurabh Hooda has worked globally for telecom and finance giants in various capacities. After working for a decade in Infosys and Sapient, he started his first startup, Leno, to solve a hyperlocal book-sharing problem. He is interested in product marketing, and analytics. His latest venture Hackr.io recommends the best online programming courses for every programming language. All the tutorials are submitted and voted by the programming community.
Lovely article, I have enjoyed.