Logos are everywhere, all around u.s.. Just look at what you're wearing---chances are yous've been branded like a Nascar pony without even realizing it. And now it's your turn to add to the mix, because you've been asked to design a logo.

Before nosotros go as well much further, let's talk well-nigh what exactly you've been asked to do. For starters, what, exactly, is a logo?

A logomark is a graphical element that represents something nigh a company and the associate brand. About logos are fabricated of 2 elements: the logotype and logomark.

The logomark is the illustration or graphic.

The logotype is a typographic treatment of a word or phrase. Most logotypes take been stylized in some style, merely there are those which have been crafted from unadulterated type, or are even created by hand. The qualities displayed in the logotype as well speak to the make and the bulletin.

Let's use the Nike logo as an example:

designing logos in adobe illustrator

Nike's logo is made up of ii distinct elements, the swoosh and the word "Nike." The swoosh is the logomark, while "Nike" is the logotype.

So what do these things represent? The swoosh logomark represents the wings of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. But the swoosh also embodies much more virtually the Nike ethos: speed, grace, power, agility, or the face of that kid that blew by you on the soccer pitch.

The stylized "NIKE" is the logotype. Nike's logotype leaves no doubt that the brand is all about conviction and courage.

Some brands opt for just one or the other. Apple and Twitter chose the logomark, for example, while Catechism opted simply for logotype. FedEx went with the logotype, merely in a manner that creates an additional shape, creating an arrow out of the negative infinite between the East and the 10.

designing logos in adobe illustrator

In that location's no way you tin know all the different ways that your logomark may be used in the future, simply there are some things you lot tin do now to make certain your piece of work endures.

1. Logotype and logomark independence. It is of import that the logotype and the logomark piece of work together to eternalize the brand, but information technology is just equally important---if non more so---that they each exist able to stand on their own.

Think about it; you don't need to see annihilation other than that swoosh to know what brand of gear you're looking at. And how many times take you seen sweatshirts with just "Nike" emblazoned on them?

All the best logos are made of elements which can fend for themselves.

Hither are a few more than examples of logos you lot would withal recognize without whatever text:

designing logos in adobe illustrator

2. Strive for simplicity. Look at a collection of famous logos. Chances are that they are all relatively simple marks. You're not likely to observe also many colors, gradients, myriad line weights, or overly complex shapes amongst the bunch.

3. Conceptualize its usage. Think about how your logo is likely to be used. Volition it be tiny, on the side of a building, on a lid, on a cake, on a screen, or somewhere else? The simpler your marking, the easier it volition be for it to meet all these challenges without falling apart, or even worse, costing your client an arm and a leg to reproduce.

The Starbucks logo, for example, appears on signage, packaging, and much more than.

designing logos in adobe illustrator
Image Credit: Alan Sung/Flickr

Why Create Your Logo Using Illustrator?

That rule of simplicity brings united states to the crux of this article, and what you probably came here for: Adobe Illustrator. Yes, there are other programs that will practise some of what nosotros are about to discuss, but none of them will handle the job with the same level of universal confidence and ease.

Using Adobe Illustrator to design your logo is smart for a number of reasons, only let's focus on the biggest one: vectors.

When yous work inside Illustrator, you are working with vectors.

Put simply, vectors allow you to depict using math. Don't worry, you won't take to know what a sine is or able to define a bezier curve; the program will do all that messy computation for you.

All you need to know is that when you pattern with vectors, you're designing with precision, and your work tin exist resized to any size without losing a chip of particular. That ways that a given vector prototype can be a pocket-size as an alphabetize card, or projected onto the face of a edifice, and information technology will look exactly the same.

This mathematical precision gives you, the designer, an phenomenal level of control over your work. You tin control line weights, perfect curves, circular corners, edit typography, and and so much more.

In that location's no right way to create a logo. Some designers jump straight into pixel pushing, some sketch on paper first, and at that place's probably at least i who dabbles in black magic to go things going.

Whatever path you choose, make sure y'all keep track of your piece of work, label your layers, and keep the brand'south message in mind.

This is the method nosotros suggest:

1. Practice Your Enquiry

Look at other logos in the industry and design trends in the field. You don't desire a logo that looks similar everyone else's, but you also don't desire to stick out for the wrong reasons.

ii. Understand the Mission

If this is a logo for someone else, talk to them and understand what they desire to accomplish. Too be sure that you're both on the same page in terms of deliverables.

Does the client expect multiple file formats? Do they expect dissimilar sizes for utilize on social media? How many revisions are you willing to brand? What is the deadline? All these things should be worked out beforehand.

Aside from the logistics, for a smooth and successful feel you demand to understand their make: what product or service does the company offer? Who is their target audience? Who are their competitors?

If it's a logo for yourself, make sure you lot have a clear idea for yourself of all the things that y'all would ask a client. Think nearly colors, aesthetic, and mood---all of the things the customer should convey to you, or that you lot'll need to effigy out yourself.

3. Start on Newspaper

If y'all're overwhelmed by Illustrator or digital design, start on paper. Anybody can sketch out an thought with a pencil or pen. A blank piece of newspaper can be less intimidating than a bare screen. Sketch a few different ideas. Having multiple options is good, especially if you lot're dealing with a client.

iv. Move to Illustrator

At present information technology's time to replicate and refine that design in Illustrator. In the next section of the article, we'll go into more item on the bodily how-to that goes into creating a logo in Adobe Illustrator.

five. Present, Revise, Evangelize

The final step is to present your piece of work to the client, have on their edits, and deliver the last product based on your prearranged deal. Nosotros would suggest showing no more than than three to five strong options to a client.

This logo could become a part of your portfolio and you lot want to be sure that the work that you present always represents who you are as a designer.

Designer Aaron Draplin has a groovy video on his logo creation process which you tin can view below:

Creating the Logo in Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator tin can exist a little overwhelming at first with its many panels and more, but once you learn how to utilise the program, in that location's a ton you tin do with it.

Sentry the video below to discover out how to become Illustrator set upwardly for logo pattern:

There are several tools you can utilize in Illustrator to create the shapes and text that will brand up your logo. This is a good identify to start if you lot're but getting started with pattern.

The Shape Tool

Using the keyboard shortcut G or clicking on the shape tool in the Tool Menu, you can create rectangles, rounded rectangles, circles, polygons, and stars.

The video beneath is a great introduction to the Shape tool for the consummate beginner:

The Pen Tool

Ane of the more challenging tools to use in Illustrator, the Pen Tool (Keyboard shortcut P) is great for creating gratuitous form shapes.

You tin can apply the Bezier Game to help you lot sympathize exactly how the Pen tool works.

The Line Tool

Add together thin or thick lines to your design using the Line Segment Tool (Keyboard shortcut \) by adjusting the stroke size.

The Type Tool

Add your logotype using the Type Tool (keyboard shortcut T).

At that place are lots of sites that make it easy to detect the perfect font, but exist certain to attach to the font's license, particularly if this logo relates to a commercial venture.

With the Blazon Tool, not but tin can you select your typeface, you can also suit the spacing betwixt the letters (kerning) and the spacing between lines (leading).

The Create Outlines Tool

Remember how I mentioned that Illustrator is bully for logos because it allows you to create vectors? If you lot want to vectorize your text, y'all can do this by correct clicking the text and selecting Create Outlines.

Merely apply this tool when you're certain that your text looks exactly the fashion y'all want it, or if you plan to movement the letters individually. Creating outlines out of your type means the text is no longer editable.

It too means that if you need to share a logotype with someone who doesn't have the font you used, it won't matter.

Alternatively, y'all can use this feature to resize or movement messages closer or farther apart without having to get into the Character panel.

Shape Builder Tool

If you want to create your logo entirely out of shapes, The Shape Builder Tool (Shift + N) is your new all-time friend. You tin can use this to combine shapes in a powerful way.

Information technology does require y'all to exist able to look at a series of shapes as more than just shapes---in that location are endless possibilities when you lot think about combining shapes or remove parts of overlapping shapes.

You tin see exactly how the shape builder tin can be used in logo design in the video below:

Pathfinder

If y'all notice the Shaper Tool confusing, the Pathfinder panel (Windows > Pathfinder) offers an easier, but less robust, method of combining and subtracting objects.

The Color Tool

When you know what colors you're working with, you can create a color palette in Illustrator and keep it on hand. When you want to alter the color of an element in your design, having that swatch prepare to become means you can simply use your eyedropper tool to hands alter the colour. See this in action in the video beneath:

Versioning Your Logo in Illustrator

Aaron Draplin also has some great advice for your process in Illustrator. He recommends creating a shape, duplicating it, working off of the second shape, and continuing to do and then throughout your unabridged blueprint process.

This way y'all can hands step back to an earlier stage of your design if you lot're unhappy with your progress. It too allows you to hands build multiple versions of a logo starting from different points.

See It All Come Together

You can run across most of these tools come together to create a logo in under a minute:

What If Y'all Don't Have Illustrator?

Adobe's products are expensive. If you're looking to starting time a career in design, yous'll probably want to invest in a Creative Cloud account. But if you lot're but looking to create a one-off logo, in that location are alternatives to consider.

Y'all can create a logo with Microsoft Give-and-take or with gratis online logo generators. A few online and desktop alternatives to Illustrator will offer you a like adequacy.

Plus, you lot can become Photoshop and Lightroom for a lot less than the entire Adobe CC suite, so y'all could utilise Photoshop instead to create a logo. Just don't forget that Photoshop uses pixels and then your blueprint won't be scalable.

Want to create other types of visuals speedily? Try PicMonkey for powerful design and photo-editing tools.

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About The Author

Nancy Messieh (872 Articles Published)

Nancy is a writer and editor living in Washington DC. She was previously the Heart East editor at The Next Web and currently works at a DC-based think tank on communications and social media outreach.

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