Five logo design mistakes
What makes a logo unreadable, forgettable or awkward to use, and how to avoid it.
A logo lives on a shop sign, a social media avatar, a receipt and a favicon in a browser tab. A good mark works everywhere. Here are the mistakes that most often get in its way.
1. Too much detail
Fine elements that look great on a big screen blur into a smudge at 32 pixels. Test your logo at the smallest size it will ever appear.
2. Only one version
You need at least a horizontal version, a compact one and a standalone mark, plus variants for light and dark backgrounds.
3. Relying on colour
If the logo can’t be recognised in a single colour, it won’t work on a stamp, an engraving or black-and-white print.
4. Chasing trends
Fashionable gradients and effects age quickly. A simple mark will last for years.
5. Being too literal
A dental clinic with a tooth, a coffee shop with a cup. Such a logo is clear, but it gets lost among dozens of similar ones. Look for an idea that says something about your character.
A good test: could a client draw your logo from memory? If so, you are on the right track.