Logo Designers FAQs and Resources

What is a logo?

A logo consists of a graphical element and a logotype which form a trademark or commercial brand. A logo can be used for immediate recognition for any organisation, and is a main aspect of an organisation’s economic entity or commercial brand. Every colour, image, font and shape will be different by others within a similar industry. Logos are used to identify an organisation and other non-commercial entities.

What is logo design?

Logo design is an important part of the graphic design process, and is also a difficult process to perfect. The logo or ideogram is an image that embodies an organisation. Logo’s should represent a company brand or corporate identity and foster a customer’s recognition immediately.

How long can the design process take?

Logo designing providers should have a number of packages that can meet their client’s budget and timely requirements. Each package that is on offer may feature a different time for delivery but they will all feature the exact design attention and efforts for a client’s particular requirements. A logo designer should aim to have a preliminary design available to show their client within an average of three working days. Obviously that can all depend on the package chosen by the client. Also, the client needs to take into consideration the actual time that it can take to revise the logo design and if any modifications needed to be made to the design, which can all alter the design completion timeframe. Business logos can vary, but an average project can take around one to four weeks to complete, after the preliminary designs have been presented to the client and signed off.

Can the delivery time of a final logo be guaranteed?

Each logo designer will differ and may not be able to offer a guarantee because of the number of revisions that may have to be made to the final design. They can, however, usually guarantee the delivery of a preliminary concept, and give an accurate schedule on modifications and revisions, depending on the selected package, if any chosen. If a client has an urgent time frame within which to complete, i.e. a special event, they would need to contact their chosen designer with their specifics. Logo designers should also be able to work on date sensitive projects, but again each designer may be different.

How will a new logo be delivered to the client?

Logos can usually be downloaded, once finalised, from the logo designer’s website. Various file
formats can then be sent via email to the client. A CD version may also be sent to the client, if they request it. Files will be delivered in cross-platforms disks that allow compatibility for any third party providers i.e. printers, film bureaus. It is best to speak to the chosen logo designer and ask them about the ways that a logo design can be received.

How can a client communicate with their designer throughout the process?

Any logo designer should realise that their client’s input is imperative to the success of any design project. Designers will therefore use a variety of methods to make contact with their clients, from telephone calls to email or even face to face, if necessary. Should a client ever have any questions or concerns about their design, they should be able to contact their design easily via email or telephone.

How many actual designers work on a client’s project?

A logo designing provider should use the necessary number of designers that are needed to finalise the job to a high standard. Each project should be a collaborative effort between the designing staff, through brainstorming sessions and production meetings. A logo designing provider should not be able to state how many actual employers are working on a client’s project, because it can be rather misleading. Some designing companies may state that up to five designers are working on a client’s project, when in fact it is five freelance designers who are competing against one another to win the project and design the logo. Firms who use these strategies and advertise multiple designers in this way are simply farming out a client’s logo project to their dispersed or community workforce of freelancer designers. Often, these firms will use back-end websites within which to open a client’s project as a contest to their community workforce. This is how a firm can claim multiple designers, also referred to as the shotgun approach. The employment of one designer on a project can allow them to create a quality piece of professional work, rather than the client pick out a set of designers who have less credentials and experience in the designing industry. A professional logo designer will make themselves available to their client at any time should they experience any concerns or problems about their project design. Other companies may use a project manager to deal with an enquiry, which will then be passed to the freelancer working on the project, but there can be time delays when using these designers. When a client is employing a professional designer to work on their logo, they should be able to speak to them at any time, whether by phone, chat or email, and a professional designer will offer that service.

How many colours can be included in a logo design, and does it cost extra to add additional colours?

There should be no extra cost if the client decides they want to add additional colours. As a matter of fact, the client should be able to choose as many colours as they require to their logo design. Try to steer clear of companies who charge for extras such as this, because it is very misleading. In the early stages of logo design, many designs may start in just black and white but as the logo develops the colours can be added in between various stages of the design process. It can be true that coloured logo designs may cost more on printed material, mainly because the printer may need to use the four colour process printing, as opposed to the colour accurate and economical spot colour printing, but for logo design, there should be no additional costs.