I design many images and icons to become the respected signs of proud projects and the emblems of both personal and business standards.

If you are just about to grow your own project, I hope these notes on the way I create logos may be of help to you:

1. Start by sketching your design ideas and keep them flowing onto paper. You should take a look at the way others in your area of work present their own brand.

2. Then look at your own sketches, pick some you like – vote on them with friends.

Example sketch designs below were for Atrium Systems.

3. Develop more sketches around your favourite ones. This is a distilling process. You are trying to reach the ultimate ‘look’ that you like. When showing friends and strangers, ask them to talk about your sketches and describe what they both see AND feel in your work.

The sketches below expand on Atrium’s two favourite designs:
4. Keep sketching and getting closer and closer to a logo you like – one that really works to lead your project’s aims.
5. Keep showing the logo to friends and strangers as it develops and keep asking for their views.
6. Create the finished artwork of your logo and make sure it looks good both online and offline, in large and small size, in colour and in mono.
7. Adopt the design as your very own
7. Keep using your logo everywhere.
8. Care for your logo by getting it updated by a graphic artist. (link)

Search for more help on topics like:

Thinking about your personal image
Producing the best artwork possible
Grant’s Gorgeous Gallery of Works (Logo Design section)
Using an original illustrated logo or a software print out

And remember to visualize your logo everywhere you are going to use it, eg. on the side of vehicles, in printed adverts, on T’s, above shop fronts, on giant banners, in web sites, carved in stone, dusted on the top of a latte with chocolate powder. Push your logo and reflect on its future before you commit to it totally.

Here’s one I did earlier for Reflections EUROPE:

Note:
Logos which are complicated, like this one for ‘Useless Pencil’, are really illustrations:

There’s a big blurred area where flag design, emblems, standards, icons, signatures, insignia, mascots and corporate branding style all overlap. When your project starts to move into those linked yet individual areas of design, we should meet, because you are obviously doing something right and I’ll enjoy giving you a generous helping of my complete enthusiasm.

Until then.

All best