Every brand needs a fantastic logo that sets them apart from the competition. But a logo isn’t just about advertising. It’s about sending a message to the world.

However, creating a logo can be quite difficult. It requires a thorough understanding of one’s market, as well as semiotics to convey the right message.

But what makes a good logo? Here are 5 design principles that can elevate an okay logo to a fantastic one.

1. Simplicity

Above all else, a good logo should be simple. Above all else, a good logo should be simple. It’s possible to spend hours crafting an extravagant logo, but simplicity will win 9 times out of 10.

But why is this?

The answer may lie in the sheer amount of advertising people are exposed to each and every day. It’s estimated that the average person sees roughly 5,000 ads a day.

The simplest, cleanest designs are often the ones we remember the most. Take Coke, for instance. Their logo is just some white text on a red background.

But chances are that anyone reading this article immediately conjured up an image of the famous logo as soon as they read it. Coca-Cola’s logo doesn’t rely on any fancy tricks, just good old-fashioned typography.

2. Relevance

Simplicity is important, but relevance is equally significant. A good logo should be relevant to a business’s endeavor. And sometimes this isn’t so easy.

Take Apple, for example. The famous tech company’s logo is simply a white apple with a bite taken out of it. So how in the world could that be used to sell computers?

Simple: brand recognition. Over time we’ve come to associate the logo with the company.

3. Cohesion

Going back to Apple for a moment, think about the color most associated with the brand. Likely, it’s a sleek, bright white, like a customer would see upon entering an Apple store.

So imagine how peculiar it would look if Apple chose to use red lighting for their logo but keep the sterile white lighting in their store. It’d be a little jarring, to say the least.

Part of what makes a good logo is cohesion. A logo should reflect a business’s logo and website, and vice versa.

Think of it as web development and design. No one would visit a site with a different colored background on every page. Every element of the brand needs to come together to create a single, cohesive pattern.

4. Timelessness

A good logo needs to stand the test of time. It should be able to go through changes while still maintaining the elements customers come to expect.

Compare Pepsi and Coke, for a moment. Pepsi changes their logo every few years to varying degrees of success. Coke, on the other hand, has never really changed its logo.

And they don’t need to. When customers see the Coke logo, they know exactly what they’re getting.

5. Symmetry

People’s eyes love to recognize patterns. Therefore, one of the best things that makes a good logo is symmetry. Try and work patterns and clean symmetry into a logo, as it’s more pleasing to the eye.

Final Thoughts On What Makes A Good Logo

Creating a great logo isn’t easy, but these are the 5 principles that can really make a logo stand out. Implementing these simple steps can do wonders to get a brand the recognition it deserves.

Need some help getting started? Be sure to check out the PSD Learning blog for more great tips and resources!