Is your pet logo “true,” or is it “new”?
According to logo design expert Su Mathews Hale, the best logos are “true” – that is, they always remain relevant and genuine. This is opposed to logos that are “new,” which focus too much on trends but don’t take the future into account.
This is just one example of the essential design tips you need to create an excellent pet logo. A good logo tells a customer something about your pet brand before they even walk through the door. Do you know what your logo is saying about your company?
We’ve compiled some of the best logo design tips that you can put into practice today. Read on to find out how to design an amazing pet logo, or redesign an old one to appeal to more customers.
1. Find Your Audience
The first step to creating an excellent logo is defining your audience.
This depends a lot on what kind of brand you are trying to create. A veterinary office needs to send a message of reliability, while a pet daycare center might be focused more on the fun.
What should your customers hope to gain from your business, and how will your logo show that? You may want to write down some words that you hope people will use to define your business, and then think about how you can create a logo that conveys those ideas.
2. Ask for Input
If you are redesigning a logo and have an existing audience, ask them for input on the new logo.
Even if you are starting a new business, you can find a focus group of potential customers to survey. Try showing them potential logos or graphics and gauge their responses.
You can even ask clients or potential clients for their thoughts on other aspects of the business or products. For example, asking “What are best dog house heaters?” before opening a pet supply store can give you a feel for what sort of products people would like to see. Use that information to design the best logo for your brand.
3. Make It Simple
The most popular logos for big brands tend to be simple. Elaborate logos are hard to recognize and remember.
Instead of trying to stuff as many design elements as possible into a single logo, try to focus on conveying only what is necessary. Simple, even abstract logos are easy to remember, which will keep customers coming back to your brand.
Keep in mind that most logos need to be reproduced in a few different formats. A logo that looks good on the front of your building might not translate as well onto a business card. You also need logos that will look good on your social media accounts and website.
In all cases, simple logos win over complicated ones. Take your initial logo draft, and then see how it can be simplified down to the most essential elements.
4. Use Symmetry
Your pet logo doesn’t need to be perfectly symmetrical in order to be appealing. However, the most popular logos use some elements of symmetry and balance in order to be more visually appealing.
If your logo seems unbalanced, take another look. Make sure the visual elements don’t fall too heavily on one side or the other. You might add an image alongside a text logo or remove an unnecessary piece of the image to restore balance to your logo.
5. Consider Fonts
No matter what your personal preference is, some fonts will never be well received by most customers. It’s best to steer clear of fonts that can read as childish, such as Comic Sans or Papyrus.
However, it’s also good to avoid fonts that can seem too stiff or formal. A clean, sans-serif font will give your business a modern feel, while a gentle serif font can read as more serious and old-fashioned.
Go back to step 1 if you’re not sure which font to go with – consider what your audience will respond to best.
6. Avoid Copying Existing Logos
No matter how original you believe your design to be, do some research on existing logos before putting it into practice.
You don’t want your logo to match other logos too closely, especially if those other logos belong to well-known businesses or ones that are located nearby.
Avoid industry cliches. If you see one theme being repeated throughout pet logos, try to find a way to make yours unique. This will help customers remember it more clearly.
7. Avoid Trendiness
Trends come and go, but the best logos will stay relevant for decades.
Avoid visual references that are too modern, such as using the silhouette of a specific breed of dog that’s currently popular. Consider what the colors of your logo can convey, as well. Some colors, like dark blue, can read as more timeless than others, like bright pink.
8. Keep Recognizable Elements
If you are updating an existing logo, avoid making it completely different from the original, if possible.
Since you have an existing customer base, you’ll want to make sure they still recognize your logo.
Keep the same colors, basic design, or font while redesigning. That way, you can update the elements of your logo that need to be changed, while adjusting the other parts to give your logo a refreshed look.
Start Designing a Great Pet Logo Now
The principles of good design apply to any logo, including pet logos.
You should always start by considering your audience and how you want them to think about your company. Everything from color to font choice can say something about your business, so make sure you carefully consider your design.
The good news is that a great logo can tell potential customers all kinds of things about your pet business. For example, some colors are seen as more reliable, while others appear more exciting.
What will your logo say about your brand? To find out more, check out this post on what you can learn from logos in another industry.
