I recently came across this article on the worth and value of good solid logo design. I think there is often a misconception about the work and effort that it takes to create an excellent, well researched and timeless logo. Yes, there are designers and online sites that put logo design up “for sale”, but I don’t believe that a logo should ever be “for sale.” Its not a seasonal item that will start to fade in a few months and no longer be in style. A good logo should be able to stand the test of time.

According to this online blog article there are 6 reasons why logo design should cost more than your lunch, and I happen to agree!

1. A logo is the very first impression people get of your company –
This is precisely accurate. If you have no previous knowledge or exposure of a company your acquaintance with their logo will be your first read on the “feel” of the organization. If the logo is outdated, pixelated, thrown together or just boring, this impression will translate to the product or company. It is essential to make the best first impression.

2. A logo needs longevity
Like any fashion or product based industry there will always be trends that come and go. I believe that it is important to be aware of those trends and perhaps even align your design within these unwritten rules. However your design needs to withstand the temporary phase that each trend brings.

3. A logo needs to be original
If everyone is sporting the same look how do you distinguish yourself? If your logo is generic then your company becomes generic. Proper research and brainstorming are critical in this step of the process. The mark should not be selected because it looks cool, there should be meaning behind its appearance.

4. A logo should look professional
If you want to come across as an amateur than by all means, your logo is the best place to start. For most, this is not the desired impression. Professionalism is the goal, this needs to be obtained through your logo.

5. A logo should reflect the time and thought gone in to designing it
This is one of the biggest reasons why a good logo should cost more than your lunch. Artists and designers do not simply “whip” out beautiful, well thought out logos. There is a design process, and necessary steps to take to achieve longevity, professionalism, and unique design.

6. A logo is the starting point of your whole corporate image
Your company logo should pave the way for the rest of your company image. This is the starting point, let everything stem from your logo and brand.

Today, I am taking the time to work on my first custom invitations since my wedding! As I was brainstorming I remembered what a fabulous time I had designing my wedding invitations nearly 3 years ago. I designed everything from the flower, to the custom set of icons— that was the easy part! Putting the invitations together— boy, was that A LOT of manual labor, cutting, rivets, Xacto knife all the flowers you see on the front (see below). OH… and did i mention, hand made folders for the invitation to slide into. Yeah, that was fun.

Then, I printed and punched out the custom seal and labels on the envelope, along with my custom graphic of our wedding rings for a stamp (ordered from stamps.com).

The RSVP were non-traditional, I let my guests write or draw their response in. I remember looking forward to the mail EVERY DAY! They were so much fun and my guests were creative!

Ok, so who’s in for helping me with my next invitation adventure? I promise you… it won’t be so labor intensive. Really. I swear. Ok, I hope.

“Jennifer and Michelle at Immix Design did an incredible job designing my business logo. They took the time to really understand my business and what was important for me to reflect in my logo and business cards. They communicated consistently throughout the process, met deadlines and delightfully exceeded expectations. I will recommend Immix Design to other business leaders for their branding needs and I plan on leveraging more of their services in the near future.” ~ Samia, Lifelens Coaching

Thanks for your rave review! We’ve enjoyed working with you and wish your new venture the best of luck!

My favorite aspect about working with a new client is that we get the opportunity to hear what they are all about and then begin to formulate their vision into a unique design. LifeLens is a truly passionate company that really desires to know their clients and provide them with the best fit for their life and career. It really provides a clear vision for the design once you grasp what the client stands for and how they want to be represented. A big part of creating a mark is finding that balance of what the company does, and who they are as individuals. As a designer its important to take the whole process into consideration and let the design speak for itself in the end.

The final logo design for LifeLens captures the essence of who they are and what they do. We love to design and have the client be completely satisfied with the end result.

The next step is business cards! We will post updates of the design along the way.

The final logo that was chosen was a combination of fonts and ornate design taken from the first set of logo options. Jamie Michelle has selected a deep purple and silver color pallet to represent the modern and elegant bride that she will be working with. Take a look at the final logo and be sure to look for Jamie Michelle projects in the future!

Recently Immix Design was asked to design a logo for a series of special events that will be taking place at Architechtronics. The objective was to create a mark that would represent the given title, “After5″ as well as the specific event. The first event will be the Eastside Green Drinks, scheduled to be held at Architechtronics on November 19th, 2009 at the Architechtronics show room.

We first broke down the two words, “after” and “five” and decided it would be most clear and effective to use the numeric five, instead of the word. The font selection for the word, “after” was slightly challenging in the sense that we wanted something that was fun and unique but also significant. We chose Santa Fe LET for the font, because we believe that it was the best solution to our typographic problem. Andes Regular was chosen as the font for the 5, it creates a balance with the Santa Fe LET.

Often times, simply manipulating the actual words to transform into the final logo can be quite successful. However, we thought it would be a nice touch to reverse a clock out of the number 5, which is also set at 5pm. It helps to reinforce the concept and informative visual of “after5″. The date of this event has also been added to the logo as well as the green technology image.

In the future the After5 logo, will be used for different events with different color schemes and unique attributes to help specify the event.  The simplicity of the logo will allow for flexibility and adaptability. We look forward to sustaining an overall concept that is consistent but also applicable for the next event!

There are a lot of different designers and branding developers that have specific methods and means of creating the perfect logo. Here at Immix Design we choose to stick to the following 5 guidelines when developing and creating logos.

1. Distinction.
Does the logo stand out? That does not necessarily mean it needs to be trendy, but it does need to be unique. Longevity is the goal.

2. Black and White.
Does the logo stand out in black and white or does it need color to survive? We believe that a great logo should be able to stand strong without relying on color or gradient.

3. Simplicity.
Some of the most effective logos are quite simple. It is not always detail or realism that produces the best logo, but the execution of a purposeful mark.

4. One Message.
The logo should present a clear message to its viewer. Incorporating multiple ideas can be confusing and distracting, the logo should be recognizable right away.

5. Appropriate.
Above all the logo should make sense. If the logo is for an audience of children it should not feel corporate and professional, it should be fun and playful.

Take a look at some of these excellent logo examples and resources!

Logo Design Love: http://www.logodesignlove.com/15-wonderfully-simple-logo-designs

Identityworks: http://www.identityworks.com/reviews/2009/index.htm

David Airey: http://www.davidairey.com/portfolio/

Vandelay Design: http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/10-examples-of-simple-effective-logos/