The Use of Logos in Web Design: 7 Golden Rules
Posted on January 08, 2018 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
The use of logos on a website, or really anywhere in the world, plays an important part in company branding.
Your website is the perfect place to showcase your logo. But if you don’t know how to use a logo or where to put them, you could miss out on attracting new customers.
Want to know how to utilize your logo the right way on your website? After you read this post, you’ll have a website you’ll be proud of.
Let’s get into it.
A Guide to the Proper Use of Logos
Logos and symbols play an important role in brand recognition and identity. If you don’t think that logos are important, think about some of the popular images you’re exposed to every day.
Think about how iconic McDonald’s golden arches or the white cursive on a bottle of coke is. Those images resonate with you because companies have strategically been using their logo correctly for years.
You may not be as big as McDonald’s or Coca-Cola, but you can follow these simple tips to get the most out of your logo when you put it on your website.
Keep the Look Consistent
There’s a reason why some companies have thick notebooks full of notes on how to properly use logos.
Logos are designed to build brand identity and recognition with people. This is why it’s important to make sure that you pick one logo, and stick to it.
The only times your logo should change should be when you’re resizing it so it can look good on a website or social media. Don’t experiment too much with different colors or fonts. Keep everything simple and recognizable.
Sometimes there may be exceptions to this rule. You may want to add a small awareness ribbon to the corner of your logo if you’re supporting a cause or may want to add a touch of red and green for the holidays.
Despite these special occasions, make sure your logo looks the same when it’s on your website.
Keep Placement Consistent
When you’re designing a website, people should be able to tell where your logo is going to appear.
Once again, consistency is important when it comes to the proper use of logos online.
Having logos appear randomly on the page is a poor website design practice. You don’t want people to have to hunt for the logo if they want to see it.
If your logo appears in the top right corner of the website on the home page, it should appear in the top right corner of every page. The consistency helps improve brand awareness and makes the design of the website look cleaner.
Make It Work for You
If you really want to make the most of the use of logos on your website, don’t just make it a plain image.
Your logo could also be a button that links people to other places on your website. Many people choose to have the logo link people back to the homepage.
Other people like to get creative with what their logo can link to. Some have the logo link to the contact us page instead of the home page, and others treat it like a fun easter egg you can click on and find pictures and other items.
Go Center for “Print” Look
Is your website a blog, or do you post a lot of information and current events? Are you a fan of print media and want your site to look like a magazine or newspaper?
Instead of placing your logo on the top left or righthand corner, consider placing it in the center at the top of your website.
Take a moment to look at websites like the New York Times, Washington Post, Vogue, or Wired. They all started off as print newspapers or magazines, and they all have their logo in the top center of their website.
Logos that are placed in the center of a website evoke a newspaper-like look. It mimics the masthead you’d see in a traditional newspaper. If you want to give your site some authority, go for the center placement.
Remember Its Purpose
A logo is supposed to help with branding and become a way for people to identify your business, but it’s not the main attraction of the website.
Don’t make the logo take up too much space or look too flashy or loud. People are on your website to learn about your business, not look at your logo.
Incorporate other visuals into your website. Don’t forget about adding pictures, video, and other visual elements to make your website standout. And also be sure to fill it with some excellent copy.
Keep Everything on Theme
Your website should compliment your logo. The layout themes and colors should look great with the logo, and help bring attention to it subtly.
Take time to think about the kind of colors your logo has, and what colors would best compliment them on your website.
This website does an excellent job of incorporating logo colors into the site’s colors. The green, blue, and white in the logo are reflected in the green mountains, blue sky, and white clouds of the first image you see.
Have Different Options
Branding is important when you’re on your own website, but what happens when you’re being promoted on a website you don’t own? You could be writing a guest post for a blog, or simply have an advertising partnership with a different business.
To ensure the best use of logos on other websites, have different sizes and file types of your logo ready to send out.
This will ensure that your logo looks great on whatever website it’s featured on.
Wrapping Up
Getting the use of logos right on your website can be easy if you follow key rules. As long as you stay consistent and remember its purpose, you can’t go wrong.
Do you want to learn more about creating logos? Check out our post on how to choose the right font for your logo.
If you have experience working in web design or have tips for our readers, be sure to tell us about it in the comments section!
10 Dazzling Dental Logos That Will Inspire You
Posted on December 28, 2017 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
No one likes to be forgettable. Being replaceable never feels good. Feeling generic and run-of-the-mill is unpleasant at the best of times, but it’s the kiss of death for a dental practice. Dental logos help ensure that never happens by illustrating what makes your practice unique and special.
Dental logos are one of the most important components of a dental brand identity. A good logo spells out who you are and why customers should pick you, conveying your individuality with clear, clever visuals.
Dental logos are more than simply your practice’s masthead, however. They’re also how your customers remember you in the sea of competition. It’s no coincidence that most of the world’s biggest brands also have some of the most memorable logos. Think of Apple, McDonald’s, Nike, or Coca-Cola.
To deliver some visual inspiration to help you create your own sparkling dental logos, here are 10 inspiring dental designs.
10 Inspiring Dental Logos
Dental logos can be so much more than just incisors or toothbrushes. They can also come in a wide variety of colors, expanding on the classic (and also cliche) blue, white, and red of classic dental graphic design.
Davidson Dental
Stwebre1a’s classy design for Davidson Dental does not redesign the logotype, nor does it intend to.
Instead, the Davidson Dental design effortlessly broadcasts a sense of elegance and charm. The designer simply begins with the letter ‘D’, placing the cursive script in a circle and topping it with a crown. It exudes a sense of authority and trust, without having to say a word.
Vermont South Dental
Minimalist design trends have been in vogue for some years now. Minimalist designs deliver the brand identity as quickly and efficiently as possible, which is integral to today’s quickly-scrolling marketplace.
Minimalist designs are also easy to reproduce and look great on a wide variety of promotional products. As business owners looking to thrive in the 21st Century, we should be investigating every marketing opportunity at our disposal.
Flash Orthodontics
Oh! Studio’s design for Flash Orthodontics shows us that there’s more to dental design than stark black-and-white graphics and Helvetica font.
Graphic design needs to capture the unique essence of a company, which helps them to stand out, and Flash Orthodontic’s logo achieves this beautifully.
Orthodontics is a newer industry than traditional dentistry. Orthodontic practices are able to employ more futuristic designs to convey their cutting-edge approach. A striking mandarin orange ‘S’ and some futurist font make Oh! Studio’s design looks appropriate for a high-tech company, while still being approachable enough to make you feel safe.
Forest Park Dental
Forest Park Dental‘s logo is another example of memorable, colorful graphic design to convey a brand identity. Instead of the clinical white of so many dental logos, Forest Park Dental incorporate navy blue and emerald green into their logo to give a naturalist effect.
The mountain in the background is also a molar. Patients will still know this is a dental practice, even with no text involved.
Dental Perfection
Less is sometimes more when it comes to creating memorable dental logos. Dental Perfection’s logo incorporates a classic cursive script font into the outline of a tooth. It’s graphic and text, all in one, making it perfect for viral branding or online promotion.
Preston Park Dental
Graphic design communicates on more than one level at a time. Dental logos convey text, graphics, and color, simultaneously, in a way that is impossible for written text.
This logo from Flight Deck Creative plays up the visual ambiguity, with a curved forest green smile icon that also resembles a falling leaf. The green design radiates a natural calm, while the smile puts the viewer at ease. It seems approachable, as well as healthful. All good things for a dentist’s brand identity.
UltraThin Veneers
The color purple evokes an inherent sense of royalty and opulence. It’s also an easy for a dental practice to stand out in the sea of blue-and-white dental logos.
UltraThin Veneers’ logo layers hues of purple to give a flower-like effect that is both soothing and exhilarating. It also differentiates the practice as a veneer company, which is a newer industry and more likely to explore modernist design.
Dental House
While it’s tempting to employ an “everything and the kitchen sink” approach to design a dental logo, often times less is more. Annamaria Tiszka’s logo for Dental House is as stripped down as they come, using only the first letter of each word.
It’s an exquisite upscale design for a boutique dental practice. It could do double duty for a book publisher or an upscale hotel, which says something about its impeccable quality.
Ortho Annex
This cute, colorful design for Ortho Annex earned the designer a runner-up spot in a logo design competition.
This cute cartoon-like illustration owes more to today’s digital art style that you see so often on social media. It’s easy to imagine kids wearing this design on a shirt or playing with a plush toy of the molar mascot, which might make it easier to entice kids to go to the dentist.
Apple Dentistry
This simple line-drawing is effective for the way that it subconsciously conjures the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and apple’s association with health.
The design is noteworthy in that it portrays an apple while not immediately calling iPhones and MacBooks to mind. No mean feat, considering the ubiquity of Apple in the design universe.
Remember, there are no boilerplate graphic designs. A great logo tells the story of each particular brand and what sets them apart from their industry.
There’s so much more to dental graphic design than molars and blue-and-white lettering. Let your imagination run wild and create something you truly love. Your patients are likely to love it as well.
Ready To Showcase Your Dental Practice To The World?
Branding is incredibly important with so much competition at the click of a button. Create an account with us today, and be creating your own logos in minutes!
How to Create a Dynamic Logo for Your Brand
Posted on December 22, 2017 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
One of the most fundamental aspects of branding is logo design.
Your logo is your first impression every time a new user comes across it. Whether they see on Instagram, pass by it on the street, or notice it on your business card, it matters.
An effective logo can be a powerful way to perk someone’s interest and start creating a relationship. Similarly, a poor logo is a fast-track to losing credibility.
Don’t worry, it’s not that hard to achieve a dynamic logo design.
You just have to know what to do.
Here are six tips to keep in mind when making your own company logo.
1. Keep It Simple
The number one rule to keep in mind is to not overcomplicate your logo.
This doesn’t mean you’ll end up with a boring design. Instead, letting a simple approach guide your creative process will help put all the other elements in perspective.
Trust us, it’s helpful to remember when you get ahead of yourself and start mixing too many colors and playing with fonts.
When you have a focus on keeping things simple, you end up with something timeless. That is the key to any dynamic logo design.
2. Start Sans-Color
Even if you are already clear about which brand colors you want to use for your logo, don’t add them in right away.
First, you have to establish what kind of outline you want.
Doing this in black and white helps you create the most effective dynamic logo design possible. Then, the touch of color brings everything to life.
Such a process may even help cut your design time in half!
It helps you get a clear picture of what is working and what isn’t. With color involved, sometimes it’s hard to tell.
Plus, once you’ve achieved the foundation you were going for, it’s easy to see where the color is missing. You may end up using less than you think to create a look that is stronger than you first imagined.
Don’t forget to consider the psychology of colors, either.
3. Know the Power of Fonts and Shapes
Speaking of psychology, shapes and fonts also have a strong effect on the way a user perceives your brand.
Let’s take a closer look.
The Meaning of Shapes
The difference between a circle or square background may not seem like much at first. But, they couldn’t have more contrasting meanings.
A circle is seen as a sign of trust. It hints towards love, community, and friendship. Many users will also get a feminine sense from a circle-based dynamic logo design.
On the other hand, squares are more masculine. Their straight lines and rough edges are seen as a sign of strength, efficiency, and professionalism.
Triangles are similar to squares. But, on top of being masculine and strong, these shapes create a feeling of balance and stability.
The Emotions of Fonts
You don’t have to add text to your logo, but many companies choose to do so.
In fact, there are a few reasons to incorporate it:
- To display the initials of a brand’s name
- To share a tagline or set of values
- To type the brand name in full
Whichever way you choose to use letters, be mindful of the font you use as well.
A serif font, for example, is the most classic and traditional group. This has a line at the end of each stroke, keeping everything as simple as can be.
Sans serif fonts drop the use of the line. They are associated to be a bit more modern and forward-thinking, which is great for a tech startup or innovative coffee shop.
Handwritten fonts are the most human of all. They are approachable and creative. As such, many lifestyle brands and creative companies are known to use this font family.
For something more sophisticated, yet free-flowing, choose a cursive font. This will ensure your dynamic logo design flows, without losing its professionalism.
Once you’ve chosen the kind of font to create a logo with, there are some more details to consider.
Try different spacing and capitalization options to get your message across loud and clear. You may even end up using two fonts, depending on the rest of your design.
4. Share a Story
It’s one thing to add text, but it’s another to actually tell a story.
The best way to accomplish this is to keep your brand in mind. Think of your company values, initiatives, and the overall feeling you’re trying to create.
Then, use these thoughts to guide how you edit your dynamic logo design.
You don’t have to stick to a single story, either.
If you want to create a sense of stability as well as community, you can use a circle outline and a serif or sans serif font. Dymic.com has a strong example of this.
Similarly, a square-like background with a bold, funky text could also combine well.
5. Add Something Unique
Just when you think your design is done, it’s time to add the final touch.
You’ve gone through all the steps, but have you conveyed everything you wanted to?
Here are two ways you can improve your dynamic logo design.
Blank Space
Go back to the black and white principle, as well as the thought of simplicity.
See if you can take an element out of your design to make use of blank space.
This is a creative way to approach the design process, with a bit of a yin and yang twist. It allows you to add some fun for users as they discover the hidden elements a blank space outlines.
Hidden Messages
That’s right, you can put a hidden message in your logo.
We aren’t talking anything too complicated. But, something like the Amazon smile – reaching from A to Z – or the FedEx arrow can be incredibly effective.
If there’s a symbol that goes hand in hand with your brand not yet included in your logo, make it a part of the hidden message.
6. Think of Various Logo Purposes
Before you click “save” on the logo you create, be sure you can use it on multiple platforms.
This goes beyond the difference between Snapchat and Facebook. It means being able to use your logo in an email campaign, on a company t-shirt, and on a business card.
You should be able to scale the logo and clearly identify all of its parts. If not, you have a bit of editing to do.
Create Your Own Dynamic Logo Design
Now that you have a better understanding of what goes into making a logo, it’s time to get to work.
You don’t need to download fancy software or hire an outside service to do this.
You just need to find the right tools available online.
Click here to make your logo design ideas come to life.
Your Guide To Creating An Awesome Vape Logo
Posted on December 22, 2017 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
You’ve decided to take your love of vaping to a professional level by starting your own vaping business.
You’ve picked the perfect location for your shop, created an epic website, and you’ve already built up a strong following on social media.
There’s just one problem — there’s a complete lack of consistency in your branding. You’ve noticed that you don’t get many repeat customers, and people frequently send you messages saying they’re struggling to find your products in stores.
What’s the issue?
You don’t currently have a vape logo.
Don’t sweat it — instead, keep reading this post. In it, we’ll tell you what to do — and what not to do — to create the perfect logo for your vaping business.
Select A Recognizable Image
When you’re creating your vape logo, it can sometimes be difficult to select an image that strikes the perfect balance between recognizable and stereotypical.
You want your customers to be able to instantly understand what it is you’re selling, but you don’t want your logo to look like everyone else’s.
One of the best ways to get it right?
Put your own unique spin on familiar images relating to vaping. For example, you could have a vape pen that’s writing your brand’s name out in smoke. You could even show images of people sitting on a bench and vaping together. Or, use each letter of your brand’s name to highlight a different vape flavor.
The possibilities are endless, so there’s no reason to go with a tired design.
Create Your Own Font
One of the best ways to make your vape logo stand out from the competition?
By having your own font created just for your logo and brand. This will help to build your brand recognition, and will ensure that your consumers can instantly recognize your products on a page or shelf containing dozens of others.
It also helps to promote consistency if you use that same font in your blog posts, on social media pages, and on your business cards.
As always, when creating your logo, make sure that you thoroughly test the font for legibility. Even the most beautiful typography won’t do anything to help you if no one can read it.
Pick The Right Trends
When you’re creating your vape logo, it can be appealing to look to current design trends for inspiration.
But you know that vaping isn’t going anywhere — it’s not a passing fad, it’s here to stay. So why would you select a logo that will look completely outdated in just a few months?
Not only is it a poor financial decision, but incorporating too many trends in your logo design can make you look seriously desperate.
When you’re doing trend research, think about which one will still look good in a few years — and select only one trend to use in your design. One of our favorites is the appeal of hand-drawn and professionally-sketched logo designs.
Connect with a local artist, and have them draw a vape pen, some creative clouds of smoke, or anything else you can envision.
Not sure where to start when it comes to creating a hand-drawn logo for your vaping company?
Believe it or not, Etsy lists hundreds of artists who can create the perfect design for your brand for a reasonable price.
Consider Resizing
One of the things don’t want you to ignore when it comes to creating the perfect vape logo?
How legible it will be when resized.
Remember: your logo is the foundation of your entire branding strategy. That means it’s going to have to go in lots of different locations: on your social media pages, on marketing swag like cups and pens, on business cards, and even on your building’s signage.
You might think that you can make your logo as detailed as you want. However, those details are quickly going to end up looking like a jumbled blob when you need to shrink your vape logo down to a smaller size.
When selecting the colors, font, and images you’re going to use, always run tests to see how it will look in different places and in different sizes.
Choose Your Colors Wisely
Finally, when you’re selecting the colors for your vape logo, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
First of all, to prevent your design from looking too messy, we suggest sticking to a maximum of three colors. Be aware that, especially depending on the specific images and fonts you’re planning to use, too many colors can make your logo difficult to read.
Also, understand that different colors communicate different emotions and have different connotations.
For example, take a look at the red and white flame logo of Vape Street. The red encourages people to take action quickly, which makes sense as the homepage displays several offers and special promotions.
The red color also reminds consumers of flames and smoke — two of the most important elements of vaping.
Ready To Create Your Vape Logo?
Your vaping company isn’t like any of its competitors — so why should it’s logo look like a carbon copy of their branding?
When you’re ready to bring your vape logo to life, try using our free online logo maker to make the process easier than ever.
To start making connections with your target market right out of the gate, we suggest that you dream up several logo options — you could even host a contest to see which of your social media followers can create the best central image for your design.
Then, let your market vote on their favorite logo design.
Once you have your logo, it’s time to start thinking about the rest of your branding strategy. Read up on all the latest branding and design tips on our blog to ensure you blow away the competition.