Everything old is new again, and that’s especially true in the world of logo design. Retro designs are back in, adding a nostalgic je ne sais quois to even the most mundane brands.

Here, take a look at our five top tips for exploring, planning, and creating a retro logo design that works for your brand.

1. Pick a Decade and Industry

First, do your research.

If you’re loving a certain a modern retro logo design, find out which decade it belongs to and try to identify if the design was typical of a certain industry or area.

The reason for this being that you want a logo that is exactly like what you like already without being a carbon copy. After all, the whole point of branding is to stand out, even if you’re reaching into the past for inspiration.

Alternately, look at the classic design on a decade by decade basis to find a place in the past that that suits your particular aesthetic. You can even create something new by fusing the aesthetics of different time periods.

Before you look at logos themselves start with the absolute basics, like this explainer of design trends in the 20th century from Complex.

2. Focus on Typography

Now that you’ve explored design by the decade, decide on the typography you want to use. (If you’re not planning on incorporating typography into your logo, feel free to move to the next section!)

Font and typography is an incredibly important part of your overall retro logo design, so much so that certain logo design are all typography. Look no further than the logo of the Atari classic PONG.

You don’t have to restrict yourself to fonts made in the decade you’re drawing logo inspiration from. After all, fonts like Futura are still used today, despite originating in the 1920s.

This exercise is more about finding the typography that complements your overall design and feels like it fits the aesthetic.

In other words, Comics Sans on an industrial logo probably won’t work.

3. Explore a Reduced Color Palette

One important aspect of retro logo design to remember is that people in the past didn’t have access to as wide a range of colors as they do today.

Whether technological limitation, expense concern, or simply aesthetic difference, much of historical design relies on a stripped down color palette. Keep a keen eye on that as you comb through potential designs.

We’d even go so far as to say that a limited color range is part of what makes retro designs both appealing and lends them their suggestive power.

It’s usually smart to stick to a handful of colors at most and take cues from the most successful logos of the era you’re aiming for.

Then again, you might just settle on a fusion of newer color gradients or design touches to help your retro logo stand out. But it’s best to start with a simple beginning and iterate from there.

4. Consider Badges and Borders

One common theme of retro logo design is an interest in badge-style iconography and the inclusion of thick, defined borders.

Badges have a cool cachet that evokes motorcycle clubs and the space program. In an “everything old is new again” sort of way, the merging of retro badges and modern sensibilities are well-aligned with the badge-like style of social media icons. Ditto for the mobile web experience in general.

(Incidentally, if you need a web host to make sure your logo design loads at lightning fast speeds, click here.)

In fact, you might just find yourself developing a brand logo and a badge for your brand that follows a decade-appropriate design aesthetic just to increase synergy across your platforms while maintaining the retro cool.

Thick border lines, while less glamorous, are a staple of retro designs. Thick sticks and helps your new logo pop amid the competition.

5. Keep It Simple

Coming up with a vintage logo is a lot of fun, but in imitating older designs it can be tempting to overdo it.

Yes, you need a professional brand logo design and it needs to stand out, but don’t let that be an excuse for overdesigning your look. Here a few common pitfalls to avoid on your journey to the iconic:

Too Much Texture and Noise

When you’re aping the look of a previous era, that’s often going to include some kind of texture. After all, in a pre-digital age, wear and tear, misprinting, fuzzy ink, and other touches were everyday occurrences.

Now, those added details of texture and noise become design touches.

Unfortunately, they also can affect readability or lean too far into the past. The beautiful thing about retro design in the present day is that you can choose not to include these elements, keeping the design grounded in the present while echoing the past.

That’s not to say don’t use texture and noise. Just evaluate all your options.

Illustration Compromising Clarity

Large hand-drawn illustrations find their way into retro logo design all the time. That makes sense because they’re also a hallmark of many retro logos.

It’s a great element to commission, but make sure you don’t get so enamored of giant elephant illustration that the user misses the brand name. (Well, unless your brand is Elephant).

Too Many Graphical Bells and Whistles

Again, clarity is key here. One temptation when creating a retro logo design is to put too many period touches and graphics in your logo. It’s exciting and fun to work with these vintage design, but always mind the clutter.

This is especially true with early 20th century designs, which are more cluttered by nature thanks to the printing and style of the time (take these union labels, for instance).

Get Started on Your Retro Logo Design Today

Even if you decide to hire a professional to create your final logo design, it helps to play around with some different looks to give that professional guidance. That’ll save you time and money, too.

Try your hand at a few logo designs of your own with our online logo maker app. It’s free to use, though there’s a premium version as well, offering a few more bells and whistles. Check it out.

The Fire Colors: Red, Orange, and Yellow!

When designing a logo for your painting company you want something that’s vibrant, fresh, and colorful.

Many people might think that a red logo is something to stay away from. But consider all the big corporations who use the color in a powerful way. It makes a strong statement.

Let’s discuss how you can develop a business logo that incorporates red, maybe some yellow and a hint of orange. We’ll let you decide where you take it next.

Why Does Your Painting Business Need a Logo?

A logo is your brand identity.

The purpose of a logo is to act as an accurate representation of your company. That doesn’t mean it needs to be a literal representation. Don’t think a painting company logo is limited to paint brushes or cans of paint.

That’s not to say it doesn’t work. You can view here an example where including a paintbrush works well.

A logo gives life to your brand. It translates what your company has to offer into an illustrated story. The design behind a logo must also take the target audience into consideration.

An effective logo design accomplishes 3 goals:

1. Customers choose your brand over all others
2. Customers connect on a personal level with your brand
3. Customers remember your company long after using your service

Take a guess. Which elements of a logo are best at accomplishing these goals? what would you choose?

You might be surprised to learn that the colors used in a logo complete all 3 of those goals. That’s why your choice of color is not something to take lightly.

It’s an emotional thing.

Understanding the Emotions of Color

Swiss psychologist Carl Jung (1875-1961) pioneered the concept of color psychology. Jung, credited with the introduction of art therapy said: “colors are the mother tongue of the subconscious.”

Study after study, researchers draw the same ultimate conclusions. Color isn’t a simple design element used to add some flair. Colors affect emotion.

The marketing and web design company, WebPageFX, conducted a study about the effects of color and customer perceptions. Here’s what they found:

• It takes less than 90 seconds for a person to make a subconscious judgment about a logo. Most people agree their assessment is based on color alone.
• When asked why they buy a particular product, 85% of consumers claim color is their underlying reason for buying.
• 80% of people share the opinion that color increases brand recognition.

Color choices convey very different images depending on the way they are used. Keep reading to find out if the Fire Colors are exactly what you need to spice up your logo.

Red Logo

One of the primary colors, this crimson king is a very strong color.

Often associated with the command “stop,” this color signals caution. It is also known to stimulate strong emotions such as passion, power, and excitement.

A common color choice for flags, red symbolizes pride and strength.

The strength of emotion elicited from red makes it great for stealing the eye’s attention. Take a moment to find something with multiple colors. Notice how your eye is immediately drawn to the red?

A red logo has the potential to be a real attention grabber.

Fanning down the embers a little, red can also evoke a sense of warmth.

When brainstorming your logo write down qualities that come to mind. Now check out this summary of what a red logo can represent to see if you find inspiration.

• Act as a signal — command to stop and pay attention
• Strong emotion — passion, excitement, pride, aggression
• Excitement — vitality, adventure, danger
• Power — strength, energy, courage
• Temperature — warm, hot, burning

With that powerful of a repertoire, red is one color to be careful with when designing a logo. To cool the emotions, your painting service logo may want to think about associating red with an image from nature. A rose, an apple, or a striking sunset tempers the drama, while still allowing red to pack its punch.

Another way to keep red in your design is to offset it with other colors.

Yellow Logo

Another of the three primary colors (the third is blue).

Upon seeing yellow the image that first comes to most people’s minds is the sun. In fact, yellow is the brightest color tone the human eye is capable of seeing.

The color yellow triggers the logical (left) side of the brain. For that reason, it is frequently associated with learning, thoughts, and creativity. It helps awaken the mind and bring new ideas to life.

Remember the Rubber Ducky?

He (or she) is traditionally yellow. Many children’s toys and clothes are yellow. When viewed within a logo design it can represent youthfulness, fun, and imagination.

Yellow is the true optimist of the rainbow, evoking happiness, confidence, and promise for the future.

The aspects to consider for a yellow logo include:

• Youthful — fun, active, energetic
• Creative — imaginative, thinking outside the box, unique
• Optimistic — bright, confident, happy

When using yellow be cautious of the colors you pair it with for your logo. Use contrasting, darker colors (hey, what about red?). Lighter colors will wash it out making it difficult to notice.

Orange Logo

Orange is one of the secondary colors on the color wheel. It is created by combining various shades of red and yellow.

While not as urgent as a red logo, an orange logo is just as energetic. It is another color that can stand out. But it does so in a more natural, approachable way.

Orange tends to awaken the fun a playful side of our personalities because of its bright glow. This brightness translates to other warm feelings. It can be upbeat and friendly or produce feelings of comfort and well-being.

Of course, we can’t forget the color’s namesake in this discussion. The citrus color reminds us of its naturalness. It suggests a fresh take on ideas.

Orange is also a natural when it comes to being outgoing. It defines friendliness and encourages socializing. (Have you ever seen an orange juice commercial with only one person in it?) This creates a sense of being approachable.

Use orange to illustrate these traits in your company:

• Youthfulness — fun, active, energetic
• Creativity — imagination, uniqueness, innovative
• Freshness — natural, glowing, warm
• Open — friendly, welcoming, familiar

An interesting side note is that the color orange is used less frequently in logo designs. This presents a fantastic opportunity to create something unique.

Command Attention with Your Logo

Red logo, yellow logo, orange logo, gee. Or perhaps a combination of three.

It may read like a Dr. Seues book, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Everyone remembers who Dr. Seuss is and his memorable phrases.

No matter what colors you decide to go with, make sure your logo stands out. Make it memorable and customers will think of you first when they have a painting project to complete.

Are you ready to get creative? Are you inspired to design a logo for your painting company?

We hope our breakdown of the fire colors shows you how easy it is to understand the emotions behind color. The next step is just as simple. Creating your own logo.

You have the ideas, and the tools are right here. Start designing a free logo today.

Looking to design the perfect home builder logo for your construction-based company?

Having a great logo can help present your company in a trustworthy, positive, and appealing light. These are all good things for your business.

If you want to design a logo that looks great and appeals to your customers, you’ve come to the right place. Designing a logo can seem daunting, but we’ve made it easy.

Here, we give you five tips for creating a great home builder logo. Use these recommendations to put together a logo you and your company can be proud of.

1. Pick the Right Font

One of the first steps in designing your logo should be picking the right font. This will be one of the main items that will help your logo make a great first impression.

Using an ugly or basic font will immediately turn viewers off. No matter how great the rest of your logo design is, if your font is off, your whole design will be compromised.

There are many fonts that should simply be retired from use. Comic Sans, Papyrus, and Wingdings are among the list of fonts that simply do not need to appear anywhere in the modern world.

Designers who use these fonts are not the designers you want to work with.

Picking the right font is an essential step in creating a home builder logo that really works. Use something modern yet relatable, and do not be afraid to try something different.

You may even start a new font trend if you really get it right!

2. Use Sharp Elements

When creating a home builder logo, you do not want to use curvy lines and flowery script. Using sharp elements rather than more feminine ones will convey the vibe of your company much better.

Plus, using sharp and strong elements in your design process will help potential customers to trust you more.

If you and your company seem capable and professional, people are much more likely to keep you in mind for their needs.

Using sharp, strong, and bold elements in your logo design will go a long way in communicating your company’s core values to your potential customers.

Remember that your logo will be a visual representation of your company on all kinds of materials and for years to come, so you want to make sure to design something you feel proud to show off.

3. Keep It Simple

Keeping it simple may seem contrary to your goals. However, it is actually very important to keep your logo as simple as possible.

You do not want to complicate or clutter your logo design with too many elements.

Trying to add in accessories like home building tools, a motto, your company name, and cutesy details will only serve to drag down the overall appeal of your logo.

If you must, repeat this mantra to yourself while designing your logo: keep it simple.

This will help you to eliminate elements that are not necessary, or even refrain from adding them all together.

4. Visual Appeal Is Key

Keep in mind that above all, your logo should be visually appealing. It is the first thing many people will see when hearing about your company for the very first time.

A bad logo can make them never take a second glance. Don’t let this happen to you.

Including a lot of information in the logo may seem helpful, but really this just confuses the eye and crowds the brain of your logo viewer.

Take a step back after a draft of your logo is designed.

What’s the first thing you think of when you glance at the logo? What images or ideas does it call to mind, and how does it make you feel when you look at it?

These simple reactions can provide important insight into how well your home builder logo will be received. It must be visually appealing in addition to being a great representation of your brand.

5. Use the Right Colors

They may seem like a minor detail, but choosing the right colors for your home builder logo is key. Nothing can make or break a logo quite like the color choices can.

For example, check out the logo of Now Living. The orange and black colors convey the traditional construction colors while the modern fonts bring the company into the modern age.

While orange and black are the traditional colors associated with the construction world, you do not have to limit yourself to only these choices. Branch out and do something different.

Stay with colors that are somehow relevant to what your company does, but do not feel confined to only using the usual colors that most other companies do.

Your logo should be unique and recognizable, but must also be a good representation of your company’s values and mission.

Need Help Designing A Home Builder Logo?

If you need help designing the perfect home builder logo for your construction company, you have come to the right place.

Our logo-making platform will help you to design a logo in less than 10 minutes, even if you’re not a designer. The interface is not complicated and there are tons of options to choose from, making sure you’ll get your logo just right.

Plus, if you need a break, you can always save your design and come back later. You will also be able to download your logo an unlimited amount of times.

There are countless logo assets and design templates to choose from, so just scroll through the library of available elements if you need some logo design inspiration.

Check out our online logo-maker tutorial to get a feel for how it works.

Branding matters. If your company doesn’t have a smart or memorable brand, you can end up underperforming and even falling apart. But building that brand can be tougher than it seems.

Even if you’ve already established a brand, companies change over time. Your company’s image 40 or even 4 years ago is not the same as your company’s brand today. Being able to adapt and transform is vital to your survival.

Luckily, there are some easy ways to use visual techniques to refresh your brand. Whether you need a new logo or think your consistency is falling apart, these tips can be incredibly helpful for your growth.

Before You Refresh Your Brand, Listen To Your Customers

You need to be careful when you refresh your brand. By definition, refreshing doesn’t mean a complete overhaul. It means seeing what works and building consistency based around that.

Updating for the modern world is a good thing. But some companies throw the baby out with the bathwater to build a total overhaul.

It can be hard to tell whether or not this is what you’re doing. But you can check, and one of the most effective ways to pull that off is by asking around.

See what your customers like about your brand. And see what problems and challenges they find. Use this information to your advantage while refreshing.

Also look at who your customers are. If your brand attracts a large LGBT customer base, make sure that you work with them to create something totally unique.

Refresh, but do it cautiously and conservatively.

Look At Where Things Branch Off

Oftentimes, brands need to change because their message has grown inconsistent and muddled. If this problem is causing you to refresh your brand, there is hope.

You may find yourself with one aesthetic on a mobile app, and another on your website. And in your email marketing, you may find yourself face-to-face with a third image.

The best way to repair it is by taking account of these branching-off points. After examining them critically, you can work with them to build as much unity as you can.

If you find yourself with multiple points of departure, work from what they have in common. After this happens, you can make sure that each element of your company’s image has a unique value, but still maintains a connection to your original work.

This is good news because it means that you don’t need to rebuild your brand from scratch. Remember to emphasize simplicity during this undertaking.

Visually And In Terms Of Branding, What Works

When you’re designing a logo, it can be important to make sure that you stick with what works. This is true for both logo design and branding.

For basic logo design, one of the best thing that you can do is emphasize contrasting and effective colors. It can be easy to do this when you look at tools like the Sessions College color calculator.

You should also make sure that things stick your brand. Using bright orange in the branding for a funeral home probably would not be effective.

In terms of branding, this provides you with the perfect opportunity to connect your brand with your logo. This is particularly helpful if you have a visually inspiring name.

For instance, the financial services company Bonsai Finance is able to link a logo to both its name and purpose.

While they’ve managed to build a logo that resembles a tree, it also does this through an abstract and clean linear design. This trick tends to be more effective for financial companies.

If you have the opportunity to do something similar to your brand, it can be incredibly effective. But the most important thing is to look at how you can use what works to refresh your brand.

How Has Logo Design Changed?

One of the biggest reasons to refresh your brand logo is the fact that things have changed. A good logo today is not the same as a good logo twenty years ago, and that definitely isn’t the same as a good logo fifty years ago.

A good company can recognize these changes and make their own matching transformations. This doesn’t mean that you should completely throw out your current design.

But it does mean that you should look at the changes made to logo design in the past several years, and reform your logo to build a consistent yet evolving visual brand.

For a good example of this, look at the evolution of the Pepsi logo. Once you get to the 1970s, every version of it seems recognizable. Yet there have undoubtedly been some incredible changes made to preserve the brand.

Today’s logo fits post-recession minimalism. Comparatively, the 1990s and early 2000s embraced a more flashy form of branding.

Your logo can refresh your brand on a similar track. Because while it must remain consistent, it doesn’t have to be static.

Has Your Company’s Purpose Changed?

Finally, you should consider whether or not your company’s purpose or vision has changed. While this is unlikely, it is an important consideration.

For instance, if your client base has grown more affluent, you can refresh your brand to reflect that. If your company has grown more prestigious, you can communicate that through a logo.

Your brand can change entirely. If the purpose of your company has changed, you’ll probably need a more extreme brand overhaul to reflect who you are today.

Build A Logo Today

It’s a long process to refresh your brand. But the first step is making your new logo.

We offer a highly effective logo maker to help companies pull off a successful rebranding and refreshing. Don’t wait to take control, build your logo today.