Logo Design for a Sophisticated Brand
24Every blog has a unique audience, so the blog itself has to find a way to appeal to that audience.
One of the most difficult audiences to capture can be that of a sophisticated consumer. It can be difficult to achieve the prestigious, refined image you desire, without appearing outdated.
First impressions count, so making sure you have a strong and inspirational logo is the first step to creating a powerful luxury brand image.
The logo is essential. It gives direction and attitude and is a tool for impact to attract the right clientele.
Questions to Ask When Designing Logos
- The first question is of course ‘Who is the logo for?’ When dealing with luxury brands, you are dealing with a very specific audience which is often more discerning. Consumers of luxury goods desire products that are elite and not mass market. Such products represent an aspirational lifestyle. Logo design must try to reflect this.
- The logo should instantly identify the client and their values. It needs to be quickly recognized and to stick in the memory. It needs to portray sophistication and class for this market sector.
- Gain inspiration from historical designs, museums, art galleries – use imagery in your designs which appeals to this client base.
- Re-visit visual techniques from classical art – for example, perspective from the Italian master Masaccio or colour blending techniques from Leonardo Da Vinci.
- Keep in mind a balance between the historic and the contemporary. Select traditional calligraphy or classic type fonts when choosing your lettering. Use of these letters has always been associated with nobility and exclusivity. These fonts can then be applied in a more modern way. This can be done by manipulation of the scale and spacing of the character. In addition, overlaying these traditional letters with rational modern shapes can create the desired balance between old and new.
- Integrating traditional symbols to create a sense of reminiscence. If you can connect the modern brand to how the same product or company existed in the past, it will give the product a historical connection and deeper level symbolism. Take time to research the ancient guilds to see what symbols they were using. By basing your new logo on this concept you will create a deeper level of complexity.
- Keep the design simple and avoid being too decorative and ornate as it still needs to appear contemporary. Clean clear lines and geometries are always seen as modern. You can begin the design process with the historical and ornate designs and then in the second stage revise and simplify the logo to obtain the right balance.
- Create emotional links – use color, shape, and shadows to trigger emotional associations and deeper thoughts.
- Design a logo to represent a high end company that will last over time – it must be able to convey its message over time and adapt to cultural changes. Think of the great Renaissance artists of Florence whose work creates as strong an impact today as it did when it was created.
Bear all of this in mind as you design your logo, and the result should be a refined image that bears the luxury brand and still appeals to a modern audience.
About the Author – Marc Di Domenico is the director of the Florence Institute of Design International in Florence, Italy. The Florence Institute specializes in Graphic and Interior Design for an international student base.
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Great tips. I would think it is easier to have someone do this for you.
Love the tips. Logo design is quickly becoming a passion of mine (as part of a larger interest in branding) and I think it’s sad when someone throws together a “cool” logo with little thought for the unique personality and vision of the business or site.
great article. I love the tips… especially the ‘gain inspiration from history’ one :)
“Create emotional links” – I’ve certainly seen that more often than once :)
Though these tips were written by a non-webdesign guy, it suits the web perfectly. Especially things like logos identifying the brand (and vice-versa).
Stumbled :)
Great article. Logo is most important part of company branding, so it is crucial thing to be done correctly and professionally.
Blog Expert,
If you can afford it, then I agree. Some posts (like this one) are more suited to real designers (or people who want to learn design and are happy to practice at it!), than a quick DIY. If you’re a blogger looking for a logo, and don’t have an interest in learning design yourself, then by all means, hiring a pro is going to give much better results.
Brandon,
I agree. I think that’s becoming a trajedy of the internet in quite a few areas. Keeping up with the latest fashion undermines quality quite often. :(
Muhammad,
Given how young the internet is, it’s probably one that we don’t think about as often as we should. :)
Sumesh,
When it comes to logos and branding, there’s no advantage to being a web guy or not I think. If anything, his broader experiences are probably a great benefit to making this logo I think. Experience is always invaluable :)
WDB,
Agreed, it can be hard to get right, but it’s worth trying! :)
interesting tips, I especially liked idea to look at historical signs to get inspired. nice.
Very nice article, I like the advice about keeping the logo simple, that is something that people don’t do nearly enough. Simplicity is key in a powerful design.
Thanks for the tips. Sophisticated brands are often difficult to design for. Great resource.
Stellar post! Thank you for sharing such simple, yet overlooked tips.
Your tips are great. Blogs really need a nice design to be more noticeable.
I have some good favorites for logo inspiration for you guys :D
http://logopond.com/ and also http://www.faveup.com is quite a look worth..
Nice article with some very good tips! Totally agree with keeping it simple. Making it to complex is a mistake often made.
Good article indeed and helpful tips I really appreciate your hard work and deep understanding of logo designing. Thanks for helpful article.
Select traditional calligraphy or classic type fonts when choosing your lettering
good post ,thanks! This article was Very helpful. i like your website,I am fond of reading online punjabi news.
If anything, his broader experiences are probably a great benefit to making this logo I think. Some posts (like this one) are more suited to real designers (or people who want to learn design and are happy to practice at it!), than a quick DIY.
Cool, designing a logo for me it is a very nice thing to do. When designing a website the logo is the center of the page.
Yeah, Indeed this the logo is great.
It doesn’t matter what type of company it is, if you make the logo/brand simple it makes it easy tenant Screening to remember (and this is your ultimate goal as a designer). Regards!
If you’re a blogger looking for a logo, and don’t have an interest in learning design yourself, then by all tenant Screening means, hiring a pro is going to give much better results.
I agree. I think that’s becoming a trajedy of the internet in tenant Screening quite a few areas. Keeping up with the latest fashion undermines quality quite often
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A logo is an important element of any company and not just for their website. This is the first thing people look at and it has to give off the right impression and if you are a sophisticated company then you have to make sure you brand look and style show that and show that well. When designing a website a beautiful logo really helps bring a design into your head and on screen.