No matter how you skew it, one of the hardest things to do in graphic design is create a competent, clear, and attractive logo. In fact, we tend to dread each and every logo project that waltzes across our desk. But it’s an impossible task! Far from it, in fact. If you have the tools and skill sets to get the job done, we promise you’ll be able to crank out logos like the wind. With that in mind, we’ll be talking today about how to create a better, and more efficient abstract logo.
- Think of the Elements: When creating an abstract logo, one of the very first things you’ll want to do is to determine exactly what sort of elements you can break the company, person, etc. down to. What we mean is, what are the most basic shapes that come to mind when you contemplate the client? If it’s a cable company you’re making a logo for, maybe your first thoughts are of smooth lines reminiscent of long cables. Perhaps thoughts of a restaurant conjure up triangles sandwiches. No matter what the case, you’re going to want to distill the essence of the company down to only a few points.
- Use Those Shapes! The next thing you’re going to want to do is to use those shapes in the logo itself. If it helps, simply start with a well chosen font that spells out the client’s name. From there, take those basic shapes and arrange them in various ways, looking for that one fit that’s absolutely ace. How about putting the shapes into the logo as cut-outs within a larger shape? For instance, we can use those lines from the first point as holes within a larger square made out of a single color. Or, we could even interlace them within the typeface as accents. The possibilities are nearly endless, but you are going to have to finagle to find the right fit.
- Add More White Space: Lastly, look at the logo and determine what elements you can competently chop. Adding white space to a point will help to clarify the shapes, add some meaning, and otherwise clean up a potentially messy logo.
