{"id":15799,"date":"2019-12-04T17:04:37","date_gmt":"2019-12-04T22:04:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-715453-3009179.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=15799"},"modified":"2023-04-28T20:42:47","modified_gmt":"2023-04-29T00:42:47","slug":"logo-mistakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-715453-3009179.cloudwaysapps.com\/blog\/logo-mistakes\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Common Logo Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your logo is the first part of your brand that people see. It\u2019s also the central icon for how people remember you, and how they make associations about your brand.\u00a0<\/span>While it\u2019s great to explore your creativity when <\/span>designing a logo<\/span><\/a>, there are a few common mistakes that can undermine an otherwise great logo design.<\/span><\/p>\n

Luckily, these kinds of errors are easy to remedy if you know what you\u2019re doing. We\u2019ve laid out the top logo mistakes in the categories they most commonly appear: Color, Shapes & Symbols, and Typography.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ready? Let\u2019s jump in!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Color<\/h2>\n

Some of the worst logo designs we\u2019ve seen involve poor use of color. Here are a few of the most common mistakes people make, and how you can avoid them:<\/span><\/p>\n

Mistake #1: Using logo colors that are irrelevant to your brand
\n<\/b><\/h3>\n

Colors are intrinsically linked to our <\/span>emotions<\/span><\/a> as signals to help us navigate the world. Think of color as part of the personality or body language of your brand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With this in mind, <\/span>your logo needs to reflect your brand<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>One of the most critical logo mistakes you can make is to use colors that don\u2019t appear anywhere in your brand identity.<\/strong> This is a huge no-no, and should be avoided at all costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mistake <\/b>#2: <\/b>Inconsistent tints and shades<\/b><\/h3>\n

Tints and shades<\/span><\/a> determine how pure a color tone appears to us.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most common reasons colors don\u2019t work well together is that they have different saturations and values. Unless you\u2019re a seasoned designer, making a pure-tone-red work with a pastel baby blue is HARD to pull off.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you look at the chart below, you\u2019ll see what we mean.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

See how the purer tones in the top row work better with colors in their row, rather than with those in the bottom row?<\/span><\/p>\n

\"logo

Source: dtelepathy.com\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Pick logo colors with similar saturation and value.<\/strong> It shows a level of care for your design process and a commitment to consistency in your brand.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"mastercard<\/p>\n

The Mastercard logo is a great example: notice how the hues of each color are the same? Now imagine if the red circle became 50% less saturated. Would a pastel-red work with the bright hues of the rest of the logo? Probably not!<\/span><\/p>\n

Mistake <\/b>#3: <\/b>Using too many colors<\/b><\/h3>\n

Okay, sometimes it works (take the NBC logo for example). But unless you\u2019re literally selling lucky charms, it\u2019s generally not a good idea to use every color possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, using too many colors signals that you can\u2019t decide what palette to go with, which in turn makes your brand character unclear\u2014and therefore less likely to resonate with your target audience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"pepsi

Source: Pepsi.com<\/p><\/div>\n

The Pepsi logo is a great example of a simple yet effective color combination. <\/span>Notice how Pepsi also used the negative white space to break the colors apart and emphasize their contrast.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ideally, it helps to work with two to three colors that have a clear relationship to one another. (If you\u2019re stuck, check out some of our <\/span>color combinations<\/span><\/a> for inspiration).<\/span><\/p>\n

Mistake <\/b>#4: <\/b>Using gradient logos without appreciating their context<\/b><\/h3>\n

In our always-on digital world, <\/span>gradient logos<\/span><\/a> are becoming the primary logo for many businesses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A word to the wise, however: these logos have strict design rules about where gradients kick in and the rate of the transition between colors. <\/span>Make sure you keep consistent with the gradient rules used in your logo, and everywhere else in your brand.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"firefox<\/p>\n

Mozilla\u2019s logo and brand guidelines, for example, are a great way to understand the level of detail that goes into using logo gradients across a wider brand identity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shapes and symbols<\/b><\/h2>\n

Lurking behind a ton of <\/span>logo fails<\/span><\/a> is insensitivity to shape and symbolism. Since both of these elements are an integral part of how your logo carries meaning, it\u2019s vital you know what to do, and what not to.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mistake <\/b>#5: Using containers incorrectly<\/b><\/h3>\n

As you can see, containers are an amazing way to put text into context. But you need to get the right balance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Too big, and your logo text will become overpowered by the excess space. Too small, and your poor logo will be all boxed in. Similarly, using the wrong style of container detracts from your logo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

Design your perfect logo in our logo maker! <\/h2>\n \n \n