Logo Design

[Greg Squire]

I'm curious what all of you have done with designing your company logo. Did you take the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) route or did you hire a professional? I know there are places on the web that will design your logo for around $200. However, I have some art skills (mostly in cartooning), so I may try my hand at it. (I need to finalize my name first however).

I did a quick Google search and found a few help pages on DIY logos:

http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol31/logo.htm
http://geekphilosopher.com/MainPage/WebLogo.htm
http://www.yurt-adventures.com/EarthyLogos/clipart.htm

However, for those that hired your logo out, do you feel it was worth the investment? Would you take that route again or something else (DIY or hire someone better)?

[LiquidAsh]

If you have any art skills, I'd say give a try. What do you have to lose? I think my programmer-art logo designs have actually turned out quite well. Well enough, to land me contracts designing logos for 3 other companies so far :) .

If you're worried about not comming up with a professional enough look. I'd recommend first checking into some of the collections of ready made logos for sale. That way you'll at least know what you are paying for in advance, and can decide how much that difference in look is worth.

I think the only time I'd personally consider hiring someone to do a logo for me, is if I had a specific design in mind that's either just too hard for me to create well, or more cost effective to outsource.

[robleong]

I feel $200 is a lot of money to be giving away for a logo, but that's just me! I too would suggest you give it a try yourself first. It's also more fun - I've just made my own logo (GB for GamerBlitz with a shamrock motif) and am very happy with it!

[Mark Fassett]

I think $200 is a fair price to pay for a logo (if a bit on the cheap side) when you consider that it will be one of the first things people see when they meet your company. And if done will, it will be memorable, and will tell people about your company without your having to say a word. I'd pay quite a bit more (if I had it) for a quality logo.

[Tom Cain]

As an advertising professional, I have thought about this for several years. My conclusion remains that I do not think it is necessary for an indie logo to do more than convey the personality of the company.

As mentioned by Mark Fassett above, your logo will tell people about your company without you having to say a word. If you have some skill, try designing the logo yourself first. If you can't capture the correct personality, consider getting someone to help.

At high levels of marketing, logo/identity development is extremely valuable and involves several disciplines other than artistry. Costs can run well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. There are good marketing reasons businesses invest this much in identities, but they don't really apply to indie marketing. Indies just don't operate at this level.

Create a logo that conveys your company personality, then concentrate your resources on other aspects of marketing. This should get you a greater return on your effort.

[rhm]

Sure Logos (http://www.surelogos.com/cgi-bin/comdigital/redeem.pl?aff=coms129) offers unique logo designs starting at $24.95
Logo Options (http://www.logooptions.com/) offer 3 logo concepts and 4 revisions for $49
The Logo Company (http://thelogocompany.net/) offers unique logo design for $50. You get 3 concepts and one free revision.


If you decide to do the logo by yourself, you might want to check out some templates and portfolios for ideas:

BoxedArt (http://www.boxedart.com/cgi-bin/affiliates/clickthru.cgi?id=dizajn)
DesignLoad (http://www.designload.net/?aid=3548)
DesignGalaxy (http://www.designgalaxy.net/?aid=3548)
ProCartoonz (http://www.procartoonz.net/?aid=3548)
Perfectory (http://www.perfectory.com/)
TemplateMonster (http://www.templatemonster.com?aff=dizajn)
AdesDesign (http://www.adesdesign.net/)
1st Logo Design (http://1stlogodesign.com/)
IQLogo (http://www.iqlogo.com/)
Logo-ToGo (http://www.logo-togo.com/)
Ars Logo Design (http://www.ars-logo-design.com/)

If you want more, I'm sure Google will help ;)

Roman

[Sean Doherty]

Sure Logos (http://www.surelogos.com/cgi-bin/comdigital/redeem.pl?aff=coms129) offers unique logo designs starting at $24.95
Logo Options (http://www.logooptions.com/) offer 3 logo concepts and 4 revisions for $49
The Logo Company (http://thelogocompany.net/) offers unique logo design for $50. You get 3 concepts and one free revision.

Roman

Cool, has anyone used these companies?