Creating a logo is more than just drawing a pretty picture or picking a trendy typeface. It’s about understanding a brand’s core values, its target audience, and its competitive landscape. It’s about weaving together aesthetics and strategy to create a visual identity that’s not just memorable, but also meaningful.
In this blog, we’ll pull back the curtain on our logo and branding design process at Gradient9. While the specific process may vary depending on the individual client and project requirements, we’ll explore some of the key steps involved, from initial brainstorming to final execution.
Step 1.
Brainstorming and Sketching Ideas. Taking into consideration a brand’s target audience, mission, values, and core differentiators, we explore broad ideas about the brand’s personality, tone, and visual direction. We create rough sketches to capture initial concepts. We also research competitor branding to identify potential overlaps and opportunities to stand out.
Step 2.
Build 4-6 Concepts. Narrow down the brainstorming results to 4-6 strong concepts that best represent the brand’s essence. Create preliminary visual representations of each concept and present the mock-ups to the client for initial feedback and discussion.
Step 3.
Move Forward with Logo Options and Add Color. Based on client feedback, we select 2-3 best logo designs for further development. Explore variations in logo formats, color palettes, and typefaces. Expand on the initial color palette for each logo, creating different mood and tone variations.
Step 4.
Finalize the Color Scheme and Logos. Choose the final color palette that best embodies the brand’s desired identity, while ensuring practicality and consistency. Apply the chosen color scheme to the remaining shortlisted logo designs and refine any final details.
Step 5.
Create Branding Package. We will develop a comprehensive document that outlines the brand’s visual identity, including logo usage guidelines, font selection, and color palette specifications. We recommend clients share this guide with everyone involved in representing the brand to ensure consistent presentation across all channels.
Step 6.
Bring your brand to life. Gradient9 helps you consistently apply your branding to websites, packaging, social media, printed materials and more. We create a unified experience that makes your brand instantly recognizable.
