9 reasons why a DIY logo is a no-go

So the time has come for a new logo. Whether you’re a start-up company just getting your feet off the ground or an established brand looking to revamp your image – a new logo design is a big step for any business.

We hear it time and time again when people decide to forgo a professional designer and have a stab at doing the logo themselves. Maybe you have a creative eye for these things, you’re a dab hand with Adobe software, or you just don’t have the spare budget right now – after all, you know your business better than anyone – right?

We get it. A DIY logo can be tempting as a short-term fix, but we promise in the long-run you won’t regret hiring a professional.

Here are some of the reasons why.

1. It takes time

Don’t underestimate the sheer time it takes to get the logo just right. From conceptualising to designing and refining a company logo design, professional designers spend hours, days, even weeks on these tasks.

As a business owner and especially if you don’t have a design background, it would likely take you even longer just to get to grips with the software before you even start on the designs.

1. It needs to look professional

Your logo is a reflection of your company so it’s very important that it looks professional and not amateurish. Without the right tools, it can be impossible to meet industry standards, and your freshly designed logo will pale in comparison to your competitor’s.

1. It should be consistent with your branding

As the business owner, do you have a complete and thorough understanding of your company’s branding? You might think you do, but without real design knowledge you may struggle to keep it consistent.

Your logo needs to work seamlessly with your branding so people know who you are and what you do at a glance.

1. You can’t be impartial

You live and breathe for your company, it’s an important part of who you are and you know it better than anyone. We get it. The problem is, you’re too invested. You can’t see your company from an outside perspective in the same way a designer can.

Sometimes what you think is a good idea may not be what’s best for your company. A good designer will collaborate with you and tell you what will and won’t work for your market. They may even be able to work with your concept and turn it into a professional logo that’s perfect for your industry.

1. It must be versatile

Your logo will be used everywhere – on your website, social media accounts, packaging, printed brochures, flyers, and maybe even billboard adverts or t-shirts.

A versatile logo needs to be scalable to any size without compromising the quality. It should be presented in different formats such as PNG, PDF, JPG and so on, in order to work on multiple platforms.

A professional designer will know all this and be able to make a versatile logo that can be used anywhere.

1. It’s your most important brand asset

Arguably, your logo is your most important brand asset. Think of Nike, McDonald’s, Apple and Coca Cola – their logos are unmistakable and unforgettable. That’s the kind of impact that good logo design can have, so you really shouldn’t cheap out on it.

Your logo should be a visual expression of your company values, utilising colours and shapes that are deeply connected to your brand but are also perceived well by customers. It’s no easy feat to incorporate all of this into a simple logo, but professional designers are trained to do exactly that.

1. It should be timeless and avoid trends

All the best logos stand the test of time. More often than not, they’re straightforward, simple and minimal, with no unwanted chaos. If you’re not a design professional, it can be difficult to grasp this concept and you’ll probably end up going overboard.

It’s also difficult to avoid trends. With certain colours and styles forever coming in and out of fashion, it’s easy to get caught up in a trend and think it will work perfectly for your business. Professionals know where to draw the line between modern and trendy.

1. Colour and font choices are crucial

Did you know that colours are perceived differently by different people? For example, red can be a sign of warning or danger in some cultures, and a sign of celebration and power in others. The colour green often represents nature and freshness, while purple is associated with wealth and privilege.

You might want to choose a particular colour for your logo simply because it’s your favourite, but there’s a lot more psychology and theory understanding that should go into the decision than that.

Similarly, your font choice is another thing that could ruin your logo. With thousands to choose from and little understanding without a design background, it can be easy to slip into “trendy” territory again.

1. It needs to stand out from the crowd

Another problem with being too involved in your industry is that you easily get fixated on other people’s logos. If you own a dentist practice, it’s easy to think your logo should look like all the other dentist practice’s logos, and while it might need to have a similar concept, it should never be identical.

By hiring a professional to design your logo, they’ll have experience creating unique designs that stand out from the crowd while still looking appropriate for your industry. They’ll also have ideas and concepts they can draw from other industries they’ve worked in, that could work well for yours too.

As one of the most critical branding tools for your business, you can have a big impact on your industry and create strong brand recognition with a well-designed logo. While you might have all the right intentions with a DIY job, it really will pay dividends to enlist the help of a professional.

We’ve worked with countless brands over the years to help define their brand identities, so if you need help designing a new logo that packs a punch for your business, give us a shout!