A well-written logo design brief is the key to helping designers create the ideal logo for your company.
A strong brief is crucial for a designer since it offers a clear view of the project and the vision guiding it, helping the person working on the design get fully on board and minimizing potential errors.
A properly-written brief aids the designer in comprehending the needs and expectations of the client as well as the project's scope, target audience, budget and schedule. Following it will help the team save resources and achieve the client's goals. In a nutshell, it's every designer's northern star.
Understanding the essential elements of a creative brief and some helpful design terminology will help you better articulate your goals before writing your brief.
This article assists you in drafting logo briefs that enable designers to produce the ideal logo for your business.
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What Constitutes a High-Quality Logo Design Brief?
Before going into the details of crafting a logo design brief, let's get familiar with the factors that make it excellent and illustrate why being detailed is so important.
Imagine that you want to surprise a loved one with a professional portrait.
So, you need to describe a person to a street artist. But all you do is share the name, height and hair color. Chances are that the artist will scratch their head and come up with a generic result that will leave you unsatisfied. But if you talk about the person's passions, behavioral patterns and tiny physical details that you found remarkable – the portrait can be incredible.
While you know everything you need to know about that person, the artist (no matter how good they are) has only the information you've given them. The same goes for your brand and your logo designer. What you provide are the only tools your designer has, so give them plenty!
A logo design brief should contain a detailed account of your idea, allowing the designer to make your logo well. It often includes the basic facts about the company, the preferred design aesthetic, the project timeline and the budget.
Let's ensure you are ready to document each step so there are no misunderstandings because any of these could cause a rift between you and the designer. Or worse, a poor logo design!
Tip #1: Talk About Your Business in Your Logo Brief
Although it's convenient to dive right into the aesthetic elements of a logo design brief, it's always preferable to start with the why. The background information about you and your company should answer this question.
Graphic designers are not machines but people with exceptional creativity, a thorough understanding of people, products and industries and the ability to select aesthetics that work well for each aspect.
When writing a logo design brief, discuss your product, industry and target audience to help the designer understand which techniques they should rely on. Provide information about your potential customers' lifestyles, habits and empirical data, like product materials.
Are you aiming to present yourself as modern, or are you after bringing back a retro theme? Is your brand formal, primarily targeting mature people, or is it youthful and fun? All these details are essential for your logo briefing process. Introduce them to your vision by informing yourself on how they can incorporate your brand's values in your future logo.
A good logo design creative brief introduces designers to your vision by sharing your company's backstory, values and desired image (Get inspired by these best logo designs that represent brands perfectly).
Don't just tell them your company's name. Tell them why you've picked it and what it is supposed to represent. Then proceed to tell them whether it's important to have your logo contain your brand name, and if so, should it be a one-liner. It's also important to note if there's a slogan or tagline you want in your logo.
Tip #2: Your Design Brief Logo Project Should Contain the Specifics
It's critical to be as specific as possible when defining your desired logo style. It ensures the designer gets a clear view of what your logo should look like. If you need help, research by checking out some of the best logo designs that can inspire you and narrow your options.
Once you get a grasp of the standard logo features in your industry, you can opt for a safer choice that resembles it. Or, you can swim against the tide and aim for something different! If you’re unsure, consult your designer and ask their thoughts.
Your logo design creative brief needs to contain specific information on the type of emblem you want – are you looking for a simple wordmark, an abstract shape or a symbol with a wordmark next to it? If you can't decide, ask your designers for insights!
Your logo brief should also cover the color choices. Skilled designers will be able to pinpoint the colors that are ideal for your business. Having said that, color recommendations in the logo brief are always welcome. Your suggestions might be as vague as "black and yellow," or you can go into detail on the shades or precise hex codes. And if you can't tell which colors should be on your emblem, look at some exceptional colorful logo designs that help you figure it out!
And if you've found something similar to your idea and can inspire your designer – don't be shy and share it with them. It can be photos showing your desired color combinations, logos that you find interesting or at least some elements in those logos and your previous logo (unless this is your first one).
Tip #3: Elaborate on Your Expectations in Your Logo Brief
Your designer needs to know how much time, space for improvisation and money they'll have to work on your logo design.
Simply put, the design process is like any other. Although a fantastic logo design can appear out of nowhere in several hours, it frequently requires the designer to go through a period of research and learning. Giving designers extra time will enhance the likelihood of getting the logo options you'll love.
Keep in mind that you'll likely want to tweak the original design. On that notion, you should plan ahead and provide the designer with a detailed logo brief before you launch your company. Give your designers enough time window to make these modifications.
Creating a list of dos and don'ts can highlight aspects of your desired logo design and narrow your designer's options, helping them find the perfect fit faster. You may say, for instance, "Use blue as the primary color, but avoid darker shades," or "Use only triangular shapes" if you know there are specific hues, colors or shapes you don't want.
But remember, this is a bonus to the logo brief, NOT its adequate substitution. This list contributes to creating a more transparent framework for your designer to use when creating your logo designs.
You must also specify how all the payments will be made in your logo design brief. It can be unpleasant to talk about money upfront. Still, it's not nearly as awkward as refusing to accept a fee or tearing down a relationship because you forgot to mention certain financial information.
Indicate whether a flat charge or an hourly rate (or if you're open to either) is something you feel comfortable paying. If the designer wants to be paid hourly, don't hesitate to ask for an estimate.
By resolving these matters, you will give the designer all the comfort they need to focus solely on creating a distinctive and memorable logo for your brand.
A Well-Crafted Logo Design Brief Equates to Great Design Work
Your logo is the first aspect of your business your customers will see. It must reflect your brand correctly. And to get a perfect logo, you need to hire a designer who understands your brand as much as you.
When working with a designer, effective communication is essential to the success of your project. Taking the time to make a detailed and concise logo design brief will make both you and your designer happy.
If you want an impressive logo that perfectly represents your brand, create a logo brief containing all the vital information about your business, brand personality, type of logo, desirable color schemes and artistic styles.
Once you’ve discussed the logo specifications, address your work arrangements by including information on the timeframe, budget and creative freedom for the designer.
A good logo briefing process bridges the client and the designer. If it’s shaky, you’ll probably both refrain from crossing it again, but if it’s firm, you’ll likely cross it again for many future design endeavors!
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