The thing about design is that I never have a final vision in mind when I start creating a logo for a client. I have ideas and thoughts about what I want to create, but my logo design process involves input from my client, their ideal client (and market research), my marketing insight and design styles and vision.
Sometimes a client has a specific vision in mind and wants me to create exactly that, while other times the client is not sure what they want and relies on my insight, research and vision to help create a foundation for their designs. In the second case, I often gather research of different styles and examples to narrow down what my client is looking before I invest my time in their design to ensure I understand the vision they want me to follow.
The way I work is that I will create 1-2 logos based on exactly what the client has asked for, 1-2 logos from my creative insight and thoughts on where we could take the logo, and then another 1-2 logos that have developed during the creative process which might be a blend of both.
Logo Update for a Personal Chef
This is a recent logo I updated for a personal chef. She already had the initial logo concept, but wanted to continue evolving it to make her services as a personal chef very clear. After discovering what imagery she liked in her logo, I worked with her through 3 iterations of logo layout and font changes to create a logo she loves and more clearly explains her business in just seconds.
The font ‘Made’ is actually the client’s own handwriting, which personalized it to her. But looking at the starting logo, it wasn’t clear what she made and ‘Made’ was the dominant feature of the logo.
I was able to also create the word ‘by’ in her own handwriting and with the placement, added more emphasis to ‘Made by’, while pulling in the rest of her logo text. The cast iron skillet conveyed that her services were related to the kitchen and I also added 2 taglines to emphasize her services.
Our next step will be creating her business cards and website!
Creating a Successful Logo
Oddly, the best way to create a logo has been when I give myself space for creativity. I used to work so hard in my business that I didn’t even give myself time for bio breaks, walks or lunch during the day. I just set up my list of tasks and powered through the day to complete them all.
And don’t get me wrong, I still created strong and creative designs, but I was burning myself out. My brain didn’t have time to process and think creatively at work, so work ideas would pop up on my ‘off’ time: at the gym, just before falling asleep, in the shower, etc. My brain was forced to find creative space in the time when I wasn’t cramming my day.
Now, I make space in my day to encourage creativity and work from inspiration. I still have my daily list of most important tasks, but I sometimes switch up the order when a creative thought or idea springs up for one. If I’m having trouble seeing the vision, I now give myself a 5-10 minute break to get some fresh air, go for a walk, or just let me brain turn off so that my intuition can take control and guide my thoughts.
The trick to creativity is not in forcing it, but instead in giving yourself space to be creative so that you can then take inspired action. After 14+ years of designing, I’ve learned the processes that work best for artists and myself, so that I can offer the best to my clients and still love my life.
To see more of my logo designs, (and other website designs and marketing designs) look at my portfolio.
If you’re looking for a creative logo design, for a graphic designer who listens to you and takes your feedback into your design and works with you to help your business grow, let’s chat about how I can help your business grow.
As a client recently said:
Alyssa is also an exceptionally fine communicator and a careful, respectful listener, always careful to interpret her clients' needs accurately--even when they might have difficulty articulating them themselves!"
