From the article: Logo Design
In a comment on a blog post about designing logos one reader writes, "In my opinion, a professional who takes months to design a logo is not a professional." It's one reason, possibly, that many people turn to logo contests, logo factories, and non-professional designers who may charge less and do logos faster. What's your opinion on this? In addition to all the other rules and best practices in logo design, is there an optimum amount of time it should take to design a logo? Is weeks and months unreasonable? How long does it take YOU to design a logo? Share Your Thoughts
It Depends
- It all depends on the complexity of the design and how much the client is willing to pay. If the client wants something that is going to stand out from all the other competition than this involves quite a bit of time and research on the designers part. Trial and experimental designs are done first before a designer can come up with the perfect solution/ design for the clients needs. I think a proper designer will take some time putting alot of thought into it and sometimes the perfect idea or concept does not happen over night. It could take a couple days or even a week but i say no longer than a week. If it is longer than the designer is not putting enough effort or thought into it. As they say " Rome was not built in one day" Karen C
- —Guest Karen C
Logo time depends by you and client
- In my opinion it depends on the client as Janet says and on the designer's talent and education as Rafael said. I remember when I was still learning it took me much more time to finish a logo, but now I can make it for 3 days to 2 weeks. If the company is large and desires very special elements in it it certainly takes more time. But I really don't see why you should lose months for a logo when the logo is a simple task you have been asked for and does not contain so much details as in a website or illustration. Although all of the above conclusions the logo is the main feature of the company that will lead it to its success. That's why we should be careful when we create it and think first.
- —Guest Gioradi
It depends
- It depends on the graphics designer and the client. Some graphic designers have a different way of thinking and follow their intuition together with research. Some clients may not need as much spirit put into their logo, most of them aren't graphically gifted and a snazzy logo does it, others do not want to spend so much for their logos so they run with the logo they have had designed for them until their economy allows a retouch. I'd estimate between 3 (days if you get it straight away) and 6 days for small businesses. Bigger businesses I estimate will give you 1-3 weeks because those will allow you to really think over what you will be designing and let you do your research. My two krona.
- —Guest FormicaVirus
you get what you pay for...
- ...just like this article....it was free on a google search...and it is the most misinformed piece of crap article i have ever read..........any trained, experienced, professional graphic designer/art director that tells you you will have a completely finished logo in a day or two......is either unemployed and has nothing but your logo going on OR is not a very good designer [Guide edit: It is unclear what article is being called crap and what writer is being called an idiot by this guest poster. Did they mean the blog post linked on this page (mine), the main article linked from the blog post (by Jacob Cass), a different article linked in the blog post (various authors), the comment referenced in the intro to this page and the main subject of this page (by a reader of this site) or something another reader has posted here? Quite a few of them are more or less on the same side as this Guest. Oh well. Take your pick.)
- —Guest this writer is an idiot
Designer
- It depends on the Designer's talents and education. Chances are a non professional will take less than a week, for an accredited Designer, less then a week of dedicated work is irresponsible. A month should be fine.
- —Guest Rafael Gonzalez
this is bull****
- This is all bull****. 2 hours to design a logo? are you insane!? logos are meant to be simple yes, but they have to embody the company as a whole. One symbol or typeface that represents SO MUCH MORE is not thought up in 15 minutes. It takes time! this article is bull****.
- —Guest designer
LOGO The First introduction
- Logo is the First Introduction of the Concerned Company, so, it hardly matters that how long it will take to design a logo. Once you are in depth of it, can take just one hour or can take one month. But the matter of fact is logo must reveals if it is cocern with hard automobile company or Stylish designer clothes etc.
- —Guest Indu Mehra
3 Rounds
- In my experience, it takes 3 rounds of design to get close to an effective logo design. Pre-first round is research. Then first round is sketches, second round 1st mac versions, 3rd round is narrowed down options. After that you should be close to the chosen design.
- —suetrue
How Long, Logo?
- From the point of view of an editor-cum-graphic artist with 40 years in harness, a logo design is never finished, though you might start using it when it's good enough. The question is about the difference between quality work and work finished by deadline.
- —Guest Gene Pitts
Logo design
- It should not take that long to design a logo. As with anything else, you have the information you need ahead of time about your clients' type of business, corporate colors, etc. Once you and he or she decide on whether to go with a logo-type, a graphic element, or both, it should take no more than a day or two - maybe longer than that in some cases, but certainly not weeks or months. As for not putting enough thought into it, if you know the principles of design, and if you have good aesthetic judgment, there's nothing "too good to be true" about getting a job done in a reasonable amount of time. It's your job - if you're good at what you do, don't waste the customer's time and money. Some of the best and most memorable logos are very simple in design. The purpose of logos is identity. Simplicity is the key. If you want to create a masterpiece, take all the time you need, but then don't wonder why you might be a "starving artist."
- —Guest Jim
Two hours at most
- With my little experience in graphics and logo design I think 2 Hours at most should be enough for a professional graphic artist to design, edit and ok a logo design. Thanks
- —Guest mmacographics
It depends on the client
- It could take months to design a logo for a large company. Especially if there is a committee that has to approve each level of design concepts. But often I have clients come with dire need before some sort of conference. And these are usually small companies with a small budget. Still, it does take a few days to do research and still a few days to sketch ideas out before I can even get to a stage to have something to show the client. Two weeks is my minimum and that can easily turn into a month-long process. Anything less than that the client isn't getting what they deserve. I also have a minimum cost for logos that is much higher than many online logo sources. That weeds out some. A company logo is its first foot in a door and the last to remain (hopefully) on the customer's mind. It's worth putting more than a few cents into it.
- —Guest Janet D
More than a day
- I'm not sure if months is unreasonable but I would be very very suspicious of anyone that promised a logo in 24 hrs or even 48. It takes me at least that long to research the company and industry and sketch out some very rough ideas-too rough to show a client. If text is included it can take days of experimenting with fonts. Even if there are specific colors required it can take a lot of trial and error to find the right amount of color and the right placement. Faster is not better.
- —Guest Penny
