I have written before why I think a logo design is worth investing a little time and money on, but a friend told me something a little while ago that shed a whole new light on cheap logo design.
My friend another freelance designer had recently started working with a new client who unfortunately had already had their logo design done by a cheap logo designer. He had now approached my friend to help with some design work after the problems they had had with the cheap logo. They had basically commissioned someone to do a really cheap logo, they were happy with the design and so had it printed on they stationery, literature and vans. The problem began when they found another local company in the same line of work had a very similar logo. I don’t know whether both logos were done by the same designer, or perhaps two different designers used some logo clip art, or the designer copied the other logo, but either way it was an expensive mistake. The cost of van graphics, literature and stationery could easily outweigh the costs of using a reputable graphic designer who charges realistic prices because they spend time thinking about and designing a logo and not just using clip art or copying designs.
Its a pretty embarrassing thing to be driving a van which looks very similar to your competitor too.
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184 Comments
How I wish all this internet/computer stuff had been available when I was younger. How my career path could have been different. I just love all the tools available for doing design work, it can be so much fun even for the enthusiastic amateur just doing it as a hobby. However, at the end of the day you still need imagination and flare and that’s something you can’t buy or get off the internet. Some people just have it and others don’t. If you’re lucky enough to have it, go for it.
That’s why I’m glad I learned how to do my own designs. It’s not that hard. Eventually when I have the money, I’ll definitely get a professional logo done, but for now, my skills are enough to get me by for “FREE”. I definitely don’t trust the cheap logo designers or the websites where they advertise that you can create your logo for free or cheap. Get you Microsoft Paint, Photoshop, Microsoft Digital Image Editor, Photobucket or whatever editing program you can find and just learn how to do it. It’s not too hard.
This does not suprise me at all unfortunately, It is terribly sad when people would rather pay next to nothing for something that may look good but is worthless to them. Places like 99designs do not help!
It is becoming quite big, and i see more and more business use that site, to have a logo designed by a 14 year old who can apparantly carry the title ‘designer’
I am gad i went to university to become qualified, but it does anger me that unqualified people can whack up a website, create generic logo’s, business cards… etc and get paid.
Great blog, glad i came across it.
That’s why it’s important to take it as an investment and not just a quick job or procedure. The logo is the company’s identity to the public/market, so it needs to be on point.
thx for the tips, i always confuse about how to design logo ,,,
I think that its important that we don’t confuse cheep logo design with bad or lazy logo design. Problems arise when designers cut corners to make a fast buck. Using stock logos as a bases and then plowing out lots of very similar logos to businesses within a small radius of each other. This is not good practice and lets the whole profession down. There are ways of working quickly and cheaply with out cutting corners, that can result in original, value for money designs a good starting point is to collect logos that inspire you, if you are after a vector shape to incorporate find a photo with a shape or silhouette that you want and use the pen tool over the top of it, this is much faster than drawing from scratch and the result are much more reliable. Another tool which is useful is Adobe Kular its an online application that allows you to create or view colour swatches and then download then for use in illustrator.
Each and every line very good informative lines.It will help for graphic designers.
Your blog is great with beneficial content that is helpful to everyone.I have given this link to our designers.They are appreciating me to give that.
I agree entirely with your article. I make a point of telling my customers that no clip art is used in the creation of there logo. I have see the consequences of two firms having similar logos and it is not good.
That is amazing. Logo design is extremely important. If your company takes off this is what people will remember you by so it is worth taking the extra time to pay a bit more and have it done right.
In my past I would design logo’s that were not all that good. Then I realized exactly what you have written to be the truth…you get what you pay for
And then you’ll have to register a ridiculous logo as your trademark! This brings much problems later on when you have to change your logo when you realize that it’s not that great, and now it will actually cost you more for the change.
Great article, I have to reassure clients that paying for a well designed and thought out logo can make the difference between you and your competition.
I do believe that price always does matter. You’ll get what you paid. Logo is the soul of company. What ashame when you saw other company logo is similar like yours.
Composition is one of the most important features of graphic design such as colors, shapes, lines, type, illustrations and images. Graphic designers are skilled on how to use them.
You can trust them for making effective logo to your business.
I like this blog…
Logo design is composed of an illustration or an image suggesting the name or nature of the business. With this logo we can get the overall information of the site which we are looking for.
Fabulous article and great information. I totally agree in all aspects.
Of course a logo should be designed very typical, so it`s easy for customer to remember your brand. I agree, spend some money to build a great logo.
The logo is the branding of an entity. Big or small your logo should help people identity with your business as a brand.
Take Nike, the famous tick sign or Apple Inc with the apple sign nothing to do with what the company makes but today the brand image is so strong it is identified by hundreds of millions of people all over the world.
Our company had a cheap logo designed some time ago and to be honest it got us by for a long time.
We are about to expand our business and launch a national advertising campaign and our Logo is not up to par. So our expansion plans are held up while waiting on a new logo.
So while we may have saved money on the initial design it has come back to haunt us now.
I made this mistake before. I went the cheap route and bought a logo for $39 or something like that. It turned out ok, but nothing special. I bought business cards, stationary, etc. and ended up regretting it.
Recently more and more enquiries I seem to have start off by client asking… how much do you charge for logo design!? Once I mention the price they compare my price with people who offer 3 logo for £50 and unlimited amends!!? I dread to think how they make living from that. As if paying less would actually get them better result.
And like the ‘Comment by Las Vegas Real Estate ‘ cheap logo and rebrand excerise mmay cost corporate company more in the long run to put it right than having it designed right in the first place by a professional who is qualified.
Some affordable logo design companies don’t do such a bad job. I’d say pick those with a 100% money back guarantee. But personally, I’d stay away from the DIY design sites. Had some issues with getting those DIY logo copyrighted before.
perhaps researching other company logos first may help. ask family and friends to do some ideas in case they come up with something new. usuing the letters of your company name is the most common logo or having a picture to represent the name ,eg a tiger if called tiger. think outside the proverbial box
That’s what you get for going with a cheap logo company, who reuse graphics and don’t take the time to carefully understand your business and its market. It’s unfortunately for this client that it cost them so heavily.
I have worked with many clients from business individuals to large corporate organisations and usually the larger companies have learned that the need for a professional logo supplied in the most versatile formats is essential. Smaller businesses however often need educating about the value of a logo. It is difficult and time consuming to educate clients but it is an essential part of the job as being realistic about what is required for a professional logo is far more honest than just proving a cheap solution that will cost more in the long run.
A professional business identity helps to win trust and new business from clients and business associates so really it should be looked at as an investment. The identity of a business is something that should be incorporated into a business plan as it really is an important element within a company’s marketing strategy.
Yes it is the quality of the design that matters and if it will sell your company or business.
Good post. I am in the process of helping an offline business redo their website and help with SEO and they are looking at redoing their logo. I agree that they need to be willing to spend a little bit to get one that is completely unique to them, and one that effectively shows what their business is about.
The trouble is that it might not be the designer’s fault – we quite often have clients ask for a website / logo etc to be “exactly like this one” – we do our best to design something in a similiar style but not a direct copy, but ultimately “the customer is always right”.
The problem with these clients as always is they want everything but they don’t want to pay for it.
And as they say, “Cheap can be very expensive”
Lol, you are right Mike. People always want the best but seldom want to pay for it. Of course, a logo shouldn’t cost you an arm and leg either. After all, its just a logo….of course it will come to symbolize your brand…
I recently had the same thing. Someone I know said they had their artwork done back in the day based on a clipart motif. A few years later they were looking out the window and a van pulled up. The driver got out, pointed at his logo shrugged and drove off… exactly the same. Made me chuckle!! Well they have a pretty successful business so its not all bad and they laughed about it.
This is classic! and unfortunately, due to the recession, we are about to see more of that. I’ve had to “adjust” my prices because some companies will not pay as much as they used to for their graphic design.
Mike,i agree with you. sometimes i also had the same problem.
This is a big problem actually. There are a lot of businesses doing very cheap logo design – mass producing it! And with such low costs – they also gets a lot of clients, because as Steve Eightyone Design said, not everyone know enough about graphic design.
Ouch…what a mess that must have been. I once had a quicky logo made up for a side project I did, and it was cheap/convenient etc., but I would never do that for something that really mattered. A good logo fits like a glove and is unique and your company. Shortcuts are just asking for trouble.
The big problem with clients as always is they want everything but they do not want to pay for your job.
Logo image is a tool to present for people your site why graphic logo should be cheap? I can not understand this logic..
I agree. If you are going to do something you might as well do an outstanding job!
a logo is crucial for a company. we cant live without it.
i totaly agree with you.this happen because of clients want everything but they don’t want to pay for it.
I’d agree but I have also seen the opposite in play as well, where a ‘named’ designer does five minutes work and charges the earth for there ‘services’ on a poor logo
Makes perfect sense. I’m glad we didn’t hesitate in paying a designer to do this job.
Oh, I’ve experienced this first hand. It costs hundreds of dollars to get a logo through a contest. However, if you use your own graphic designer it can cost far less.
A Company Logo – is a visualized: idea, success, predestination, activity, spirit… of the Company, so, simplu how can it be cheap?
Just starting with the fact that it’s realization can take from days to weeks…! Because of the stages, the process of a professional development!
It is a saying in India
Costlier Cries once
Cheaper cries many times
I agree people don’t want to pay and they also try to get more from you for free.
I’ve had a lot of success using contests to find graphic designers. I can usually get a good graphic designer at a good price. Best of all, it’s a good way to find a graphic designer that you really like and can continue using for future projects.
To be honest Tara in Ireland company’s are havin a laugh at this stage. There was a system only 2 years ago where 10 years experience demanded a salary, now it accounts for nothing apparently? They are employing people straight out of college for ridiculous salaries. If we all start dropping our price and salary expectations we are losing respect for ourselves and our industry. You get what you pay for with design work. I for one will hold my head high and turn work down rather than grovel for bits and pieces. Good topic!