Logo Development Process.

This time a bit of my design process in creating a logo for the newly created Careers Center of University of Primorska. It is more or less just how I go on with creating a logo, the process is the same pretty much every time.

1st: Sketches
Just doodle around the brief that the client sets you. What are his view, do you actually get what that boring piece of text is writing about, just get something out of it that you think it will help you make the logo. Some sketches should be kept for yourself, some you can show to the clients. I usually show them a pretty rough sketch that just outlines the idea, sometimes I will also do a half made version of one that I think they should pick. It helps them see it more clearly and I always hope that they will take the one I think would suit them. But of course clients are clients and usually pick the one you don’t like or just a random one.

2nd: Initial computer made logo proposal
In this case my clients said that they want to proceed with number 6 of the sketches that I have made. Ok, so you go and make a computer version, you pick the default colours that they would like and try to make it as it would be almost finished.

3rd: Fixed logo proposal
Now regarding the previous proposal the clients wanted thicker lines that would show a stability of careers that they want to sell. Also some of them reminded them of boobs and they wanted pure red colour, so I had to fix those things this time.

Interim Comment
Now usually this is where the thing ends. They pick the one they like out of the fixed version, there could be a slight alteration maybe or just a bit of brushing and shining up. A pantone, CMYK, RGB, Grayscale and white on black version would be made and that would finish the job. In this case the logo was rejected and I had to get some more steps in.

4th: Back to drawing board
A discussion between the clients revealed that they like the logo, but they feel it doesn’t have the idea, a bit of twist behind it that would associate it with careers and people. It is just a plain logotype although its custom. So they thought if I can also make another computer version on number 3 sketch. Well if you are as patient as me you send them a new proposal a few days later.

5th: Finishing and export
The ending which should come before, but you never know in the end what will please your clients. They went on with number 1 of the last proposal and said that I should finish it up if I have anything I want to tweak and also prepare it for use in print and web media.

Comment on the making
It looks a lot of work, but you can actually make a whole thing pretty quick. I think I spent probably 1hour on the sketches. And then always another 2 or 3hours for each of the computer generated bits. The thing I learned most in the last couple of makings are that you always, really always want to start on paper with doodles and sketches. It just gets your brain going. Another thing is read carefully the specifications that the clients give you and listen to what they are saying, ignoring their wish for a colour can kick your harmony later in the process when you have to fix instead of create. A small print tip, if you are putting white transparency over a pantone colour it is still just one colour as far as the printing goes. Just make shure you expand and cut it later so that it is a percent of the colour rather than transparency which can cause later troubles with RIP. Oh well and after all the work is done, it is a nice feeling knowing that the client is happy in the end and you also.

So what is your design making process of a logo?