Logo Design Process for SDRES

A short video containing a few parts of the logo design process.

The Logo Design Process

The logo design process consists of five steps or phases. Each step can vary in the length of time needed for completion based on complexity and the amount of time the Client needs to move to the next step.

Step 1 :: Discovery & Design Brief

Discover the audience profile, definition of the message and brand metaphors, review the requirements of the project and fully define the brief. This involves a detailed conversation with the Client and independent research.

Step 2 :: Concept

Based on the information gathered in Step 1 a series of preliminary sketches are created. From these sketches a minimum of two are selected and refined into logo design concepts. These concept designs are presented to the Client (usually in the form of flat JPEG images or PDF files) with detailed notes describing options and solutions for each concept.

Step 3 :: Review & Feedback

Here the Brief is reviewed to ensure the artwork is meeting its requirements. This is where the Client gives feedback on the direction.

Step 4 :: Edit & Design Approval

Based on the information from the Review & Feedback step, the design is edited or further flushed out and taken back to Step 3: Review/Feedback step until the design is approved. Frequently this takes three Review & Feedback rounds to properly refine a logo.

Step 5 :: Logo Design Final Approval & Delivery

After the logo has a final design approval, the graphic is optimized and several versions are created for use in different media. Delivery of the final logo design materials includes: logo source file, RGB and CMYK versions, and a style-guide detailing elements of the logo.

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Good Design and Funding a Non-Profit

Business Budgets and Design

Most businesses are more and more conscious of their budgets and how to get the most for their money. As you know, non-profits are not exempt from this. Frequently, they are more inclined to cut corners with their marketing budget, and allocate funds to a more tangible resource. All too often the design budget is one of the first things to go.

I was working on an annual report for a housing non-profit headquartered in Washington, DC a few years ago. They were given proofs of three different concepts. The housing non-profit chose the most generic looking version and asked for modifications to make it look plainer. It made the annual report harder to read and gave a less than professional presentation of the non-profit. They told me that even though all three designs would cost the same, they didn

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