Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Holiday Giveaway + Contest: LogoDesignCreation.com Discount Code & Gift Vouchers

Christmas is almost here! And to celebrate this festive occasion with our readers, LogoBuzz together with the good folks from LogoDesignCreation.com are giving away a holiday promotional code which offers a USD$10 discount valid on any of the design packages at LogoDesignCreation. And you can use it for an unlimited amount of time within the valid promotional period that is until the coupon code expires. So what are you waiting for? Hurry over to LogoDesignCreation.com and start shopping! The voucher is valid from December 8, 2010 and will expire on January 3, 2011.


But wait! There's more! FIVE lucky winners will receive USD$100 worth of gift vouchers to be used on LogoDesignCreation.com. For a chance to win, leave a comment at the end of this post sharing with us what is your funniest Christmas memory to date by December 24, 2010 (EST). This contest is open to all. Good luck and Happy Christmas!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Illustration for a logo design. Practical or plain foolish?


The choice of either having an illustrative logo design solely depends on the type of business the logo design is intended for. For instance, it would be impractical for a consulting company or law firm to have an illustrative logo design as the face of their business as it would not reflect the company as well as a corporate iconic type. But then when is it suitable to have an illustration as a logo design, you ask? If your business is towards the creative side or even one which is geared towards children and teenagers, then it could do well for your brand. As mentioned, it is essential to identify the type of business you are involved in to determine the appropriateness of having an illustration as your logo design.

An illustration can do wonders both as a means of attracting your audience and distinguishing yourself from other basic logo designs. In terms of color combination, it would be appropriate to keep it at a minimum as too many colors might cloud your overall logo thereby affecting its impact on potential customers. Complementary colors are also perfect to bring out the core design of the illustration. Still on the topic of the importance of colors, occasionally having an illustration done in black and white or typical gray-scale can bring out the logo as well. I have included some samples of illustrative logo designs for your enjoyment as seen above.

The types of illustration used are also important. An emblem? A mascot? Or a caricature? They are all good but still it all boils down to the needs of your business. On a different note, most people usually dismiss this but choosing the right designer to do your illustrative logo is highly important as well. Always check the portfolio to see the quality of the illustrations. Do not be afraid to tell your designers what you want or exactly have in mind as this will make or break the final design. Provide samples or sketches you have as this will definitely aid in bringing your vision to reality.

There are tons of designing sites out there on the Web which specializes in illustrations or illustrative logos among those reputable ones are Fast Characters (http://www.fastcharacters.com/), Mascot Design Corner (http://www.mascotdesigncorner.com/), S.O.S. Factory (http://www.sosfactory.net/) and Boss Toons (http://www.bosstoons.com/). Above all else, have fun with your illustrative logo – you chose it to be an illustration for a reason. Right?

Oh wow! It's moving. Is animated logo the way to go?

Credit: AngryAnimator.com
The ubiquity of animations used as part of the primary logo design is gaining popularity more so with the advent of the many types of online-based businesses springing up on the Internet. A few years back, not many businesses were interested in animated logos. This is because previously, most were simply haphazardly done with stiff and generic movements, sometimes worsening the original logo design instead of accentuating it. Nowadays, it is often seen that animated logo designs can serve to complement the existing logo design particularly on the Web, which currently offers a host of possibilities to make any types of businesses more interesting. Another plus point is that an animated logo design can cut through the noise on the Net and makes a particular business stand out. It should be noted that having an animated logo design is not restricted to any types of businesses as long as you have a website to showcase your logo.

Credit: AngryAnimator.com
Certainly, the degree of complexity of your animation for the logo design should be taken into consideration as well as you do not want it to be a mini movie-like animation. Normally, the typical time for one complete cycle of an animation should not be more than a minute. If it gets too lengthy, it might not capture the attention of your target demographic. It is now the right time to jump on the bandwagon if you are still undecided. There are many design sites out there offering design packages which include an animated logo thrown into the mix for a nominal fee. In hindsight, having an animated logo design for your business could probably be the stepping stone for your company to make its mark in the industry.