Logo Design

We love designing logos.

We believe that a logo is often the most important asset to a company. A well designed logo or a poorly designed logo has the power to attract or detract customers to your business. It takes work to maintain a faithful customer base, and a professional looking logo can make it easier for people to trust you. Logos create emotions. Logos can turn boring products into must have purchases. Heck, a logo can change the world.

Design Principles

Logo design is arguably the most important and valued quality of a company’s branding. At Gibbs Graphics, we use the following principles to develop the best logos possible.

Think Multiple Uses – How will the logo be used? Will it be used in print and web marketing? Will it be big and small? Will it be photocopied or faxed? Keep multiple uses in mind when developing a logo.

Keep it Simple – A simple design allows for easy recognition and allows the logo to be versatile & memorable. It should have a strong, balanced image with no unnecessary clutter or detail, and it should be distinctive and bold in design, making it easy to see at a glance. The words should be easy to read.

Make it Memorable – A great logo will imprint itself in the minds of its viewers. Along with the principle of simplicity, a good design should use recognizable and creative elements for it to be easily remembered.

Make it Unique – A strong logo will easily be identified and won’t be confused with another logo. Careful research of the industry should be done to know and understand the common styles, but care must also be taken not to infringe on anyone elses trademarked logo.

Make it Versatile – A good logo will be effective in a variety of uses. The logo should be recognizable and readable when scaled down to the size of a postage stamp. The logo must look good in black and white as well as color. The logo should be able to be used on a dark and a light background, and over a photo or textured background.

Establish Clean Space – Don’t crowd the logo. Leave sufficient “white space” around the logo in all applications.

Engage your Audience – A good logo design entertains and engages its audience. It is important to be simple but that doesn’t mean it can’t be creative, witty, interesting, emotional, funny, tricky, or amusing.

Make it Appropriate & Relevant – A logo should relate to the business in some way. Use colors, images, and typefaces that align with the company branding.

Make it Timeless – A logo should last through temporary trends. Will the logo still be effective in 5, 10, 50 years?

Design Process

1. Design Brief – Conduct an interview with client or have them fill out our Logo Survey.

2. Research & Brainstorming – We research clients’ business and its history, and that of its competitors. We also look at logo designs that have been successful and current styles and trends that are related to the design brief.

3. Sketching – We take what we’ve learned so far and develop a variety of creative conceptual sketches.

4. Computerize it – The best ideas then get turned into a computer design.

5. Present to Client – Meet with client or email the best designs to client for review.

6. Revise & Add Finishing Touches – Apply client feedback to the design(s).

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 if necessary

8. Supply Files to Client – We give the full copy rights to the client.

What is Branding?

Branding is more than just your logo. Your brand is your personality, your image, and your promise that you make to the world. It includes your business name, tag line, logo, colors, website, and advertisements, and it also includes the quality of your products, the warranties or guarantees, the customer service, and the core values of your business.

We want to help you develop a powerful and successful brand based on your goals and your needs.

Cost & Payment

Please stop by or call to discuss your logo needs. A short conversation is usually a good way to see if we are a good fit for each other.  Feel free to email us also if that’s easier for you.

Early on we will discuss your needs and address any questions you may have about costs. After you have approved the quote and before we initiate work we request a 50% deposit, with the balance billed at the completion of the project.

Our preferred method of receiving payment is by check, however we can accept credit cards as well.

All outstanding balances over 30 days past due may incur a late fee.

Billable time includes designing, phone calls, email, consultations (other than the initial free consultation), research, edits & revisions, and saving files for various uses.

To save our designers’ time you may be asked to communicate via our office manager who will ensure that your project gets the full attention it deserves. 

Although very rare, quotes are subject to change. Client will be notified if a project is anticipated to go above the initial quote.

Things that may cause a price increase:  

• Requesting additional rounds of revisions. Typically two rounds of edits are included. Additional edits may incur additional costs.
• Excessive emails, communication, or meeting time with designers. 
• Requesting additional services or additional file types.
• Unforeseeable changes.

Once payment is complete, all artwork and the full copy rights are given to the client. You are responsible for keeping (and not losing) the files we send you, however we do keep work backed up on file for a minimum of 5 years and are available to share your files with other designers or individuals per your request. Please direct requests to our office manager: project@gibbs-graphics.com