Logo elements: what you need to consider before getting your new logo

You would like to have a new logo design or to re-design your current logo. But where to start? What elements do you need to consider before getting your new logo? What's most important to consider?

We have gathered next a few ideas that can help you in this process:

Logo elements:

1- Denomination:

• Do you want to have a logo representing your company or yourself?

2- Text: 

• What type of text do you want to use in your logo? 
• How long is your logo text? 
• Does your text relates to your core business?
• Is your logo text appropriate and simple?

3- Type: 

• Do you want a logo with text?
• Do you want a logo simply with images (graphical)?
• Do you want an iconic logo?
• Or do you want a mixed logo: with text, images and icons?

4- Font: 

• What type of font do you want to use?
• What font size do you want to use? 
• Can you read your font size well?
• Is your font size appropriate?
• Do you want extra spacing between your text and words? 
• Do you want a text at all?

5- Colors: 

• How many colors do you want to use in your logo? 
• Have you considered what the competition is using in terms of color?
• Does your sector uses certain colors?

6- Usage: 

• Are you going to apply your new logo to other materials ex: billboards, vehicles, shop windows?

Our tips:

Before asking a professional to design or to re-design your new logo consider below tips:

1-Think about your ideal logo beforehand. Make a brief description of your company, it's goals, target group (s), services and products provided.

2- What is your ideal logo in terms of look & feel? 

• Are there any "buzzwords" that you want to consider for your new logo? 
• Do you want a modern and hip logo? 
• Or do you want perhaps a more traditional and retro logo? 
• Do you want a hi-tech or a more sophisticated logo? 
• Do you want to captivate a younger or an older audience?
• Is your target group composed mainly by females or males?
• What is your target group background, age, nationality and occupation?

3- Are there any associations of ideas that you don't want to see related to your logo and business? Ex: religious, political, sexual?

4- Think abut the present and future usage of your logo.

Maybe at this moment, you want to use your new logo only for business cards or flyers, but in the future you might want to consider a website, new signage, housestyle materials, a vehicle, etc. So, think ahead!

5-Life cycle of your logo.

• Logos are not eternal elements: what is your logo expected life cycle?
• Does your new new logo has a 5-10 years span?

Getting started:

If you need a new logo design or if you want to re-design your current logo, feel free to contact us at: info@luckypeachdesign.nl

We are a professional dutch company, specialized in a wide array of logos and design. Besides designing and developing logos, we can also advise you on the best elements to consider when starting a logo project!

LPD Team

Visit our website:

http://www.luckypeachdesign.nl/

Intense colors

Color combination is an art. 

But sometimes we find color harmony in the smallest things around us, like in a simple raspberry cocktail!

LPD Team

Visit our website:

http://www.luckypeachdesign.nl/

Housestyle materials: representing a company

Currently, many corporations match their websites and logos with their housestyle materials. This is a normal procedure seen across a wide array of sectors and industries.

The unique style and branding strategies of a corporation, are often translated into a wide array of printed materials:

• business cards
• corporate envelops
• corporate letterhead business letters
• corporate greeting cards
• corporate fonts
• corporate templates for documents
• brochures
• flyers
• leaflets
• corporate stationary
• vehicles
• billboards
• etc.

Housestyle materials: corporations sense of identity and need for differentiation

Housestyle materials help corporations to develop a strong sense of identity and to remain recognizable across different markets and regions.
The bigger the corporation the greater the importance given to logo and housestyle materials.
These elements and materials are often viewed as part of corporate branding strategies, and as a way to create market differentiation with the competition.
Logos and housestyle materials also help corporation to create internal sense of identity and increased employee loyalty.

The bigger the corporation, the bigger the logo and housestyle budget

Multinational corporations operating on a global scale have a multitude of customers and a big budget for branding, logo and housestyle materials.
They need to speak clearly to different nationalities, to customers with different social and economical backgrounds, to different ages and genders, to different religions and beliefs, etc.
The best way to do so, is to deliver uniformity: a clear and simple message. 

Logos and housestyle materials

Logos pay a relevant role in housestyle terms, since they define the design message to deliver to the outside world.
Logos are well defined visual elements, with particular fonts, sizes, colors and styles which help to increase corporate branding strategies and customer recognition.

Housestyle materials and logos are often part of a well planned business and corporate marketing strategy. They help corporations to achieve better goals and results, increasing their profits and customer loyalty. 

Passing on the right image, ideas and values

Most corporations look for logos and housestyle materials that can pass on a certain image, a set of ideas and values to their customers and consumers. These are some of the most used ideas and values associated to most corporations:

• Innovation
• Inspiration
• Freshness
• Modernity
• Enthusiasm
• Customer driven approach
• Technology driven approach
• Professionalism
• Dedication
• Friendliness
• Care
• Sophistication & luxury
• etc

Good housestyle materials cannot hide poor product or poor service quality

Consumers are intelligent beings and they can decide on quality issues, independently from a corporation having a strong or weak logo and housestyle materials. 
Consumers often don't care about corporate strategies, budgets, logo and housestyle multiple uses. They care about products and services (the end result). They care about prices and images associated with those products and services.

The main focus of a corporation is to create and to deliver good products and services.
Corporations need to deliver intelligent and useful solutions to consumers. They also need to deliver competitive edge and product and service diversity to meet consumers needs.
Logos and housestyle materials help this process, but they don't replace it or command it alone.

Enjoy!

LPD Team

Visit our website:

http://www.luckypeachdesign.nl/

Design opens doors

"Forward-thinking design opens doors"

Design is the capacity of thinking ahead of our time
Design broadens the mind and spirit

Design molds the surroundings and environment to our emotional, mental and spiritual needs

Design is problem-solving

Design is a spontaneous process 
Design is an agent to accomplish well-established goals

Design is thinking both about aesthetics and functionality

Design is in-depth research and careful planning

Design is a form of Art

Design has a purpose

Design has many faces and disciplines
Design is cultural

"Design is everywhere around us"

Design translates humans ideas into useful objects and concepts

Design is passion, instinct and creativity

Design creates and innovates products and services

Design fulfills different human needs

Design is pure communication

Design is a journey of self-discovery

Design is thinking visually
Design looks for logical solutions 

Design gives form to ideas
Design is past, present and future

"Design is playing around"

Design is playing with elements

Design is playing around with colors, shapes, forms, concepts and ideas

Design is playing around with time and space
Design is introspective and retrospective
Design knows no boundaries
Design is a free and independent process
Design is action and reaction
Design is rational and irrational
Design glances at the past and takes a pick into the future
Design is dynamic
Design is emotion in motion
Design is commitment to expression
Design is originality

Design is fun 

Enjoy!

LPD Team

Visit our website:

http://www.luckypeachdesign.nl/

The importance of briefing and of sound communication

When putting together a website, a logo design, housestyle materials or graphical illustrations, it's very important to have a good and thorough briefing with the customer


Besides the usual routine questions, the briefing needs to ascertain the designer about the customer needs, goals, wishes, desires and expectations. We also look into a company past, present and future.

Many times business briefings emphasize the need for quick profit increase, and for strategies that help companies to improve their corporate branding.
Currently, profit drives most businesses and design or re-branding needs. But business advantage over the competition is also very important.
We should register all these ideas during the briefing with the customer, studying well their business motivation, vision, mission and short/long-term goals.

Listening well to our customers and taking notes

Independently from the aspects covered in a briefing, we listen well to our customers and with an open mind. We also take detailed notes about the issues covered in these meetings, registering well our customers ideas.
Sometimes, our customers have a very clear idea about what they want in terms of design  (or don't want).
Other customers don't have a clear idea about what they want or need,  requiring full assistance in developing a concept from scratch.

Many times what the customer wants, is to see the full potential of a logo or of a design, applied to a a wide array of products or services.
In what regards websites, they also like to get a taste or a proof about the look and feel of the site.

Achieving better results with open communication

Our ongoing study, practice and work experience guides our customers to achieve better results in all our fields of expertise. All because our work is based in know-how, detailed research, ongoing brainstorm sessions, much sketching and conceptualization of ideas.

We communicate a great deal with our customers, having a sound dialog from day-one. Based on this dialog, we get their feedback into our work and it's development.
Many times we also have to make changes, updates and adjustments to our work along the way - all based in sound developments and in our customer current and future needs.

Our main goal is always to bring ideas alive, turned them into practical business concepts. The end-result should always meet our customer business needs. Our final work should always please the customer.

Developing a solid and sound business relationship with the customer

A good intake help us and our customers to create a solid and sound business relationship. It also help us to create a clear idea  about what our customers want or don't want.
Based in our intake, we develop a detailed strategy on how to achieve better results with our work.
Reason why, we always advise designers to spend some time with the intake and brainstorm phases, making the most out of their work, time and energy.
Above all, when the intake leads to a good result this saves money and time for the customer as well. We all benefit from this open and organised approach to design work.

Enjoy!

LPD Team

Visit our website:

http://www.luckypeachdesign.nl/

Peaches

Peaches for all tastes


Peaches (Prunus persica) come originally from China. 
In the early days, peaches were known as a symbol of good fortune, of abundance, of fertility and of good luck. 
Many Chinese Emperors used to enjoy eating peaches, offering them to the Gods as symbols of immortality. 


Peaches were brought later on to Europe by the Persians, being known as "Persian Apples".
Currently we know many different types of peaches: apricots, nectarines, white flesh peaches, yellow flesh peaches, donut peaches...


Peaches come in different shapes, sizes and with different tastes. They are the perfect snack to lose weight, containing only 35 calories! 
Peaches are also rich in different types of vitamins and antioxidants. They protect our skin against UV rays and free radicals! They make our skin soft and smooth!
There's nothing better than to eat fresh season peaches! What a wonderful, juicy, delicious and healthy fruit!

Enjoy!

LPD Team

Visit our website:

http://www.luckypeachdesign.nl/

Recipe

Mandarin fruit salade

 3 oz. orange gelatin

3 oz. lemon gelatin

1 c. boiling water

11 oz. cans mandarin oranges

1 lg. can crushed pineapple in heavy syrup

10 oz. miniature marshmallows

1 med. carton whipped dairy topping

1 c. mayonnaise

1 c. grated sharp cheese

Dissolve the gelatin in 1 cup boiling water. Add then the oranges and pineapple, including the juices. Pour it into 2-quart dish. Spread miniature marshmallows over the top of warm mixture. Cool and chill until firm. Mix whipped topping and mayonnaise. Spread over congealed gelatin. Sprinkle with cheese over top and chill for 2 hours.

Bon Apetit!

Enjoy!

LPD Team

Visit our website:

http://www.luckypeachdesign.nl/

Cherries

"A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?"

Albert Einstein 

Enjoy!

LPD Team

Visit our website:

http://www.luckypeachdesign.nl/

Perceiving Logos: "Judging the book by it's cover"

Often the perceived value of a logo is greater than its real value. Why?

R: Because human beings often react to visual stimulations in the surroundings. 

These visual stimulations come in the shape of symbols, icons, colors, shapes, texts, a combination of elements, etc. 

Logos are visual creations and a way to arise peoples emotions and curiosity. They also stimulate people to take action and to buy a particular product or service.
In some cases, logos inflate a brand or a company value. This can also be perceived in terms of product quality.
Some products with poor quality, manage to raise their brand and image value by betting heavily in good marketing and branding strategies. They may even convince people about attributes and qualities inexistent or partially present.
All goes down to great marketing and branding strategies. And a good logo backs it all up!

Buying an image

People like to identify with something or with things.
People also like to identify easily with certain logos, with the products and services they represent or advertise. 

When people buy a particular product or service they are not only buying a package, a book or a pair of shoes. They are buying what it represents socially.

One example of this can be seen when people buy a car. They often buy a car not only because of price-quality issues, but mainly because of what that particular model or brand represents socially. 

They buy above all the image of a car. This image can be feminine, masculine, eco, young, sportive, sophisticated, of quality, reliability, comfort, etc. The same applies to other products like clothes, perfumes, food, drinks, vacations, etc.

The image of a product or service tells the world something about a particular person. It communicates someones sense of identity, values, interests and beliefs.

Logos: going global

Logos are no longer local icons or symbols. In the information age logos are going global. 

This is not only due to smart marketing and branding strategies, but also due to the aid of new technologies.

"Globalization has changed the face of the world and people are increasingly more on the move"

We are also increasingly more aware about our surroundings and more informed than ever before. We have access to a wide array of timely information, coming from all corners of the globe and speedier than never before.

Globalization as impacted the planet, humans, companies and their marketing, branding and logo strategies. The bigger the size of the company, the greater the impact of globalization.

Big companies: big marketing and branding strategies

Currently, there are some major companies and strong brands (with big budgets and resources available) that speak a global language. 

No matter where you are in the planet, you can easily find their products and services. Above all, you can easily find their logos!

Some logos are so strong, that they don' t need written words to reach the masses. Their presence is enough.

Independently from where we are, they have the power to remind us of certain experiences, feelings or sensations with a particular product or service. 

Currently many logos are global symbols and in some cases almost global "institutions". Some know no boarders and no cultural barriers. These logos span across countries, ages, genders, social and cultural backgrounds, religions and beliefs.
They compete globally, reaching out the far corners of the Earth. They are many times easy to identify, needing no translation or even publicity.

Arising our creativity

Strong logos differ from weak logos because they tell a great story to their consumers. They tell a great story about a company, its products or services. 

They give a face and a name to a company, making people "dream" away, filling in their imagery with scenes, sensations, feelings and perceptions. They stimulate our senses!

Strong logos arise above all human emotions and our capacity to be creative. And when this takes place through out the years, these logos create tradition, loyalty, value and trust. They become ageless - part of our human inheritance and history!

Enjoy!

LPD Team

Visit our website:

http://www.luckypeachdesign.nl/

Memorable logos

Logos speak about image and emotion. Logos speak the language of a company, of an individual, of a product, of a service, of an  idea, of a concept...

Logos are used since remote times to differentiate people, noble families, cities, trade groups, religions...
Currently, logos are used to reinforce corporate branding strategies and to generate profit.
They help companies to better position their businesses, products and services locally and worldwide.

Developing and conceiving a good logo

A good logo stands out and grabs people's attention.
A good logo is often representative, modern, fresh, simple, with the right shape, with appropriate colors, fonts and icons.
A good logo speaks about innovation, clarity, simplicity, professionalism and open communication.
Finally, good logos are often timeless, flexible and appropriate.

Some companies have developed memorable logos. They have created history and tradition. All because they have combined longevity with trust and flexibility.
They have developed their logos with the help of great designers and thinkers. These professionals used their imagery, creativity, innovation and openness to come up with unique and original ideas.

Why are some logos trustworthy?

Some logos are trustworthy because they are perceived by people as reliable and professional. They stand many times for quality.
Trustworthy logos have managed to hold on to their customers throughout the years, communicating emotion and values. They have also raised customer loyalty because they are easy to remember. They are unique. They retain mine and your attention!

Enjoy a good logo, the one that is memorable and never loses its charm!

LPD Team

Visit our website:

http://www.luckypeachdesign.nl/

Web design

What is web design?

"Capturing the essence of a business and translating it into functional web solutions"

Web design is a general term used for all tasks, procedures and processes necessary to create a website.
Websites are often created by using different coding languages and technologies e.g.  (X)HTML,  CSS,  Java Scripts, etc.

Trends

Web design follows social, cultural, economical and technological trends or developments, relying not only in attractive designs, but also in functionality.  

Steps to create a good and reliable website

When creating a good and reliable website, the web developer and customer need to consider a few things:

• Usability issues (Effectiveness, Efficiency and Satisfaction levels)
• Speed
• Promotion and Marketing (SEO)
• User-friendliness
• Accessibility

Good and reliable websites need to be easy to use and with fast loading. They also need to rank higher with the different search engines.
Moreover, good and reliable websites need to be easy to learn, to be memorable and to have a low error frequency or severity.

A simple web presence or a dynamic website?

Websites to succeed in the current market need to be dynamic, functional, to work in different browsers and to be attractive.
A good web design is not enough. Functionality speaks louder and is very important, alongside with simplicity. 

A good Social Media and SEO strategy also helps a website and a company to be better promoted and known. This ends up by creating increased customer awareness and loyalty, raising the company profile and profit.

Prices

Websites can vary in terms of prices, depending on the budget of each person or company.
Many individuals and companies need a simple solution: a website presence. Others need a more complex solution: a dynamic website with CMS or with e-Commerce.

Website prices vary accordingly to the solution required by the customer. Prices also vary accordingly to the web developer’s experience level.

Tailored-made websites require some investment, time and energy. These websites need to be carefully planned, built, promoted and monitored by the web developer (supported).
Tailored-made websites often don’t come cheap and its always advisable for the customer to look for a professional and reliable company to deliver these services. 


Finally, a good and reliable web developer should advise the customer about future web applications and how to maximize their use.

Enjoy!

LPD Team

Visit our website:

http://www.luckypeachdesign.nl/

SEO, SEM and Web Strategies

One of the services that Lucky Peach Design provides to companies in The Netherlands is SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

Some companies have little knowledge about SEO, SEM (Search Engine Marketing) and Web Strategies. Many don't know how to maximize the use of their current website.
Others have questions about Social Media and how to use Facebook, Blogs, Twitter, YouTube, etc to better promote their businesses.

We found this nice link to a blog, with great tips for start-ups, small and medium-sized companies:

http://www.jdsblog.com/2007/11/12/100-ways-to-promote-a-startup/

Enjoy!

LPD Team

Visit our website:

http://www.luckypeachdesign.nl/

Flower Power

"Art is the unceasing effort to compete with the beauty of flowers - and never succeeding."

Enjoy!

LPD Team

Visit our website:

http://www.luckypeachdesign.nl/