How do I design a logo for my business?
Design it for the smallest place it will appear, not the biggest. In practice your logo lives as a tiny circle on Instagram, Snapchat and WhatsApp — if it doesn't read there, nothing else about it matters.
ShoaibUpdated 3 min read
The practical checklist
| Test | Why |
|---|---|
| Readable at profile-picture size | This is where most people will ever see it |
| Works in one colour | Receipts, stamps, packaging, embroidery |
| Works on a dark and a light background | Phone themes, Stories, packaging |
| Distinct from your competitors | If you swap the name and it still works, it's generic |
| Has a horizontal and a square version | Website header versus profile picture |
What to avoid
- Detail that disappears. Thin lines, fine textures and long taglines vanish at small sizes.
- Trend-chasing. Gradients date fast; a simple mark lasts a decade.
- More than two fonts.
- Only having a JPG. You need vector files (SVG, AI or EPS) or you'll be stuck at the first print job.
What you actually need before launch
A logo is one item on a short list. You also need: a square profile version, a colour or two you use consistently, one readable font, and a simple rule for how your photos look. That set — used consistently — does more for recognition than an expensive mark used inconsistently.
And keep it in proportion. A logo doesn't sell anything; it makes you recognisable to people who already found you. Getting found is a separate job, and mostly a paid one — see how to market a product in Kuwait and how many people your ads can reach in Kuwait.
Where it does earn its place is on your profiles and in your ads — set the profile side up properly with a Snapchat public profile for your business, and see what makes a good ad creative for the ad side.
Need the logo, the profiles and the ad creative made as one set? See our Creative Production service.