I have a small startup in search of a good logo...I've looked at
services like LogoWorks (though have seen reports of them ripping
other folks off), LogoLoft.com, and LogoBee.com, but I'm was hoping to
gain some advice from folks who've been down the path before.
A logo is a key part in the branding of your product and if you want it to really shine, the total cost can quickly escalate (communicating the right message, atmosphere, …). Logo design is usually a bit like writing poetry: you end up with very few words, but it takes months to get them exactly right.
There are a few blog posts around the net that explain just how complex logo design actually is (it’s not just: hey, create me a small image to put on my website, will ya):
… and there was a very good one from a logo designer I can’t seem to find anymore.
The message is simple: prepare as much information as you can for the designer about what you want your logo to communicate, you’ll need to tell him with words what you want the logo to say visually about your company. The better you can do that (and if it’s a good logo designer), the less your logo will cost, since you won’t have to reject that many designs and they will be quite focussed from the first draft.
If you go for one of the companies you mention, you’ll get what you pay for. Which doesn’t mean it’s bad at all. Still, it won’t really stand out between the rest out there.
The message is simple: prepare as much information as you can for the
designer about what you want your logo to communicate, you'll need to tell
him with words what you want the logo to say visually about your company.
The better you can do that (and if it's a good logo designer), the less your
logo will cost, since you won't have to reject that many designs and they
will be quite focussed from the first draft.
Great, thanks for this info. I appreciate it.
If you go for one of the companies you mention, you'll get what you pay for.
Which doesn't mean it's bad at all. Still, it won't really stand out between
the rest out there.
So if there are better options (with some additional expense) which
would you recommend? I'm happy to look elsewhere, and try to gain
additional funds for the design, but I don't even know where to look
for quality logo designers.
Find the type of logo you like, click through, see if the other logos from that designer (click his nickname) live up to your initial impression, view his/her profile, contact him
I quite like http://www.rajasandhu.com/ but I haven’t done business with him, but in the end personal taste can differ. Just find someone who’s portfolio you really like and then trust that person’s advice and make a decision you feel happy with. We use a local design agency that also does our webdesign mockups and are happy with their work.