| A great logo is key to a great brand. Your logo is | | | | Logo Design Workbook: A Hands-On Guide to |
| a recognizable symbol that represents your | | | | Creating Logos By Noreen Morioka and Sean |
| company. It reflects your business’s | | | | Adams (Rockport Publishers, $25): Offers a |
| personality. A logo can be your company’s | | | | step-by-step guide through the logo development |
| name designed with an artistic flair (eBay), or it | | | | process. It talks about how your long-term goals |
| can just be a symbol (Target’s bull’s | | | | can affect your logo design, advice on choosing |
| eye). Logos should be simple enough to create a | | | | colors and font and how to avoid common |
| lasting impression that is easy to remember, but | | | | mistakes. Some readers have commented that |
| at the same time, your logo has to have meaning. | | | | the “Workbook” part is somewhat |
| It needs to convey your business’s brand | | | | deceiving, because it is more informative than |
| message. Your logo is important because it will go | | | | workbook-like. |
| on all of your marketing materials, from your | | | | Do-It-Yourself Tools |
| postcard marketing pieces to your brochures and | | | | Once you know the basics of what you want to |
| flyers. | | | | do, you’ll need some software or an online |
| If you have decided to design your own logo but | | | | tool to get your design rolling. Here area few tools |
| aren’t sure where to start or if you can’t | | | | to try. |
| come up with any ideas, here are some | | | | Logo Design Studio ($30): This software has over |
| resources that will educate and motivate you. | | | | 500 pre-designed logo templates and over 2,500 |
| Books | | | | logo objects to help boost your creativity. You |
| Logo Design for Small Business 2 by Dan Antonelli | | | | can alter these any way you want to create your |
| (SignCraft, $25): This is only one of a few logo | | | | own unique logo. The software also includes |
| books targeted toward small businesses. Antonelli, | | | | copyright and trademark guidelines. You can also |
| a graphic designer and author, details why the | | | | add special effect like blur, shadows and |
| principles of a small-business logo needs to differ | | | | embossing. |
| from the principles of a large-business logo. | | | | ($69/$100): This is a Web site which has the tools |
| Antonelli also explains the thinking behind 175 logos | | | | for you to create your own customized logo |
| by top designers. | | | | without having to download any software. It |
| How to Design Logos, Symbols & Icons by | | | | consists of a three-step process: 1. Pick your |
| Gregory Thomas (How Design Books, $24.99): | | | | industry. 2. Pick your symbol. (You have over |
| This book details case studies from top designers | | | | 20,000 symbols to choose from.) 3. Add your |
| from conception to creation for companies like | | | | name and customize your symbol. You get logo |
| IBM and Nike. You gain insight by seeing the | | | | files plus matching business cards for $100. For |
| beginning sketches of now-popular logos and how | | | | $69 you get just your logo files. |
| they came to be. | | | | |