Ask the Expert is a weekly series here on Design Informer. Designing a logo is the theme for this week. David Airey is this week's expert.
David Airey is a brand identity designer and consultant. He creates visual identities for companies of all sizes, from Yellow Pages to one-person start-ups. He has helped clients in Japan, Nigeria, South Africa, Canada, England, the United States, and many other locations across the globe.
Designing a Logo
Jad: Can you give us a brief walk-through of your logo design process?Certainly. You’ll find my logo design process here.
Jad: What are some of the things that you research when creating a logo?My client’s history, the future he/she aspires towards, the customers he/she has (and those he/she wants to have), the role of company employees, and client competition.
Jad: What software do you use to design your logos?Adobe Illustrator.
Jad: In order to be a great logo designer, do you think that one needs to learn how to draw?I think it’s more important to express your thoughts on paper than to learn how to draw. You learn by doing, so picking up a pencil and jotting your thoughts as you go is a good start. The quality of your work will not be judged on the finesse of your sketches.
It’s a means to an end.
I always offer a set price. Charging by the hour is bad practice for a number of reasons, and I go into much more depth
in my Logo Design Love book.
A great logo needs to have these characteristics:
- It must be distinctive.
- It must be original.
- It must be appropriate for the business it identities.
Trends come and go. If you base your work on the latest fad, your client will be forced into a redesign or refinement sooner than he should be. By all means look at what others are doing, but use their work to guide your originality. Not as a way to conform.
Jad: Where do you get inspiration when designing logos?I don’t believe inspiration is necessary for the job of a designer. But motivation, on the other hand, can sometimes wane, and I find myself motivated by a strong desire to provide for a future family (if I’m fortunate enough to have one).
Jad: How important is color in logo design?It depends on the client. Some will want use of colour. Some won’t. Sometimes you will deem it a positive addition. Other times it’s unnecessary.
Jad: If you can give just one advice to those who are aspiring to be great at making logos, what would you tell them?Design because you’re passionate. Not because you want to make money, or because you want to gain recognition. Have passion for what you do, because you will spend many years working.
If it’s not enjoyable, find what it is that makes you happy and do that instead.
David Airey's works:
Conclusion
Thank you David for a great interview! Designing logos can be quite a hard and difficult task, but following David’s advice can greatly aid you in your next logo design project. You can go to David’s personal website, DavidAirey.com to learn more about him and to read more of his thoughts, and you can also visit Logo Design Love, a website created by David Airey that is devoted to logos.
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