Few things make your business stand out more than an attractive and distinct logo. Every successful business has one, and it’s hard to imagine any business that could survive without one. Whether getting a brand-new start-up off the ground or revamping an existing business, having a well-designed logo is essential to its success.
When it comes to logo design, most people swear by the Mac. Apple’s premier computing solution has had a long and storied history as the graphic designer’s computer of choice. Between the easy-to-use interface, strong support for styluses, tablets, and other design peripherals, a strong focus on font and color accuracy, and a boatload of compatible software, it’s no surprise that Macs have had the upper hand historically.
Nowadays, the choice between using Mac and a PC comes down to personal preference. Nevertheless, you’re probably wondering how you can create a stunning logo with your Mac if you happen to own one. Here are a few helpful tips to get you started on the road to designing your own logo with the help of your Mac.
Basic Logo Design Rules to Consider
Some things about logo design are universal, no matter if you use Mac or PC. Consider the basic rules that underpin the actual design of your logo, for instance:
1) Design with Your Target Audience in Mind
An important commandment when designing a logo is “know thy audience.” It’s all-too-common for business owners and design firms to approach logo design without understanding how it resonates with clients and customers. A logo that’s out of sync with customers is one that’s destined for failure.
Always keep your target audience in mind when brainstorming ideas for a new design. Understand which design elements appeal most to your core audience. After all, a successful logo is one that scratches that emotional itch. Know your audience’s pain points and use those to orient your logo design toward your customer base.
Don’t be afraid to dig deep and tap into your business’s background or history for inspiration. It’s a great way to create an enduring persona that feels authentic and connects with customers on a deep level.
Of course, you’d want your logo to stand out from the competition. Don’t be afraid to step outside the box regarding your target audience. Sometimes, you must be willing to defy audience expectations, but positively, that benefits your brand.
2) Keep It Simple
There’s a good reason why the “KISS” acronym exists. The most successful logos in modern history are also the ones that rely heavily on simplicity. Simple logos aren’t just easier to design but also easier for people to readily identify, especially from a distance.
Simple logos are also better suited for withstanding the test of time. Logos like the Nike swoosh and Coca-Cola trademark are much older than they look, spanning decades with little to no change. It’s a testament to how simple designs can be enduring.
3) Make It Scalable
Chances are you’ll use your logo everywhere, from letterheads to oversized banners. No matter the situation, you’ll always want your logo to look as good shrunken down as it does when blown up. That means designing a logo with scalability in mind.
This is another situation where simplicity works best. The simpler the design, the more scalable it becomes. If you have too many elements in your logo design, chances are some of those elements could be lost when your design is reduced for letterhead duty.
Of course, you can also create an alternative design for situations where you need a compact logo. Make sure this design matches well with its bigger brethren.
4) Don’t Use More Than 2 Fonts
Typography can be a potent weapon when it comes to logo design. But too much of a good thing can easily ruin an otherwise successful logo design. That also applies to your font choices. Avoid using more than two fonts for the same design when designing your logo. Otherwise, you could end up with a fair amount of visual clutter that detracts from your logo.
5) Consider Your Color Choice
Ensuring your logo looks good in black and white is important, but you shouldn’t forget color.
Remember that no two people respond alike when it comes to colors. One might see a bright shade of red and associate it with excitement, but another person might associate that same shade with violence and bloodshed. Age, gender, and culture can also tremendously impact how people perceive different colors.
When using colors in your logo, stick to the “rule of three.” Not only should you avoid using more than three colors, but those colors should also follow the “60/30/10” color palette rule – make 60 percent of the palette your main color, 30 percent your complementary color, and 10 percent an accent or shade.
How to Design a Logo on Mac
There are plenty of good reasons why most designers consider a Mac the best machine for their logo designing needs:
- Tradition – For decades, the Mac was the go-to machine for design, and it remains an effective solution for modern designers and artists.
- Logistics – It’s easier to pass files between Macs and mobile devices running the iOS operating system, not to mention there’s a huge catalog of design programs made for Mac.
- Usability – Many people find the Mac OS easier to navigate and use than an equivalent Windows operating system.
Unfortunately, some of the weaker points of using a Mac include a lack of direct compatibility between it and PCs, especially when it comes to sharing files between programs. Finally, PCs remain a much cheaper option for designers on a budget, with most models costing hundreds of dollars less than a typical Mac desktop.
So, which platform is best for designing logos? There’s no clear choice. Again, it all boils down to what you prefer. If you’re a long-time Mac user, then you’ll probably be more comfortable designing your logo on one.
Design a Logo with an App
The best thing about technology is that it gives you many options for logo design regardless of which platform you’re using. Take a logo maker app, for instance. It’s very easy to use and comes with plenty of features to help you make a logo from start to finish.
Pros:
- Designed for Mobile – Most of these apps are geared toward mobile users, making them perfect for designers on the go and those who want to see how their creations look on mobile screens.
- Available for Mac and iOS – Not only can you find many apps optimized for the iOS ecosystem, but many are also available as desktop apps for Macs.
- Simple to Use – Most logo maker apps are incredibly easy to use, which makes them ideal for novice designers.
- Very affordable – You can try most apps for free and download your creations for a small fee.
Cons:
- Paywalled Features – Some apps also lock some of their design features behind paywalls, which can be annoying if you’re on a tight budget but need a broader swath of features for your logo design.
- Few Unique Designs – With a limited number of templates, there are only so many design variations to choose from.
- Accuracy Issues – Using a desktop logo maker app on mobile can cause issues since your design may not be to scale.
Design a Logo Online
An online logo design tool is the next best option for creating one on a Mac device. For most online tools, the step-by-step process is extremely easy to follow. You simply provide your company name and description, choose your preferred logotype and font style, and they will instantly generate logo options.
Pros:
- Platform Agnostic – It doesn’t matter whether you use Mac or PC. You’ll have access to your logo designer as long as you’re online.
- Saves Time – It only takes minutes to generate your new logo, leaving you more time to build your brand.
- Easy to Use – You’ll benefit from an easily-understandable interface complete with step-by-step instructions.
- Cost-Effective – Using these tools costs less than hiring a novice freelancer.
Cons:
- Limited Selection – As with apps, you’re limited to the various templates that come with your online logo design tool.
- Feature Paywall – Some advanced features may only be available to use at an extra cost.
Design a Logo with Software
Of course, you can always design your logo using Mac-compatible design software. With Mac’s continuing popularity in the design arena, there’s no shortage of programs that offer professional results in the right hands.
Pros:
- More Features – You will find more powerful tools for bringing your design to life.
- More Control Over Design – Compared to apps and online logo makers, you can make more changes and additions to make your logo unique.
- Easier to Backup – Mac offers several ways to automatically back up your work just in case anything happens.
Cons:
- More Expensive – Some design programs can cost dozens or even hundreds of dollars, depending on the features you’re looking for.
- Compatibility Issues – Sharing files between Mac and PC can be complicated, if not impossible, due to file restrictions and other compatibility issues.
- Program Availability – Some logo making programs are available only on Mac with no PC equivalent.
- Steeper Learning Curve – You’ll have to take time and effort to learn the software if you want great results.
Whether you use a Mac or a PC, you’ll want plenty of logo-creating options at your disposal. Fortunately, the above options make moving your logo ideas from concept to reality faster and easier.
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