How to Make a Logo Yourself: A Beginner's Step-by-Step

You'll often use a logo for a long time once you settle on it, so it pays to decide things one step at a time. Follow the order below and you won't miss anything, even if it's your first logo.

1. Name and mood

Start with the brand name and the mood you want (trustworthy, cute, premium). Pinning the mood down to a single word gives you a yardstick for choosing colors and fonts, so you don't go around in circles.

2. Keep it to two or three colors

One main color, one accent color and a text color are enough. The more colors you add, the busier it looks. If there's a photo you'd like to take inspiration from, you can pull its main colors with Color Palette from Image and use them in your logo.

3. Font

Bold, rounded fonts feel friendly; serif fonts feel calm and refined. Always check that it's still readable when small. Logos are often used at tiny sizes, on business cards, profile pictures and favicons, so testing small sizes matters.

4. Decide whether to add a symbol (icon)

There are "wordmarks" that use only text and "combination marks" that pair text with an icon. If this is your first logo, you can start with text only and later add a simple, recognizable shape or initial. The more complex the picture, the more likely it is to turn into a blur at small sizes.

5. File formats

• SVG: stays sharp at any size. Great for websites and print.
• Transparent PNG: can be placed on any background.

6. Check trademarks

If you'll use the logo for a business, search your trademark office's database for similar marks (for example, the USPTO trademark search in the US). Ttukttak Design doesn't check whether a logo can be registered.

Why simpler logos work better

A logo may be used very small, like on a business card, or very large, like on a sign. It has to be just as recognizable when its size changes by hundreds of times, so simple shapes and text are safer than fine shadows or gradients. That's also why most of the world's best-known brand logos use two or three colors and simple forms.

What order avoids going in circles?

If you decide name → mood → colors → font → symbol one at a time, each later step can use the earlier ones as its guide, which makes choosing easy. If you start by trying out colors and fonts at random, you have no yardstick and keep changing your mind.

Good vs. bad examples

• Good: two or three colors, a simple shape, recognizable even when small.
• Bad: five or more colors, lots of fine shadows and gradients that smear when small.
• Good: you save both an SVG and a transparent PNG.
• Bad: you save only a JPG (with a white background), so a white box shows up on other backgrounds.

Common mistakes

• Trying to fit in too many elements from the start. It's easier to settle one of name, color or font first and match the rest to it.
• Not checking the font license. If the logo will be used commercially, make sure the font allows it (the fonts in our Logo Maker are all under the SIL Open Font License).
• Not making a transparent PNG, so the logo can't be used on other colored backgrounds later.

Checklist

• Have you decided on the name and mood (one keyword)?
• Are there three colors or fewer?
• Is it recognizable when shrunk down?
• Did you save both an SVG and a transparent PNG?
• Did you search for similar trademarks?

FAQ