Today is September 11th. It is actually the tenth anniversary of the attack on the United States that has affected all of our lives. At the time I was in seventh grade, living in the suburbs of New York City. As we went to our church that night, we could see the New York skyline and we could see the cloud of smoke were the towers used to be.
I don't mean for this post to be a story of my experience on 9/11. I just want this to represent how a day where so many lives were lost and innumerable lives were forever altered screamed a message to every person: Do not waste your life doing things you are not happy doing; live life like you may die tomorrow, because you might. OK, so that was a very sad and direct statement, but I think it's fitting. 9/11 was a very sad and shocking day.
If you want to try logo design or any kind of graphic design, go for it. Submitting logos for DesignContest.com does not mean you have to quit your job and risk losing your life savings. It is a wonderful way for you to make a little extra money.
5 Steps/Tips to Becoming a Logo Designer
I really love this site. No, they are not paying me to write these things. I just find the website especially easy to navigate and I personally do not like to have a million designers and a million logo contests. There are normally about 10 logo contests at any given time. There are thousands of designers but not everyone is particularly active. I have only been a member since May 23rd of this year and I am currently the in the top 10 designers (number 6, actually). This means that you too can be a top designer!
Another site is 99 Designs. I don't particularly like the feel of the website but there are currently 760 logo designs so there is a lot of opportunity there.
Another site is 99 Designs. I don't particularly like the feel of the website but there are currently 760 logo designs so there is a lot of opportunity there.
2. Purchase Adobe Illustrator (or some other program working with vectors)
All professionals use Adobe Illustrator. Clients need their logo design to be scalable. The logo must look good both on a billboard and on a business card. This means that the logo must be created using vectors. Vectors use mathematical equations to create lines and shapes instead of pixels (avoiding pixelated images).
I actually do not own Adobe Illustrator. I downloaded an app for my Mac called Artboard and it only cost me $20 (it now costs $25.99 because they updated, but once you own the program, you can update for free). This program uses vectors but does not allow you to save files in the formats needed for clients (EPS and AI). However, it allows you to save the design as a PDF file which can be opened in Illustrator. This can then be saved as an AI or EPS file, both of which maintain the vectors.
How is that helpful if I don't own Illustrator? Illustrator is installed on my school computers. Another program which uses vectors (and is free!) is Inkscape.
3. Look at webdesigner depot
This blog has tons of information. There are many articles about working with clients and typography. It also has blogs listing many exceptional logos and telling designers what fonts you should stay away from and how to pick your color schemes. Also, try looking at other graphic designers' blogs. They often make posts like this and can help guide you in the right direction.
All professionals use Adobe Illustrator. Clients need their logo design to be scalable. The logo must look good both on a billboard and on a business card. This means that the logo must be created using vectors. Vectors use mathematical equations to create lines and shapes instead of pixels (avoiding pixelated images).
I actually do not own Adobe Illustrator. I downloaded an app for my Mac called Artboard and it only cost me $20 (it now costs $25.99 because they updated, but once you own the program, you can update for free). This program uses vectors but does not allow you to save files in the formats needed for clients (EPS and AI). However, it allows you to save the design as a PDF file which can be opened in Illustrator. This can then be saved as an AI or EPS file, both of which maintain the vectors.
How is that helpful if I don't own Illustrator? Illustrator is installed on my school computers. Another program which uses vectors (and is free!) is Inkscape.
This blog has tons of information. There are many articles about working with clients and typography. It also has blogs listing many exceptional logos and telling designers what fonts you should stay away from and how to pick your color schemes. Also, try looking at other graphic designers' blogs. They often make posts like this and can help guide you in the right direction.
You've just downloaded your new vector software and you are excited to start playing around with it. I cannot stress enough how important it is to sketch. The sketch book pictured above contains page after page of sketches. It is often very helpful to use a pencil and paper to work out ideas.
Sometimes you get feedback like the email above. Even when you think your design is perfect, the client may not like it. It can be hard to change your design after you have spent so much time on it. It may also be hard to get an email saying you are going in the wrong direction. You have to be able to change your design or even start completely over. You also have to be able to take criticism.
You also have to know when to move on to a different contest. (The seven design submission limit at designcontest.com helps with this sometimes.) It can be best to move on to something new. Sometimes you can go back to a contest after working on something else. Other times you just have to try to forget the hours you spent on the designs and stop submitting to that contest. Unlike having a design business, competing with other designers means you can leave the contest to another designer to win.
