Are you facing the dilemma of a logo maker vs. logo designer when setting out to create a unique logo that stands out? Know that both options have their pros and cons. While one needs you to use your own creative flair, the other works on your ideas and delivers a logo that satisfies all your requirements.
If you’re unable choose between a logo maker and a designer, this blog is going to help you out. Keep reading to choose the right option for you.
What Is a Logo Maker?
A logo maker is an AI-based software for automatically generating multiple logo ideas based on your inputs. It is an advanced online tool for quickly creating a logo.
A typical logo maker will ask the user to provide basic information such as company name, industry, symbols, colors, and other design elements. Based on the inputs provided, the AI tool create hundreds of logo designs in a single click. The tool doesn’t require any design experience to use it.
Advantages of Using a Logo Maker
As a business owner, you can use a logo maker to your advantage. If your budget doesn’t allow you to hire a designer, the tool comes as a great alternative.
Here are the key advantages of using a logo maker:
Cost-effective solution
Logo generators are effortless tools for creating a logo. Most of them are free to use. However, when you download the logo, it may cost you some nominal charges. Once downloaded, you can use the logo for your business. The result is still very affordable compared to professional design services, with files costing anywhere from $5 – $70 on an average.
Easy accessibility
Logo makers don’t work to a set schedule or take breaks. Instead, they’re accessible 24/7, allowing you to create a logo whenever needed.
Finish the design work quickly
Getting started with an online logo maker is effortless, and you can have a new logo created quickly. Using AI-powered technology allows more advanced logo makers to reduce the time required to create a logo significantly. AI-powered logo generators create logos that you can use directly for your purposes. It takes just a few minutes. Unlike logo design pros, a tool takes less time.
Improve the design
Logo creators powered by artificial intelligence have transformed into a handy tool for all. The logo creation using tools has become user-friendly and effortless. Hence, it gives an easy way to improve the design.
Access multiple customization options
The best logo makers also allow you to customize your logo design further. The software provides the perfect starting point for your logo and allows in-house team members or a professional designer to refine it using the in-built features.
Disadvantages of a Logo Maker
However, some cons are also associated with using a logo maker. Here is what you should be aware of:
Limited design ideas
Companies with particular ideas for their logo or an existing visual identity may find it limiting to work with a logo generator. Although logo makers generate many combinations, they can only include some possible icons or fonts repeatedly.
Copyright Issues
Logo designs created using a logo maker often lead to copyright issues. You can see the same symbol in another logo. The tool itself retains the all ownership rights no matter who uses the logo.
Key Steps to Use a Logo Maker
A logo maker is an easier software to use without professional graphic design knowledge. Still, consider some tips for the creative use of logo makers.
Step 1: Give business information
First, provide basic information about your business to the logo maker tool.
Step 2: Add relevant details of your brand
Give the logo maker some more details related to your business and industry. Tell what design elements reflect your industry by choosing it.
Step 3: Brief your brand’s personality
Tell about your brand personality. Is it traditional or modern? Is it serious or light-hearted or more accessible or exclusive? What personality trait makes your brand stand out?
Step 4: Generate multiple logos
Based on your details, the logo maker will generate dozens of ideas simultaneously. If you are unsatisfied with the ideas at this stage, generate fresh ideas by tweaking the details entered.
Step 5: Pick a logo and customize it
Next, select a logo idea that suits your brand message and personality. Then, start working on that logo. You can customize the logo by personalizing its layout, shape, and other elements.
Step 6: Choose your pricing package
The logo maker site will offer pricing packages as a last step. You can choose an affordable pricing plan to own the logo you created. Pick a package that lets you access a high-quality PNG logo and get full commercial rights.
What Does a Logo Designer Do?
A logo designer is a professional design pro with in-depth knowledge of creating logo designs. The designer reflects their experience by creating a logo that best suits the client’s requirements. So, the designer knows which symbols, images, text, or elements to use in a logo to represent a brand in its target market. You do not have to research what is logo design and other such basics when working with a logo designer.
That means a logo designer will involve the creativity of a human being, as opposed to the technology used in a logo maker. A logo maker uses AI to develop multiple logos per a design brief.
Advantages of Working with a Logo Designer
There are numerous advantages for clients or business owners when they hire a professional logo designer to design a logo per their brief. Here are some key benefits:
Explain your ideas
A business owner or client can easily explain a logo idea to a designer. The client can ask the designer questions and offer feedback. Also, the client can share visual logo examples and discuss design-related issues.
Design per your brand guidelines
A logo designer can follow your brand guidelines regarding using specific typefaces and colors. Moreover, the designer can maintain consistency of design elements across all platforms in line with other brand visuals.
Explore more design ideas
Another advantage of logo designers is that they are not dependent on conventional symbols. They can create unique symbols, images, and other elements from scratch. Such a professional logo design with unique elements stands out in the target market.
Have unique logos
Logo designers are also creative professionals who believe in designing unique logos to help brands stand out. This is because they research a target market, run a competitive analysis to find what others are doing and how they can set themselves apart. They also create logos that are free from any copyright issues.
Disadvantages of working with a logo designer
While a logo designer is a creative professional, be aware of some of the cons of hiring the designer:
Expensive to hire
Having a professional logo designer to create a logo for your company can cost more than using an online logo maker. You can expect a designer with more years of expertise to charge a higher rate than one just starting within the industry. Usually logo design pros change more than the newbies or freshers.
Taking a long design time
If you require a logo within a day, hiring a designer is likely not for you. Logo designers must go through a detailed process to create a logo, and this collaboration will often involve some back-and-forth brainstorming between the designer and client to ensure the perfect result.
Lengthy selection process
When you need a logo instantly to launch your business, a logo designer may not be the right option. This is because the designer will go through your business, industry, and design elements, which will take time to research. Moreover, the designer may be busy with other design projects, resulting in further delays in your logo project.
Step-by-step guide to Work with a Logo Designer
If you have decided to hire a logo designer, then follow these steps to work with the designer to have a unique logo for your brand:
Stage 1: Know the brand objectives
First, tell the logo designer about your brand objectives. This is important as the designer will then pick colors, fonts, and other elements to convey those objectives through the logo. So, give a precise brief to the designer. Know the meaning of logo design you want to create for your brand.
Stage 2: Know the industry
Let the designer know more about your specific industry. The designer will then research the industry to know which design ideas best represent it. Based on the industry, they can select the relevant elements.
Stage 3: Do application research
The designer would like to find out where the logo will be used. Will the logo appear on products only or across all online and offline platforms? The designer will then develop a versatile logo that looks impressive in all sizes on all platforms. So, ask the designer about the application of the logo to ensure scalability.
Stage 4: Sketch logo ideas
Next, based on the research and the client’s design brief, the designer will make several logo sketches with different design ideas. This gives the designer an idea of what will work best for the client’s brand. As a client, you can check each sketch and decide which one is closer to your idea. If required, you can give feedback and ask for improvements.
Stage 5: Choose colors and fonts
Depending on your design brief, a logo designer will pick colors and fonts carefully. Tell the designer about the design elements so that it can be used across all materials like a business card, letterhead, and more.
Stage 6: Get feedback
When the designer submits a design, be proactive to provide them with your feedback. This helps improve the design and reflect your business essence perfectly.
Stage 7: Get the right logo file format
Before getting the complete ownership of the logo, ensure you get all the required file formats. A wrong file format may distort the design, so ask the designer for the correct file. Get the logo in vector, EPS, and PNG with other files formats.
Using both the options
How about benefiting from both the options of using a logo maker and hiring a designer to create your unique logo? Some business owners prefer taking advantage of both these options.
They first use a logo maker to generate multiple ideas per their design brief. They then pick a logo design idea that best conveys their brand’s personality and message. Then, they explore the second option of hiring a logo designer.
They ask the logo designer to customize and develop the selected idea further. The designer will refine that idea to make it stand out as a modern, minimalistic logo. This is how to benefit from both ways to create a unique logo.
So, these are the key aspects of using a logo maker and working with a logo designer to get your unique logo. If you are on a tight budget, use a logo maker. If you can afford an expensive logo, hire a professional logo designer.
You can also launch your logo design contest on Designhill, the leading creative marketplace. Many talented designers will submit their logo ideas based on your design brief. You can then pick a winning logo to make it your brand identity.
Wrapping Up
Using a logo maker and hiring an experienced designer are practical options for clients to get a unique logo. However, the software will generate ideas depending on your design elements, while a logo designer will be involved creatively. Consider the pros and cons of using any of these options to end up with a meaningful logo design.