Is Your Logo Effective? 5 Questions to Ask Yourself

Identity is the starting line of a brand’s story and it can be difficult to communicate that in a logo mark or symbol. Whether or not the logo is streamlined—or simple—makes it effective. Simplicity, not to be confused with “boring,” communicates value, trustworthiness and an idea that is easily interpreted by an audience. This can be a challenge especially for nonprofit groups that need to communicate a very specific service. More often than not, simplistic and brilliant logos require hours of design discovery and the corresponding budget to back that research up. But there are five design basics you can ask yourself to help determine whether your brand’s identity is simple or complicated.

How many fonts are used? Ideally, do not use more than two. Too many fonts create a disjointed symbol that seems piecemeal.
What does your color palette communicate? Every color evokes a different emotion and symbolic meaning. A color palette should be thoroughly examined and researched just as much as the logo mark itself. A good rule of thumb is to examine how your logo replicates in black and white. If it isn’t easily identifiable without color, it’s time to simplify.
Is there consistency? Are the logo elements floating around separate from each other? Is there alignment? Are spaces uniform?
How long ago was your logo designed? Does it look dated? Is it using fonts and colors that were trendy once upon a time?
Are you following best practices in the usage of your logo? A high resolution logo will help you promote your brand in the best way possible.

Asking yourself these five questions can help determine if your current logo is effective and effectively communicating with your audiences.