How to design a logo yourself: a step-by-step guide for beginners

Step 1

The brief: who it's for and where it will live

A logo isn't decoration; it's a mark people recognize a project by. Before you draw, answer a few questions in writing. If the logo is for someone else, ask them:

• •what the project does and who it's for;
• •three to five words the project should be associated with, such as "reliable", "friendly", "bold";
• •where the logo will live: social media avatar, website, sign, packaging, T-shirts;
• •what logos competitors and neighbors in the niche use, so you don't look like them;
• •whether a trademark registration is planned: that affects which elements you can use.

Step 2

Sketches on paper

A pencil is the cheapest way to go through ideas. Set a timer and draw as many small sketches as you can without judging them. Try different types of logo:

• •wordmark: the name set in a distinctive way;
• •lettermark: one or a few letters;
• •symbol: a mark without text;
• •combination mark: a symbol together with the name.

💡 Put the sketches aside for a day and look again with fresh eyes. Choose two or three that are recognizable even at fingernail size, and only take those into an app.

Step 3

Vectors and fonts

Make the logo in vector: the file scales without losing quality, from an avatar to a banner. Inkscape is a free, open source vector editor for Windows, macOS and Linux; its main format is SVG. Figma or Adobe Illustrator work too. For a wordmark, check the font's license: according to the Google Fonts FAQ, its fonts can be used in logos and commercially.

• •choose a font with Cyrillic if the name is in Ukrainian;
• •after choosing a font, refine the letters: spacing, joins, details. That's what makes the logo yours rather than a typed word;
• •start in black and white; add color later.

💡 If you're making the logo in Canva: under Canva's rules, a logo made from a template or stock elements can't be registered as a trademark. For a logo you can register, use only Canva's fonts, simple lines and shapes, or upload your own mark.

Step 4

Test the logo in real conditions

A logo that looks great full-screen can disappear at avatar size. Check every option:

• •at a very small size, like a browser tab icon or an avatar: is the shape still recognizable;
• •in one color: black on white and white on black;
• •on photos and colored backgrounds;
• •squinting: NN/g recommends this to see what stands out in a design. Small details disappear, the shape should remain;
• •in mockups: on a sign, a T-shirt, a web page.

Step 5

A file set and a uniqueness check

A finished logo isn't a single PNG but a set of files. Save the main and a simplified version (for example, just the symbol), horizontal and vertical layouts, and full-color and one-color versions. Formats: SVG or PDF for print and scaling, PNG for social media and documents. Add a short page of rules: colors, fonts, minimum size and clear space around the logo.

💡 Before using the name and logo, search for similar ones in UKRNOIVI's free database (sis.nipo.gov.ua), which lists registered trademarks and applications in Ukraine. A search doesn't replace advice from a patent attorney, but it helps you spot an obvious match early.