Recently, I have been doing few projects that required designing a logo (and designed a logo for a local Ruby Conference logo contest). The biggest problem for me and probably most designers I know is getting a point to start – starting a logo design requires not only research and brainstorming about the brand itself and meanings of the words used in the name, but also knowing the universal patterns that could be seen the logos over the years, logos of competition and current logo trends. I have assembled a list of sites, books and magazines that you should check if you are need logo inspiration. Here we go!
Logopond
You can’t make a logo inspiration sources list without Logopond. Since the beginning, it’s the site that is absolutely dedicated to the logo design – designers can open their logo design portfolios, other people can rate their works. LP Gallery is the exhibition of cream of the crop of the portfolios found throughout the site, each and every one of them made from simple, yet brilliant idea. A must-check.
Wolda: The Worldwide Logo Design Annual
The Worldwide Logo Design Annual (a. k. a. Wolda) has replaced Eulda – stands for European – and is a high-profile graphic design award that is given out annually to the best logo designs in the world. The winners are selected by an international three-tier jury consisting of 10 top design professionals, 10 marketing managers from major international clients and finally 10 members of the public. Browsing thru their galleries of submissions will give you the best logo designs that are created all around the world. Worth checking before you start your work.
Logo of the Day
Ran by Jacob Cass and Jeff Fisher, two incredible identity designers, the site features one hand-picked logo a day, including reference to author, with description of the logo and idea behind it. Useful thing to keep in your RSS feeds.
Logo Design Love
Another, this time more informational, site, dedicated solely to the logo design. Features very good design blog and very useful resources for designers – font foundries, history of logo design, this year trends, books, design agencies etc. Absolutely brilliant.
IDAP: The Identity Archives Project
Identity Archives Project is a browsable, keyword-searchable database of brands from all around the world. The database is open for designers, brand-managers and marketing people and their aim is to create one, enormous, centralized, database of the world brand identity, searchable by tags and keywords. Great idea.
Logoed
Probably the biggest resource I know. Ran from 2001, Logoed is a blog dedicated to the logo design inspiration. Features really enormous amount of logo inspiration. Another useful thing to have in your RSS reader.
Michael Evamy’s Logo
Mentioned in my design books post few days ago, “Logo” by Michael Evamy is one of those books that every logo designer should have on his/hers shelf. One thousand logos, categorized by universal principles they are based on, making a well of ideas that never ends.
Los Logos
Los Logos (and following, Dos Logos, Tres Logos and Los Logos 4) is probably the best reference of “what’s going on now” in the logo design field. With the awesome amount of content, every book of the series will give you the inspiration you need.
That’s basically it. If you feel inspired now, go draw something! If you have any other thoughts or comments on the post, feel free to leave it in the comments or drop me a line on Twitter.
and there is http://www.logosauce.com
Yes, there is and I deliberately didn’t mention it – mostly because that LogoPond was first (AFAICR) and those services basically have the same content most of the time.