I know how difficult it can be to start a new relationship with someone who is helping you with a super important aspect of your business — I mean, a logo is the face of your brand.

It’s how people will recognize you & your company.
So you’re scrolling through all these different logo designers’ portfolios & you’re wondering:

“What if I spend all this money and I hate the finished product?”
“What if the designer takes off with my money?”
“What if it takes way longer than they promised?”

I know how intimidating it can be to decide who you can trust AND who is actually going to create a logo that feels good to you & your customers.

My name is Nat & I’m a branding & logo expert with over 20 years of experience. I’m here with 5 Red Flags To Look Out For when choosing a Logo Designer — so you don’t have to make the same mistakes some of the clients I have rescued have made with choosing designers.

1. They don’t ask questions. If someone says yes to a project without a conversation with you & without asking for detailed information about you, your business, the colors you like, the images you like, run as fast and as far as you can! Like, NOW! Because it all starts with a conversation. To be able to come up with a design that works for you, your brand, and your customers, the first step is to understand YOU and what YOU stand for! 
2. Someone who has a lot of pieces in their portfolio that look very generic. Usually, these are logos created for a “one-fits-all” kinda thing. They are probably less expensive, but the designer will not have done any research on your company, your customers, or your competitors. Your logo needs to be UNIQUE to stand out!
3. They’re unapproachable. If they lack good communication skills or you feel intimidated asking them questions. You deserve someone who is able to walk you through the process step by step (because you’re not a logo designer!) so that you can feel confident about the finished product & that your project is in good hands. I have heard customers tell me that they’ve worked with designers that ghosted them up until the moment they presented the design to the client, and then it wasn’t really what they wanted. COMMUNICATION IS KEY!
4. They’re super secretive about their process & they don’t show the thinking behind their ideas and/or designs. The process is important to understand if the designer is a good fit. It starts with a first sketch and grows from there, but you want to know what to expect and how the designer will create something that will work for YOU!
5. They’re either hyper-focused on only doing what they want to do, or they’re so focused on making you happy that they won’t coach you into a well-designed logo that accurately represents your brand & converts clients. You are hiring a professional. A logo designer is someone who has experience creating work that represents each brand distinctively, without confusing it with some other brand. It’s the duty of the designer to tell you what works and what doesn’t. Take advantage of that experience and knowledge. It’s great if YOU have an idea, but listen to what they have to say so you can get more for your buck. The value an experience designer will provide is not just a graphic that will represent you, but a symbol of what it is that you stand for and why customers want what you are selling. 

In working on all the logos I have over the span of my career, I have found that the best logos are a product of a trusting relationship between the designer & the client.

And I know how sticky it can be to navigate the decision to pick the right designer.

Most importantly, remember to trust your gut. A designer is here to create a working relationship with you & help you create a logo that you will be thrilled with and your customers will recognize as yours. 

If you’ve read through these & you’re still thinking to yourself, “Nat, can’t you just do it for me?” then I’d love to hop on a call with you to talk about your logo.