Logo design is a must for any type of business. When an entrepreneur needs a logo identity for his business venture, he contacts a logo designer. Once the logo is created the designer sends it back to his client in a particular file format. It is a type of the standard file formats that we are going to explain to our non-designer readers who are not aware exactly when and how these files should be used to avail maximum output.

Selecting a logo design is in your hands but it may be delivered to you in a format that you do not yet understand. As crowdsourcing logo designs are the current trend, it is even more important that clients and non-designers understand and distinguish different file format. Here is a short and interesting guide to help you.

There are two types of logo design file formats: Vector and Raster files. We will be discussing some of the vector file formats that are compatible with both mac and windows.

• Vector Files

Photoshop is not vector.  It is primarily pixel. Therefore, vector is always a much better option when it comes to professional logo designing.

A vector file is a collection of shapes, lines, coordinates, and indexed colors; mathematically interpreted within the software. This helps greatly when the design needs to be reproduced at other scales because there is no blurring or distortion. The same file can be used whether you need printing on a letterhead or printing on the billboard.

• PDF – Portable Document Format

This format is very flexible as it can preserve and display the fonts, page layouts, and graphics (both vector and bitmap) flawlessly. It can be used for accurate printing as well as viewing.

Compatible software: Adobe Reader, Preview, Foxit Reader

• AI – Adobe Illustrator

This is the original file in which a logo is created. However, it requires specific software to open and edit so it’s better if you discuss it with your designer before wasting your time and money on some other complicated tool. With the correct font installed, you can even edit the text within (unless, of course, it is a custom type which will be outlined instead).

Compatible software: Adobe Illlustrator, CorelDRAW

• EPS – Encapsulated PostScript

EPS files are best for professional printing as they can be scaled to any size without issue. It also has  the capability of including both pixel and vector data/artwork. These files are ideally the final version file since, unlike the .AI working file, it is difficult to edit. Anyhow, whether you desire expert printing or scaled, EPS files are the ultimate best choice.

Compatible software: Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW

These are some of the excellent vector file formats that can be used conveniently by the newbies as well as professionals. Let us know which ones you prefer to use when it comes to logo design.

There are several types of logos such as, abstract, retro, animated, environmental, corporate, etc. Here is our latest collection of fantastic logos for inspiration. Each of these logos carries a subtle hidden message within. If you are a designer then you would appreciate the cleverness employed to create these absolutely amazing logos. If you are not, well, you can test your observation skills by locating the hidden symbolism and enjoy the show of the top notch creative logos from around the world.

1. Snooty Peacock

2. Ant Voice

3. Unlock

4. AU Logo

5. Point

6. E.C. Engineering

7. Hotspot BBQ Team

8. Sleep

9. Wave

10. Evolution X

11. Tyme

12. My Shirt

13. VIP 1

14. Egg-n-Spoon

15. Food Writers

16. Night Golf

17. Ray Cheung

18. Notwerk, revision 4

19. Brickus

20. Synergy Golf

Contest websites are way more reliable when it comes to designing logos as a freelancer. You get ratings for your entries, your designs remain safe, and the prize money is usually guaranteed by the Crowdsourcing website.

Moreover, multiple entries can be submitted for a project and the client can choose any of them as a winner. On the other hand, one has to submit mock ups in private to the project holder on freelancing websites, which increases the risk of copyrights violation without any kind of legal assistance to the designer. The design contest websites obviously become a better choice in this regard, as every activity takes place on a live channel, in the presence of live support and thousands of viewers. In addition, they provide legal assistance to participant designers, in case their logo gets copied anywhere else.

Once a designer switches from freelance websites to Crowdsourcing websites, he faces immense competition in getting projects for himself. That is why we will now share some key tips which can help a logo designer in winning maximum number of contests and consequently, build a good reputation and earn well for himself.

Go For a Tight Deadline

The closer a deadline is the better for the logo designer to upload his entries. If it is an open project where other entries can be viewed then the one submitting at the eleventh hour has the advantage of staying at the top and get most time to observe the inclination of the client. A 2 day submission deadline is more than sufficient to attain this purpose.

Go for the Least Competition

There is usually a set limit of minimum entries on Crowdsourcing websites. If that limit is around 20 concepts, make sure you choose a project with submissions ranging between 20 and 35 with 2 day submission deadline. This way, you will be more visible to the contest holder and would hardly have five or six designers to compete with. Hence, more chances to get selected as a winner.

Follow Up on Rating

After submitting your entries, as soon as the client rates on your design, ask him for his feedback and improve the logo accordingly. For example, if a contest holder gives you an average rating, somewhere around 3 stars, ask him exactly what he likes about your design and how you can improve it to fulfill his criteria. Never overlook the importance of this exercise because if you pass over the assignment, surely would the contest holder.

Don’t Run After the Prize Money

Prize money means a lot but it’s not everything. Don’t just go for the highest monetary reward in the projects list. There may be projects offering a reward of $250 plus with 400 entries and there may be another project offering $99 with about 30 entries. You should choose the later in such cases. You have to consider all the factors that maximize your chances of winning a contest so you can achieve more and more. The value of something is always better than nothing.

Keep Your Online Design Portfolio Updated

All the successful projects become a part of your online logo design portfolio, but what about beginners? Those who haven’t yet achieved a good number of winning projects can still add interesting and original logo designs in their portfolio.

Just remember, whenever you make a good logo, don’t hesitate in adding it to your profile. You never know who might love the freshness of your ideas.

These are the strategies we recommend to all designers. Follow them properly and we guarantee you more success in the future. Let us know of any further tips and suggestions that can be used to boost the chances of winning a logo design contest.

Crowdsourcing trend has provided an abundance of choices as well as media marketing solutions for entrepreneurs to establish a name for themselves. You no longer need to wait for months, sit with panels, search for the best logo designer in your community or contact one from abroad, for all it takes now is to simply create a brief and outsource it to the masses.

Of course, there are pros and cons to every action taken, but, if you know the game, you could reap the benefit in many ways. Let us share some of the things that every entrepreneur should know and consider before he disseminates the assignment.

Self-Profile Analysis is Important

Before giving out the task, you should do a thorough analysis of what values your business stands for, who is the target audience, and what role will the logo play you in your social media strategy. If you are unfamiliar with the process of hiring a logo designer, start by reviewing various intake forms. They will help you asses and articulate your requirements better.

Choose The Platform Wisely

Your crowdsourced venture can prove a failure if you don’t choose the right platform. Social media websites such as facebook or twitter are usually the best options to get people talking about your business. However, other social forums such as LinkedIn, blogs, and youtube are also great options to bring people onboard with the online presence of your business. You should also review the public design contests that most Crowdsourcing sites provide to evaluate whose work reflects the same standard as yours.

Prize Amount Matters

There are literally thousands of logo contests available online, so, why would a good designer be attracted to your offer? Simple! It all depends on the prize money you offer that can attract a better, more experienced, lot of designers for you. Try offering above-average contest prize money for your logo and you will see the difference. For starters, compare the rates of different logo contest design websites too.

Give A Reasonable Deadline

Your deadline should not be too delayed because many of the good designers make last minute submissions so they can observe what’s being submitted and what kind of entries you like. You also need to respond to all the entries so be reasonable about the time period you allot, to not only the designers, but also to yourself.

Call Out To Your Friends

The good thing about Crowdsourcing is that just like you have a multitude of options to choose from, you can also take help in finalizing the decision. Ask your friends and followers to help through a vote. The final say is always yours but getting an early response from your friends or clientele will give you a fair idea of where your business shall be headed once you adopt a particular logo.

Crowdsourcing a logo design is cheap, fair, and helps build your business’ online presence. There are various agencies that design the logo for you, but they would also cost you an arm and leg without letting you consult other people prior to the final decision.

When a logo assignment is outsourced to masses, hundreds of entries return, sometimes, with simply amazing results. You never know, which design genius out there might get a chance to show off his flair instead of just a regular creative at your graphic design agency.

The good thing about Crowdsourcing is that even students and novices get a chance to participate in these programs along with senior professionals. They gain a lot of experience and develop their skills this way. If successful, they can use the earnings to pay for their formal design education or training at a college.

Here is our take on how design students can make the best use of this opportunity and maximize their productivity.

Get Organized

The first and foremost strategy is to find ways to get organized with your work. Use a calendar or a diary to record your pending assignments, projects, and deadlines. This will help in time-management which is essential for your college studies as well as for any freelance project you decide to undertake.

Be conscious and observant

At this stage, you should try to be careful with your work and keenly observe and absorb all that there is to learn about design. Whether in college or on the internet, working part time with a graphic designer or participating in an online contest; keep your eyes open and your mind keen on learning the design process. You need to build on your focus to attention because that’s one thing you will always have to be cautious about.

Learn to familiarize yourself with clients

Interaction with clients is always as important as the project. You can never fulfill the requirements unless you know the people and purpose you are working for. Familiarize yourself with the details of your client company’s brand and plan the key elements of the design accordingly. See how their previous branding design has served. Put yourself in the shoes of their customers and see how it would affect their reverence for the brand.

Never settle for a single idea

Be open to various ideas. If you’re stuck with one idea only, it might indicate a lack of motivation or inspiration on your part. Evaluate the critical features of your client’s company and see how you can incorporate them in the logo. Come up with several versions of logos then decide on the top three. Consider them from all angles before settling for the one that resonates best with your client’s proposal.
Once you have decided upon the idea, again draft multiple versions to work out all the aesthetic demands of it. Here you will ultimately find the best one to enter in the Crowdsourcing contest.

Haste makes waste

If you are a student, remember that you are student. Don’t consider every stroke of inspiration you get as the final or the best. Even professional logo designers can’t do that. It takes time, patience, and a long process to come up with a final logo. If you think you’ve got a great idea for a design, by all means go and draw it out. But the ability you need to develop is to be able to assess your design the next day with fresh eyes and improve upon what you considered a stroke of genius till yesterday. When the heat of the moment subsides, you might realize that your logo is a little unbalanced or the colors too washed out to be modern.

PR is good

If you’re a creative and skilled logo designer, you’ll never go out of demand. But skill alone cannot help you put food on the table or get you plenty of work all the time. You need to socialize with the right people and design institutions are the best places to begin with. You not only study with future designers and entrepreneurs but also get references from the alumni and teaching faculty. Also, the high-profile schools offer internships and/or job placements for their students so they don’t have to waste months looking for jobs. Knowing the right people as well as letting the right people know you is very important for a graphic designer.

What’s your opinion on these strategies? Let us know if you have any other suggestions or tips to share in the comments below.