Designing a logo is more than just creating a visual; it’s about crafting a symbol that will represent your brand in every context. However, many businesses fall into common pitfalls that reduce the effectiveness of their logos. Here are five mistakes to avoid:
fails the reverse test
Your logo needs to be adaptable across a variety of applications—whether it’s printed, used on a website, or placed on imagery. A common requirement is for the logo to appear in white on dark backgrounds or images (known as a ‘reverse logo’). If your design relies on complex gradients, shadows, or overlapping colours, it may not translate well in this monochrome format.
Even large companies have made this mistake—Mastercard’s logo, for example, struggles in reverse applications.
Ensure your logo is simple enough to work in a single colour to avoid complications down the road.
Full colour logo
Reverse logo
it’s all about size
Your logo should look just as good on a business card as it does on a billboard. Logos that contain too much detail or intricate elements often fail to be legible at smaller sizes. A great logo remains clear and effective at any size. So test your logo at different scales to ensure it holds up in all situations.
Logo struggles with small sizing
trying to do it all
While it’s tempting to create a logo that encompasses everything your brand represents, trying to do too much often leads to clutter and confusion. A logo should have a clear, singular focus.
Think of it as the shorthand for your brand’s identity. If it’s packed with too many elements or messages, it risks becoming white noise. Aim for simplicity and let your logo communicate one central idea that captures your brand’s essence.
Apple’s original logo (not sure what it’s trying to say)
The rebrand we all know and love
lost in the crowd
Your logo is the face of your business, so it must stand out. A generic design will cause your brand to blend in with competitors—or worse, be mistaken for someone else’s. Make sure your logo has unique characteristics that differentiate it from others.
zoom in and cry
As a designer, I often encounter businesses that only have their logo in low-resolution or raster formats. While these are fine for certain uses, they should always be accompanied by vector files (PDF, EPS and SVGs). These are crucial as they can be scaled infinitely without losing quality, ensuring your logo looks sharp in every size and format. Even the most beautiful logo will look bad if it’s blurry—file format matters.
This hurt my heart but I did it for the plot
A clean, sharp logo always looks best