How to create a good graphic profile that works online and otherwise in the physical everyday life?

The graphic profile is the face of every brand - the very first impression - so design is very important. When executed correctly, a design is a powerful resource for your brand. However, creating an effective visual representation of a brand requires much more than just graphic design. Like all kinds of professional exercises that involve a set of specific skills, design requires a lot of practice and experience for it to succeed, and knowledge is a definite force for any graphic designer.

For this reason, we have outlined 11 basic rules to follow to design an effective design:

1. Preparation is a must

Preliminary sketches are an important first step in designing an effective design. These can be as simple as paper and pen drawings or drafts made with a vector program, such as Adobe Illustrator. The point is, you're compromising the final result if you hurry up or skip this step. Start with 5 to 10 sketches or ideas, and branch out to create variations of the original ideas. If nothing seems to work, start over and start drawing new ideas. An effective graphic designer will spend more time on this preparation than any other step in the design process.

2. Create balance

Balance is important in graphic design because people perceive a balanced design as comfortable and appealing. Keep your logo balanced by keeping the "weight" of graphics, colors and size equal on each page. Although the balance can sometimes be broken, remember that your design will be seen by the masses, not just those who have an eye for good art, so a balanced design is the safest approach.

3. Size ratio

When it comes to logo design, size means a lot. A logo must look good and be legible in all sizes. A logo is not effective if it loses too much definition when scaled down for stationery, envelopes and small promotional items. The logo must also look good when used for larger formats, such as posters, billboards and electronic formats such as TV and the Internet. The most reliable way to determine if a logo works in all sizes is to actually test it yourself. Keep in mind that the smallest scale is usually the most difficult to achieve, so start by printing the logo on a letterhead or envelope and see if it is still legible. You can also test for large-scale reproduction by printing a poster-size version at a printing company.

4. Smart use of colors

Color theory is complex, but designers who understand the basics are able to use colors to their advantage. The basic rules to keep in mind are:

Use colors close together on the color wheel (for example, for a "warm" palette, use red, orange, and yellow hues).

Do not use colors that are so bright that they are hard on the eyes.

The logo must also look good in black and white, shades of gray and two colors.

Breaking the rules sometimes is okay; just make sure you have a good reason for it! Knowing how colors evoke emotions and moods is also important. For example, red can evoke feelings of aggression, love, passion and strength. Keep this in mind when trying different color combinations, and try to match the color to the brand's overall tone and feel. Playing with individual colors alone is another good idea. Some brands are recognizable solely by their distinctive color. For example, when you think of Freia Chocolate, you think of the “Netflix red” color, and this sets this brand apart from the competition and, more importantly, makes the brand even more recognizable.

5. Design style should suit the company

You can use different design styles when creating a logo, and to choose the right one, you should have some background information about the client and the brand. A recent trend in logo design is the Web 2.0 style of 3D-looking logos, with "sparkling" graphics, gradations and drop shadows. This style may work well for a Web 2.0 site or technology company, but is ineffective for other types of brands. Examine the audience you want to reach before you start the preparation. This will help you decide on the best design style from the start and save you from having to go back to the drawing board repeatedly.

6. Typography means something ... a lot!

Choosing the right font and size is much more difficult than many beginners have understood. If your logo design contains text, either as part of the logo or in the tagline, take the time to sort through different fonts - often dozens of them - and test them in the design before making a final decision. Try both serif fonts and sans-serif fonts, as well as scripts, italics, bold and custom fonts. Consider three main points when choosing a font that comes with the logo design:

• Avoid the most commonly used fonts, such as Comic Sans, otherwise your design may come across as amateurish.

• Make sure the font is legible when scaled down, especially with font fonts. One font is ideal, and avoid more than two.

• Strongly consider a custom font for your design.

The more original the font, the more it will distinguish the brand. Examples of successful logos that have a custom font are Yahoo !, Twitter and Coca Cola.

7. The goal is recognition

The whole point of creating a logo is to build brand recognition. So how do you go about doing this? Well, it varies from case to case, but the goal of the logo is that the average person instantly calls the brand in mind. A few examples of this are the logos of Coca-Cola, Pepsi, McDonald's and Nike. Just a glimpse of some of these logos is all you need to recognize the brands. The key to creating a popular and recognizable logo is to combine all the elements discussed in this article: size, style, color, style and originality. Ignoring any of these during the design process will impair the quality of the final design. Examine your own logo design and see if it meets all these criteria. A quick test to determine if your logo is recognizable enough is to invert it using graphic design software and see if you can still recognize the brand. In addition, you should mirror the logo and see if it is easily recognizable in this condition. Remember that logos are not always seen in front in real situations, such as on the side of a bus or a shop window when driving past. Therefore, you should make sure to see your logo design from all angles and make sure that it is recognizable from all directions before you say you are happy.

8. Dare to be different

To stand out from the competition, you need to highlight them with a clear style. Instead of copying another design or style, you need to be innovative and stand out from the crowd. So how can you be different? Try to break the rules of design and take risks. Try a variety of styles to find the one that works best. Try different color combinations until you find one that makes your design truly original. Have fun with the design program you use, and keep customizing the design until you feel you've got it right.

9. K.I.S.S. (Keep.It.Simple.Stupid)

The simpler the logo, the more recognizable it becomes. For example, the Nike swoosh is an extremely simple logo and is also one of the most recognizable in the world. Follow K.I.S.S. reigns from the very beginning of the design process when you brainstorm ideas and make sketches. Often you will find that you start with a relatively complicated design and end up with a simpler version of it in the end. Work the design down to the essentials and leave out all unnecessary elements.

10. Take effects lightly

Adobe Illustrator, Freehand, Photoshop and other graphic design programs are extremely powerful tools and have many filters and effects that you can apply to your logo, but do not get carried away! There is time and place for these powerful tools, but it is not necessarily when designing a logo. Of course, it's good to play and see if they improve a logo, but just remember that simplicity is the key.

11. Use only other designs for inspiration!

The last rule of thumb for designing an effective logo is simple: do not copy the work of other designers! While there is nothing wrong with being inspired by other designers, it is morally and legally wrong to copy another person's ideas or work. Gallery sites exist that allow you to use vector art images for free, with proper credit under the international "Creative Commons License", but we strongly recommend not to go this route. These sites can be useful for getting ideas under the brainstorming session, but it's better to start the design from scratch and make it 100% original.