Don't Get in Too Deep

• Beginning logo designers have a tendency to turn their designs into deep statements by using ambiguous graphical elements in a metaphorical context. A logo is not the place to spotlight deeper meaning. It is supposed to catch the eye make a direct statement about the business or artist it represents.
  
  

Don't Overdo It

• Some of the best logos are the simplest ones. If you use every trick of the trade in one logo, you're bound to end up with a train wreck. Use a simple graphic that represents something about the entity the logo represents. A graphic may not even be necessary. The logo may be the name of a band; in this case, the name alone is enough of a foundation to work from. Think about the shape of the letters in the logo and the colors you'll be using. Avoid using too many colors and colors that clash. Avoid letters that are unreadable, regardless of how fancy they look. If someone has to stare long and hard to figure out what it says, or to identify the meaning of a graphical element, you've lost the entire point of the logo.
  
  

Don't Use Bitmap

• Choose logo software that creates vector-based images. If you create your logo in bitmap or save your work as JPEG, you will have issues down the line. You won't be able to resize your logo without having problems with resolution. You won't be able to put your logo on web pages correctly either. If you can't afford more expensive vector-based design software, use Serif DrawPlus. It's a free vector-based drawing software product that's ideal for creating logos (see Resources).
  
  

Avoid Cliche Special Effects

• Graphics software--which includes special effects like shadow, textures and flames--represents a design danger. These special effects are so cool that everyone seems to use them, making it hard to distinguish one logo from another. Avoid the cliche effects in favor of something you create. In fact, consider hand-drawing the logo first, then taking it into a graphics program to touch it up.