Public image — that is what your personal logo is all about.
In this guide, we’ll be discussing everything you need to know about making your own personal brand logo.
A personal brand logo is your public image.
It’s an artistic representation of you, and it should be versatile enough to use in many ways, while still representing you uniquely.
10 Tips for Designing a Personal Logo
1. Make it Versatile
Keeping in mind that you’ll be using your logo in many different places, you want to make sure that it’s versatile enough so that it can be resized and the lines will remain crisp.
For example, if you plan to use your logo on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, it might be a good idea to integrate an image so that the logo is easily recognizable.
2. Stick with a Color Scheme
When designing a brand logo, try to stick with one color scheme or two max. Too many colors can be distracting to viewers.
Popular color schemes include analogous and complementary color schemes.
Analogous Color Scheme
An analogous color scheme is composed of colors that are next to one another on the color wheel.
Complementary Color Scheme
A complementary color scheme is made up of colors from opposing sides of the color wheel – think red and green, yellow and purple or orange and blue.
Just also be sure that if you already have made brand colors for your website — that your logo aligns with those brand colors.
For example, the logo we example we used at the beginning of the article, is an analogous color scheme consisting of yellows, oranges, and reds!
3. Include Your Initials
If you have a couple of initials, consider using them in your logo design to personalize it even more!
Or just go with your full name! Those are the 2 most popular choices.
4. Get Creative!
Now is your chance to get out of your comfort zone and really make something bold! Take some risks with fun, funky lettering or shapes.
Your logo doesn’t need to be perfect – in fact, you want it to be interesting enough to stand out from the crowd.
Just avoid using very complicated fonts or symbols so that you don’t lose the impact of your logo.
5. Make it Memorable
This is a great opportunity to take a step back, think about your logo design, and ask yourself:
“What makes this unique? What will make people remember it?”
You want your logo to be something that people associate with you – not something they’ll quickly forget.
Ways to make it memorable include having a nice color scheme and an overall nice design. That’s why it’s crucial that you spend time thinking about the design and even ask for professional help if needed!
I recommend going on Upwork and looking for a graphic designer to help you design your logo!
6. Make It on Brand
Make sure that the font on your logo complements the personality of your brand so that everything is cohesive.
You may want to stay away from script fonts or anything too fancy.
7. Keep it Simple
Remember, you want to make sure that people can easily and quickly understand what your logo is about without having to use words.
That means keeping the design clean and simple with clean lines and a clear image. Don’t forget – less is more!
8. Don’t Forget About Legibility
Another tip to keep in mind when designing your own logo is to make sure it’s legible.
Although if you want something funky and memorable, keep in mind that it will probably be smaller than you anticipate.
The best way to test if your logo is legible is to take a screenshot and resize it so you can accurately see how the logo will look when it’s tiny.
9. Use Your Logo on Everything
Be sure to use your logo across all branding efforts – website, social media sites, business cards, email signature, and advertisements.
Make sure every time you’re using your brand it’s consistent and recognizable.
If you have your logo on your business card and then use a different color and font for an advertisement, it could confuse people and dilute the brand.
10. Save as a .png File!
Lastly, be sure to save your logo as a .png file – this will ensure that your design doesn’t get blurry or pixelated when using it for different sizes.
Examples of Personal Brand Logos
Here are examples of popular personal brands and their logo so you can get a feel for them:
1. Gary Vaynerchuck
Gary Vaynerchuk is well known for his bold and motivating personality, his logo certainly reflects that:
2. Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey, is known for her compassion, intelligence, and insight. Her light, yet strong logo reflects her personality:
3. Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban, entrepreneur, and businessman, uses initials on his website to encompass his portfolio:
4. Jessica Kobeissi
Jessica Kobeissi, an artist and photographer who has made a popular personal brand for herself, implements an artistic typography style to suit her personality:
What’s the Point of a Personal Brand Logo?
While your company logo is used to represent your business, a personal brand logo represents you and your personal brand.
Your brand logo may be featured on your website, blog posts, social media sites, and more – any place where your audience interacts with you.
It provides an opportunity for you to create a professional image that leaves a lasting impression.
Why Make Your Own Personal Logo?
Not everyone will take the time to create their own personal brand logo, but if you’re not one of those people then your competition will!
Having your own personal logo shows that you’re a serious, professional businessperson and is a key part of creating your own personal brand.
Your logo is an important part of your branding effort. You can’t just pull something out of thin air – it needs to represent you.
And the only way for it to accurately do so is if you take the time and energy to design it.
Does a Personal Brand Need a Logo?
Instead of asking yourself if you need a brand logo, focus on how your logo can help you achieve your business goals.
Think about what you want your logo to say about you and how it can help you reach that goal.
Make sure your logo is memorable and recognizable, used consistently across all your branding material (website, social media sites, advertisements).
If you like the idea of having a personal brand logo for yourself but aren’t quite sure where to start or simply don’t have the time to create one, you can hire a pro.
There are plenty of online services that will create a logo for you – it’s easy to get started and pricing is usually affordable.
Possible Uses for Your Personal Brand Logo
Here are some ideas to help you get started:
- Share your logo in social media posts
- Share on your website
- Put in the About section of your emails.
You can even use it as a watermark or avatar when sharing content online.
For instance, when sharing photos on Instagram, you can use your logo to create a branded banner.
It’s easy to resize the images using online tools like Canva or PicMonkey.
How to Create a Personal Logo
Creating a personal logo is a creative process that requires time and thoughtfulness. Here are 5 steps to start creating a personal logo.
Tools
- Graphic Design Software
- Online Logo Maker
- Pen and Paper
- Inspiration and Reference Materials
- Typography Resources
- Feedback and Collaboration Tools
Instructions
- Define Your Brand Identity: Start by clarifying your personal brand identity and values. Consider your target audience, the message you want to convey, and the emotions you want your logo to evoke. This will guide your design decisions and ensure your logo aligns with your personal brand.
- Research and Gather Inspiration: Explore existing logos and designs to gather inspiration. Look for elements, typography, and color schemes that resonate with your brand identity. Create a mood board or save examples that inspire you, which will serve as a reference during the design process.
- Brainstorm and Sketch Ideas: Begin the creative process by brainstorming and sketching out rough ideas for your logo. Experiment with different shapes, symbols, typography, and layouts. Explore how various elements can represent your brand identity and convey the desired message.
- Design with Simplicity in Mind: Simplicity is key for an effective logo. Refine your sketches and translate them into digital form using design software or seek the assistance of a graphic designer. Focus on creating a clean and visually balanced logo that is easily recognizable and scalable across different platforms.
- Choose Colors and Typography: Select a color palette that reflects your brand personality and appeals to your target audience. Consider the emotions and associations each color conveys. Pair your logo with appropriate typography that complements your brand image and ensures readability.
Final Remarks
In conclusion – creating your own personal logo doesn’t have to be hard or stressful. If you put in the proper time and effort, you can create something that’s unique to you and really stands out from the crowd.
We hope you enjoyed this guide on making a personal brand logo.
This guide is also a part of our Personal Branding Hub, so be sure to check that out for further personal branding tips and insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a logo for my personal brand?
Having a logo for your personal brand is not a necessity, but it can certainly be beneficial. A well-designed and professional logo can help create a memorable visual identity, increase brand recognition, and add a polished touch to your personal brand’s marketing materials and online presence.
Can someone steal my logo if it’s not trademarked?
If your logo is not trademarked, there is a higher risk of someone using or replicating it without permission. While copyright protection may still apply to your logo as an original creative work, obtaining a trademark provides additional legal protection and makes it easier to enforce your rights if infringement occurs.
Nate Torres is an entrepreneur, growth marketer, and photographer and writes mostly on those topics. Nate runs his own professional photography business and photography blog called Nate Torres Photography. Nate enjoys learning about new digital marketing strategy and new ways to think creatively. He is also a photography speaker and author on Photofocus.