No Logo, No Problem: Easy Tips for Creating a Custom Design

The Rules

These are less rules than guidelines, since some of the most memorable logos break all generally accepted design mandates. For example, mermaids have nothing to do with coffee, the Olympic rings have five whole colors to remember, and the “D” in “Disney” looks like a back-to-front “G.” However, if you’re stuck on how to get started, these can be useful to keep in mind.

Choose and Format Your Words Carefully

If you’ve ever received an email from someone who didn’t believe in the concept of paragraphs, you’re familiar with what is commonly termed a wall of text.

People struggle to focus on long blocks of words. Try to get your message across in as few words as possible. Yes, this makes me a hypocrite – but less is more when you want to keep your words visually and literally interesting.

Match Your Font to Your Message

Fonts are designed to add personality to your words – so make sure you choose one that matches the tone of your message.

For example, a cursive font on a wedding invitation equals elegant and romantic, which is probably what you want. A cursive font on a warning sign equals elegant and romantic, which is probably not what you want.

This example also demonstrates the importance of choosing a font that’s legible. Wedding invitations are supposed to slow the reader down, which is why cursive can work so well on them. However, cursive on a warning sign is less, “Aww” and more, “Wait, what does that sign say-aaahhh.”

Pick Your Picture

As you’ll notice when you explore our ClipArt library, simple silhouettes typically look better on products. For one thing, details tend to get lost, especially on smaller products, so we recommend using designs without a lot of linework. Also, you want to catch people’s attention quickly, so it’s better to give them an image they can understand in one glance.

Make the Most of Your Space

Another reason to err on the side of minimalism in your design is if you’re working in a small space. If you have flexibility over the product you’re choosing, go with one that works with your vision of the design you’re creating. For example, pencils can fit relatively long sentences, but not tall pictures, and the opposite is true for a pint glass.

Respect Color Theory

Product color preferences are subjective, but there are theories about which colors look best together. These are bundled together as color theory.

Color theory usually starts with a color wheel. Without getting too into the weeds, there are two simple ways to use a color wheel to find colors that go well together.

Designed by macrovector / Freepik

Complementary Colors

Not to be confused with colors that tell you that you look fabulous in that sweater. Complementary colors complement each other — they look good together. They’re easy to find, because they sit opposite each other on the wheel. For example, red and green, orange and blue, or green and purple. Combine these and you’ll be getting compliments on your complementary colors!

Analogous Colors

Using a 12-color wheel, choose your color, then look at the two either side of it. These are its analogous colors. For example, yellow through orange, green through yellow, or purple through blue.

Contrast Your Colors

It’s also a good idea to choose colors that will stand out from each other. You can do this by considering color values. This doesn’t mean how much you like a color: it’s thinking about colors on a spectrum from dark (low value) to light (high value).

If you’re working with two colors, choose one light and one dark. For example, a dark orange with a light blue. If you’re working with three, choose one dark, one light, and one medium. So maybe, a dark orange, a medium blue, and a white. This will ensure they contrast well enough to stand out.

Top Tip: To check if you have enough contrast, convert your design to black and white. This exaggerates the differences and similarities between the colors, so you can see how well they contrast.

The Bottom Line

You can order customized gifts from us even if you don’t currently have a logo. You have access to an impressive range of tools, along with some guidelines, to help you build your own design from scratch. Plus, our team is on board to help you get the look you’re going for, even if this is the first time you’ve ever tried to design a custom item.

So whether you’re getting married, connecting with your family, or herding ducks, you can have shared customized products to commemorate the occasion.