Logo contests, AI logo makers or a designer?
Option 1: logo contests
You write a brief, set a prize, and designers from around the world send in ideas. You rank and comment, pick a winner, and the winner delivers the final files.
Good for: seeing lots of ideas quickly, from designers with very different points of view.
Watch for: lots of entries means lots of reviewing, and quality varies. Make sure the contest terms transfer full ownership of the final design to you.
Option 2: AI logo generators
Type in your business name and a few keywords, and you get dozens of options in minutes.
Good for: brainstorming, testing directions, or a placeholder while you get going.
Watch for: results can look generic, and other businesses may end up with similar marks. Read the license terms so you know what rights you actually have, and check whether you get vector files for signs and print. A logo you can't protect or scale isn't much of a logo.
Option 3: hiring a designer
A designer or small studio works with you directly. They ask questions and build a logo plus guidance on how to use it.
Good for: businesses that need a logo that fits a bigger brand, works everywhere and lasts.
Watch for: it takes longer and costs more than the other routes. Look at their portfolio, and ask which files and rights you get at the end.
The brief is everything
Whichever route you take, the brief does most of the work. These tips from the original post still hold:
- Study examples first. Look at past briefs and the logos they produced before you write yours.
- Be clear, concise and concrete. Say who your customers are, what you want people to feel and what to avoid.
- Skip slang and inside jokes. Your designer, or your AI tool, may not get them.
- Give real color values. If you have brand colors, include the hex, RGB or CMYK codes. It saves a lot of misfires.
- Revise when results miss. If what comes back isn't right, the brief probably isn't clear yet. Fix it and say so.
- Give feedback often. In a contest, rank and comment daily. Designers may be many time zones away.
- Keep it short. A week is usually plenty for a contest, and you can always extend it.
- Get the right files. Ask for vector files (SVG, EPS or AI) plus PNGs for the web, in full color, one color and reversed.
Make sure it works on your website
A logo has to work small. Check that it's readable in a browser tab, in a phone header and as a social profile picture. Wide or detailed logos often need a simpler version for tight spaces.
If a new logo is part of a bigger refresh, read When It's Time to Redesign Your Website. Then add the final files to your list in What to have ready before you start a website project.
Want help writing a logo brief or fitting a new logo into your site? Call 678-379-9321 or email