How to Avoid Generic and Empty Logos
This article about: "How to avoid generic and empty logos" was personally written by Anna and Andrea-Ermetica7. We used AI only to translate our original text which was in Italian. We used artificial intelligence only for Language Translation purposes. And after we translated the text we made personal changes to the English text.
Monotonous Repetitions
We've all seen logos that feel like a hazy memory, a tune we almost recognize but can't quite place. A curve here, a fade there, initials intertwined in a predictable, safe font. This is the
landscape of the generic, the visual equivalent of a polite but fully forgettable nod and frankly, it does a disservice to the very thing we (ermetica7) are trying to build.
The Trap of Familiarity
Why this overwhelming sense of
similarity? The answer lies in the charme of the
inexpensive, a promise of quick fixes from
budget freelancers and the chaotic
free-for-all of logo contests. Even established agencies, perhaps weary or rushed, fall back on well-trodden paths instead of working into the unique terrain of your individual narrative.
The Usual Suspects
Let's be real. Logo contests are a breeding ground for the unremarkable. You cast your needs into the digital ether, and a horde of designers, often prioritizing speed over genuine understanding, fire back concepts. What you receive is a torrent of superficial ideas. rarely anything that truly captures the spirit of your endeavor. It's a numbers game, and the quiet, thoughtful work needed for truly original design rarely stands a chance.
Then there are the budget freelancers. A seemingly professional logo for a small amount? Tempting. But this often comes at the cost of
real collaboration, strategic thought, and the
deep exploration necessary to unearth a truly resonant visual identity. We might end up with something that looks the part on the surface, but beneath it lies a design
devoid of depth, lacking in originality and failing to communicate the crucial essence of Your specific story.
Deadlines
Even established agencies aren't immune to this. Under the weight of deadlines or a simple lack of fresh perspective, they too can lean on the crutch of the familiar. You might be presented with slick presentations and industry jargon, but the final result can feel: safe. Uninspired. As if plucked from a well-worn catalog of "things that usually work".
Breaking Free: Authentic Visual Identity
Two questions for a reflection:
- How do we escape this visual banal routine?
- How do we ensure our logo is a genuine reflection of the unique entity we are?
A necessary solution, a solution of vital importance that starts from an idea:
- Our perspective must shift.
We need to see logo design not as a mere item to be procured at the lowest possible cost, but as a vital investment in our very foundation. A truly unique logo is a strategic asset that will serve us well for years to come, an added value that reflects your personality.
True Design Partnership
In this paragraph we explain our (ermetica7 - Anna and Andrea) perspective, our design method, a personal approach, useful tips to build something with meaning and not a pure formality. A fundamental phase to develop a logo with meaning starts from you. It starts from your approach. Your initial idea (and we don't mean the logo you've scribbled or have in mind). You must be willing to invest in the process.
- This means seeking out designers who value understanding your story, your principles, your values: Your personality.
You should look for collaborators who ask pointed questions. If you don't want to face this step, you are swimming in superficiality. Your superficiality will be reflected in your logo. You won't find people interested in your story, in what makes you unique. And this has nothing to do with designers or mediocre agencies. The problem is that you have nothing to say. We believe that all people have something to tell. But someone doesn't want to face this step for different reasons: Fear, Insecurity, Unwillingness, Lazyness. Are you afraid? Are you insecure? Don't you feel like it? Are you lazy? These factors can be overcome. How?
- Challenge your assumptions and demonstrate a genuine passion for crafting something truly original.
You must resist the siren call of contests and the illusion of savings offered by rock-bottom prices. Instead, let's focus on finding a designer whose body of work resounds with you, whose approach feels like a true partnership. A true collaboration between human beings is not just a concept, it must transform into action.
Ermetica7: You and Us
You need to be active participants in the design journey. This isn't about dictating specific colors or fonts, but about clearly articulating Your vision, sharing the core of your story and offering thoughtful feedback. A powerful logo is the result of a genuine connection between You and Us. When we create a unique and personal logo, the fundamental questions we ask are directed to your person (we do not ask for sensitive data and the information we request remains always confidential and private).
- You don't need to have an idea of the shape of the logo or a symbol.
- You don't need to have an idea about a font-typeface.
- Maybe if you have favorite colors, but even if you don't,
when you have answered our questions and told us about your principles and values, we will surely have found "material" to propose to you that reflects your person.
An Ending or a Beginning
Let's leave the generic greetings to those content to disappear into the ordinary. You have a story worth telling, and Your logo should be its unforgettable opening. In conclusion, this guide to avoid generic, empty and even copied logos starts and ends with a simple approach and idea.
- Change your perspective on the importance of logo design.
If you think it's a small thing, if you think that a 5-10 euro logo can be a solution, if you think that your amateur friend-cousin in design: there's nothing to be done. You will get back what you invested, both economically and personally. Logo creation is a complex, personal process. This is why it is essential to find professional designers, not only in terms of design but also communication. Logo design today is no longer just a graphic factor, it's a personal factor.