13 Common Logo Design Mistakes (And How to Fix Them+Tips Recommendations)

Your logo is like your business's name tag. It helps people remember you and helps you stand out in the long run. Besides, a great logo can make people trust you, but a weak one can make your brand position dull.

Don’t worry! These logo mistakes are easy to avoid.

As I’ve been exploring this arena for a decade, I personally faced these obstacles in my overall design itinerary.

I have also classified them to ease the category. They are may be– 

1. Basic Mistakes
2. Color Mistakes
3. Shape & Symbol Mistakes
4. Typography Mistakes
5. Miscellaneous Mistakes

Here in this blog I will discuss 13 simple logo mistakes within the above classification.

In addition, there will be some messages about how to fix them professionally.

Let’s Dive!

Basic Mistakes

1. Not Understanding the Brief

When a client briefs you on the overall insights of his brand, it means you have to construct a logo that puts up with the values and messages of that particular brand.

But bugs will occur, if you messed up everything when designing. Perhaps, you were not concentrated on the times of meeting.

Why it’s a problem : Wrong insights can destroy a brand’s credibility. As a result, less conversion will occur.

How to Fix : Be engaged on your first meeting. If not, do multiple communication with clients. Do research on landing pages. Find the messages that convey the best values and ideas.

2. Missing the Target Customer

From the initial error I mentioned above, mistargeting your tailored customer can also disorder your design. A great design for one type of customer may be irrelevant to others.

Why it’s a problem : Suppose, you have to build a design for any bank. Here, the tailored customers are the accounts holder. But if you choose any professional design that may confuse the holder, then it will not make sense anymore.

How to Fix : Keep updated with what the tailored customer expects for that particular brand. Do market research thoroughly.

Color Mistakes

3. Choosing the Wrong Colors

Colors can make people feel things. Blue feels calm, while red feels exciting. Research shows that 85% of people say color is why they choose a product.

Why it’s a problem: Wrong colors can confuse your audience. They will find things extraneous and will increase bounce rates.

How to Fix: Pick colors that match your brand’s style. Use online tools like Coolors.co to make sure the colors look good together.

4. Not Making Colors Easy to See

Some people can’t see colors the same way, like those with color blindness. Once I had met one of my client with this special capability. But it taught me a lot on this through.

Why it’s a problem: Some logos have colors that blend together, making them hard to read. It will demote inclusive marketing and less conversion.

How to Fix: Use color combinations with strong contrast so the logo is easy to see for everyone. Preview your design with your client. Tell him to deliver reviews. In addition, tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker assisted me a lot.

5. Following Trends Too Much

Trendy logos might look cool today but feel outdated in a few years. Did you know that 41% of brands that followed trends had to change their logo within five years? Very pity!

Why it’s a problem: Trends fade, but your logo should last.

How to Fix: Keep your logo simple and timeless. Add trendy touches in ads or seasonal designs, but keep your main logo classic. Remember brands like Apple, Google, Tesla’s logo. They evolved their logo with trends but never changed it.

Shape and Symbol Mistakes

6. Adding Too Many Details

Your logo should show what your brand is about quickly. Too many shapes or words can make it messy.

Why it’s a problem: A busy logo is hard to remember. It’s relate kind of hazy things that makes chaos.

How to Fix: Focus on one idea. Remove extra shapes or details that don’t help your message. You may go for a precise details that relates to brand’s insight.

7. Not Leaving Enough Blank Space

Blank space, or "negative space," makes a logo look neat and interesting.

Why it’s a problem: Filling every inch with shapes or text can make your logo look crowded. A visitor may be lost in finding the things that brings here for.

How to Fix: Add breathing room around your logo elements. Look at logos like FedEx—they even use blank space to create a hidden arrow!

8. Using Generic Icons

Using popular symbols like globes or gears can make your logo feel boring. Most brand’s nowadays are doing such things but that’s not desirable.

Why it’s a problem: It can fetch you to the top brand’s crowd, that may not expected by a startup to get puzzled around them.

How to Fix: Avoid stock icons. People like to see new and unique things. Try making a unique symbol that shows what makes your brand iconic.

Typography Mistakes

9. Using Fonts That Are Hard to Read

Your font style can change how people see your logo. A font that is too fancy or small can be hard to detect the core message.

Why it’s a problem: If people can’t read your logo, they’ll forget it. A statistics said that people get away from the things that are hard to translate.

How to Fix: Use 1–2 simple fonts. Sans-serif fonts (like Arial) are great for a clean, modern look.

10. Using Too Many Fonts

Mixing too many different fonts can make your logo looks messy. This will tend to foggy view of your site and may decrease your trustability.

Why it’s a problem: Your logo can look unprofessional. On the other hand, you should be claimed if too many fonts get matched with other design.

How to Fix: Use just one or two fonts. For example, use one font for your business name and a second font for a tagline.

11. Poor Letter Spacing (Kerning)

Kerning is the space between letters. If the spacing is uneven, your logo can look awkward.

Why it’s a problem: Bad spacing makes your logo look unpolished.

How to Fix: Adjust the letter spacing so it looks balanced. Design tools can help with this, or you can ask a designer for help. You may apply proper white spacing in your design.

Miscellaneous Mistakes

12. Not Testing Your Logo on Different Platforms

Your logo should look good on your website, social media, signs, and t-shirts.

Why it’s a problem: A logo that only looks good online might not print well on a shirt or business card. On the other hand, you should maintain a better screen view.

How to Fix: Create different versions of your logo. Have a full-size version, a small icon, and a simple black-and-white version. Use responsive design to be fit in different platforms and devices.

13. Forgetting the Emotional Connection

A logo isn’t just an image. It should make people feel something. It connects insights from both ends, whether it is from the brand or customer.

Why it’s a problem: If your logo feels plain, it won’t stick in people’s minds. Day to day the brand will fade away.

How to Fix: Think about the emotions you want your brand to create. Use shapes, colors, and fonts that match that feeling. Furthermore, do more research on different blogs and articles that enrich your insights on your brand.

Recommended Tips to Be a Perfect Logo Designer

There are no perfect tips in the world. Every expert has his own experience and then he delivers them to the newbees.

I arrange here some pro tips for you that may help you to go smooth towards your design journey.

1. Make a Statement

‍Your logo should show what your brand stands for. Think about what makes your brand unique. A great logo gives people a clear idea of your values and purpose.

2. Know Your Audience

‍Design your logo with your customers in mind. What do they care about? What style appeals to them? A logo designed for your audience will connect better than one based only on personal preferences.

3. Keep It Simple

‍Simple logos are easier to remember and look better at any size. Remove extra details like shadows or outlines that don’t add to your message. Stick to the essential elements.

4. Use Vector Files

‍Vector files keep your logo clear and sharp, no matter how big or small it is. Unlike pixel-based images, vector files don’t get blurry when resized. Use tools like Adobe Illustrator to create a vector file.

5. Pick the Right Colors

‍Pantone colors help your logo look the same everywhere, whether online or in print. This avoids surprises like seeing different shades of the same color on different devices or prints.

6. Test Its Meaning

‍Show your logo to someone new for 3 seconds. Ask them what it means. If they can describe it well, you’re on the right track. If not, tweak it until your meaning is clear.

7. Make It Memorable

‍Place your logo next to others and show it briefly to someone. Can they easily remember yours? A memorable logo stands out in a sea of designs and helps people recognize your brand quickly.

Over to You

Congratulations! You’ve learned key logo design mistakes to avoid. By applying the strategies in this article, you're ready to create impactful logos that captivate audiences and reflect brand identity.

Continuously upgrade your skills, seek creative ideas, and let your imagination shine to design logos that last long.

If any mistakes occur, do not tremble with fear. Mistakes help us grow, but keeping logo design mistakes small makes a big difference. Now that you know what to avoid, have you imagined your logo?

If you’re still unsure, don’t worry! Do a 15 min Strategic Call to clarify your confusion on this through.

Happy Designing!