How I Created the Logo for My New Project for Only $16.50
Tags: design, bootstrapping, logo, ux
Published: 2022-04-11 14:00:17

As a **non-designer**, I've always felt overwhelmed by the amount of work required when creating interfaces.

From matching fonts and colours to using the right tools, it just seems the number of **options are endless**.

Once I'm finally happy with the direction I took,  I either change course completely or waste time tweaking details that don't matter much.

I get annoyed by how big or small, how dark or light, how simple or complex design elements should look like.

Again, the reason for all this indecisiveness is the **abundance of options**.

To me, graphic design just isn't like coding.
Although code can always be refactored, **when scripts work, they just work**!

A few months ago, I started a new project and applied a release fast, fail fast approach.

I followed strict self-imposed deadlines and budgets to make sure I'd spend time and money wisely.

I hope this post helps **technical founders** stay afloat while navigating through a never ending sea of options.

Below are the **three steps** I took to bring the logotype for **[Tokenuity](https://tokenuity.com)** - a no-code solution to create smart contracts for the blockchain - to life.

###1. Choosing a typeface
Not only is your brand name what gets talked about the most, it's also what **people see the most**.

That's why picking the right font is essential to building solid brand identity.

Coming up with a logotype for my project, I had two options.
I could either go the **custom route** or use an **existing font**.

Had I gone with the former, the budget would've probably been busted and the deadline unmet.

This left me with option number two, using an existing one.

To cut down on time spent looking for the perfect font, I limited my research to only one website, **[MyFonts](https://myfonts.com)**.

Their community of foundries and designers makes it the perfect place to shop for quality typefaces.

Their sorting process is rock solid, allowing users to browse fonts by categories such as: "Hot new fonts", "Best sellers", "Special offers" and many more.

I purchased the bold version of a font made by **Latinotype** called **"[Juana](https://www.myfonts.com/collections/juana-font-latinotype)"**.

By paying for a font, I assumed it wouldn’t be used by a lot of brands as people usually opt for free options.

The regular price was **$32.99** but I was lucky enough to get it at a **50% discount**.

I paid **$16.50** for it (see screenshot below):

![MyFonts Receipt](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/4422l0nm4mxwu2eoh4fq.png)

Before giving my credit card info, I used the preview option to help visualize what the end result would look like.

![MyFonts Preview](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/7l7yxy8brmnxut6a22n9.png)

Having secured the typeface, I was on to the next step: choosing the colours. 

####2.Picking the right colours
Considering that the human eye can perceive up to one million colours, matching them is a rather complex and time consuming operation.

Fortunately for me, there were a couple of tools out there to help with this task.

**[Color by Adobe](https://color.adobe.com/create/color-wheel)** is a neat solution for quickly putting together matching colour palettes.

The selection process is simple enough to find great colours in less than a minute.

This is all made possible by Adobe and its army of active contributors who’ve already worked on thousands of ready-to-use themes for us.

I used the **[Explore section](https://color.adobe.com/explore)** of their website so I wouldn't have to create the entire palette myself.


![Adobe Color Explore Page](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/asnp5l2328ge790fgsw8.png)

After browsing for a few minutes, I found a theme I was happy with.

To save time, I downloaded the theme as-is instead of modifying it.


![Color Theme](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/07xqrd1fq3f7cg9qfg3k.jpeg)

In practically no time, I had found a set of matching colours I could work with.

I didn't have to pay a thing as the features I used were completely free.

This was getting exciting as I could finally start working on the last step: putting everything together.

####3.Putting it all together
To create the final version of the logo I made use of a vector-based app.

Logos need to look good in different sizes and on different devices.

That’s why they should always be saved in vector-friendly formats.

You can read more about this topic **[here](https://www.shutterstock.com/blog/why-your-brand-needs-a-vector-logo)**.

I'm a long time Mac user and work with **[Sketch](https://www.sketch.com/)** for pretty much everything user interface related.

It allows me to create mockups, layouts and UI elements quickly without being an advanced user.

As long as you feel comfortable with the tool you're using, any vector-based software should do the job.

To get going, I first installed the font on my system and imported the colour palette.

I then started typing the letters that make up the name of my project on a blank canvas.

As a side note, I think colours should be dealt with only after getting the text part right as good brand identities are independent of them.

For example, the iconic Nike swoosh looks nice in black or in white and no one colour is associated with it.

After typing the name, I adjusted the spacing between the letters and made other minor tweaks.

I added a circle behind the first letter so it could also be used as a standalone icon or monogram, nothing too fancy here.

![Logo First Version](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/dsyjwhbif5727gqpp6g8.png)

Then, I incorporated  the colours chosen in the previous step.

After playing around with various sizes, colours and opacities, the official version was born.

Logotype variations:

![Logotype variations](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/e12neiq0kh89kks4mwlk.png)

Icon variations:

![Icon variations](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/oamkjgtspbe3dgpv1lkr.png)

All it took to come up with a logo for my new project was an afternoon worth of work.

By following these 3 simple steps, I was able to stick to my budget and deadline.

Within the next few weeks, I'll post more articles about the project in question.

**[Tokenuity](https://tokenuity.com)** is a no-code solution targeted at non-technical users for taking advantage of the blockchain and its technologies.

It allows non-coders to create smart contracts without having to touch a single line of code.

I'm building **Tokenuity** in public so if you’re curious, feel free to follow me on Twitter: **[@lpdahito](https://twitter.com/lpdahito)**.

You can also visit **[Tokenuity’s Linktree](https://linktr.ee/tokenuity)** to find more ways to connect.

Hope this post helped ;-)