Graphic Design
Video Tutorial: DIY Logo Design using a Creative Market Template
From Template to Logo
If you’re diy-ing your business branding and don’t have much graphic design experience (yet), logo templates are great way to get started designing your logo.
Logo templates let you skip right over the dreaded “blank page” part of the design process and jump right into design. You get an overall vibe and structure to start from and then, you can customize the logo template with colors and fonts to match your brand. If you are bootstrapping, or working on a tight budget, a logo template pack from Creative Market is cost-conscious investment.
Tutorial
For this tutorial, we used a logo template from the Feminine Logo Templates – MINIMAL pack at Creative Market and customized it in Illustrator to match this Brand and Be Seen style guide.
If you’re trying this process yourself, start with a logo template that matches your unique brand style and appeals to your specific niche or audience.
Is your style feminine and flowery?
Try this watercolor and floral logo template pack.
Upscale and luxe?
Try these glittery, gold foil templates.
Warm, rustic and approachable?
Try these vintage-style templates.
Read the description of the template pack carefully to see what kind of files are included. For most templates offered for sale on Creative Market, you’ll need Illustrator or Photoshop to edit and customize the template files.
Want to learn more about designing your own logo and branding?
Sign up below for regular tips and tutorials like this delivered to your inbox. Or join The Brand Workshop to work through the process of building your brand step-by-step.
Design as an Ambassador
Design is the silent ambassador of your brand. – Paul Rand, Art Director, Logo Designer
9 Resources for Beautiful, Free Stock Photos
I’m always on the hunt for new visual resources to share with you. Here are 9 resources for beautiful, free stock photos you can use on your blog and more.
1. Barn Images
Barn Images
license: Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license details here.
subjects: nature, city scenes, landscapes, lifestyle
search: by keyword, tags and categories
2. Cupcake
Cupcake
license: Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license details here.
subjects: small collection of landscapes, animals, lifestyle shots
search: no search just scroll or click “archive” to see selection
3. Fancy Crave
Fancy Crave
license: Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, details here.
subjects: wide variety of landscapes, lifestyle shots, objects; all high resolution
search: by keyword, or use “grid view” to see full selection
4. Jé Shoots
Jé Shoots
license: Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, details here.
subjects: animals, architecture, city scenes, device mockup shots, food, lights, nature, people
search: grouped by categories
5. Photo Collections
Photo Collections
license: Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, details here.
subjects: architecture, nature. Great for moody wilderness shots and wild animal shots.
search: by keyword and categories
6. Shutteroo
Shutteroo
license: custom license, details here.
subjects: bright travel photos, sunsets, beaches, nature
search: by keyword and categories
7. Snapwire Snaps
Snapwire Snaps
license: Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, details here under “why free” tab. Site also offers royalty free photos for purchase and option to request photos from photographers.
subjects: nature, landscapes, city scenes, 7 free each week or for purchase collections
search: by keyword
8. Skitterphoto
Skitterphoto
license: Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, details here.
subjects: animals, plants, landscapes, low light, people, transportation, urban.
search: by keyword and sort by popular, newest, and categories
9. Tookapic
Tookapic
license: Check individual photos for usage. Some photos are CC0 license, others are available for royalty-free purchase, details here.
subjects: a wide range of subjects all taken by photographers participating in Tookapic’s 365 day photo project and offering their photos as stock.
search: by keyword and categories
For more free for commercial use stock photo resources check out this post: Where to Find Free Stock Photos: 36 Sites and for one-on-one help finding the best stock sites for your brand, grab a Photo Picking Power Session with me!
Learn more about Creative Commons Zero (CC0) licensing here.