A very common request designers must make from their clients is for the vector artwork file of their logo. If you’re lucky the original logo designer provided your client with a folder full of all the file types you could ever need for their logo. If you are not, then the following steps may help you achieve your vector art goal as they have worked for me for many years:

1) Ask for original designers contact info
If they can provide you with this then you should be home free, otherwise keep reading.

2) Ask by file type
Many times I began by asking my clients for an EPS, AI or PDF logo file. This is sort of a 50/50 gamble, because even though these file type are normally vector they can still be raster (pixel based) artwork. My palms always sweat as I zoom in closer and closer hoping and praying I don’t see pixels, but sometimes it happens so you have to revert to #3 below.

3) Try to explain what Vector means
While this is a good way to make you sound smart (nerd), I do not suggest going down this road. To many people outside of “the biz” this is just a bunch of jargon. “It’s mathematically based, so you can make it as big as you want unlike a rasterized artwork which can pixelate if it’s too large…” Honestly, they really shouldn’t be expected to know this either. Why would they? Maybe just send them this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_graphics

4) Pluck out of a PDF
I can’t tell you how many times I have been able to get vector artwork from a PDF on a companies website. Simply Google “clientswebsite.com .pdf” and hopefully their will be a long list of PDF results to choose from. Find a PDF with the logo, download it, open the PDF in Adobe Illustrator (or other favorite vector program), and most of the time there will be the vector logo waiting for you. One drawback from this can be an old version of logo. I always double check artwork with companies logo shown on homepage before continuing. Another drawback can be the colors were converted to RGB or CMYK, which can be a problem if you need exact PMS.

5) For larger companies, Try Brandsoftheworld.com (or similar sites)
I use this site a lot for client when they have large company sponsors like Coke Cola or Mc Donald’s etc. Brandsoftheworld.com gives you access to most of the big brands around these days. For many of these logos come with a brand guidelines PDF is available so you can double check restrictions on scale, minimum spacing around logo, typefaces, etc. Sometimes I download complicated logos just to dissect and see how they were actually created. I should emotion just as the PDF has drawback so does this. Many of the logos on this site and others like it are outdated, so be sure and double check with logo on companies website.

6) Recreate it
I’m not saying you should tackle recreating the most complicated logos, but some logos are so simple that it might be your best option. To do this you should either be gifted in type identification or use whatthefont.com to determine typeface. If you have the typeface(s) great, but if not first see if there are free versions available. If you must purchase then discuss with client about adding to bill. Many times a typeface can be around $20, but some type families get in the hundreds! DO NOT try and recreate the type by hand. Typeface creation is an art form in itself and should not be attempted by amateurs like me. While recreating the logo is last on my list, sometimes it can be a lot faster than the back and forth process.

While many of the above solutions don’t necessarily meet the strictest brand guidelines they are much better than printing out 1000s of brochures with a pixelated logo. I hope that these steps will help you in your search for vector artwork.

Design Hornet is the freelance design identity of Jarrett Horne. He specializes in branding, print design & publications. He currently works as the Creative Design Director at EP Graphics in the Indianapolis & Fort Wayne areas of Indiana.

Design Brief

Jarrett was looking to develop a new identity for his freelance work. The problem was he was too close to his own project, so he approached me to help develop this new identity (I love designing for designers).

The Design Hornet identity needed both a strong logotype and a strong mark which could be used separately. This mark would need to be recognizable and hold its own as he would be using it separately from the type frequently. Jarrett wanted this logo and mark to be simple and clean, but still memorable and creative. He also wanted it to somehow incorporate the “hornet” concept, but without looking like a cheesy high school mascot logo.

Development

I mainly focused on the hexagon shape of the hornet nest and the actual hornet itself. I created 6 or so options with variations on some. Below are a few of these samples.

Chosen Design

The final logo shown below uses an iconic hornet and unique sanserif typeface to give Design Hornet a fresh modern look. The separate mark also gives Jarrett the additional option he wanted to help spread his brand across all mediums.

“Brandon is an excellent and seasoned designer who has creatively helped me brand my identity as Design Hornet.  It has been a privilege to work with Brandon on my design needs, being a designer myself…  He brings great creativity, integrity and communication to the table to provide quality designs I can be proud of!”

- Jarrett Horne, Creator of Design Hornet

Jonny Magic has been entertaining people with his magic and comedy since 1992. He presents a fun-filled magic show packed with his unique blend of illusion, comedy and audience participation.

Design Brief

Jonny was not fully satisfied with his current logo shown below.

Mainly, he wanted the new logo to emphasize his full name rather than just the “J Magic” for better marketing purposes. It would need to communicate fun, high energy and professionalism. He loves stars, but “nothing clown related (ie. flower, rainbow colors, smiley faces, balloons, balls), and avoid the 3 generic magic items (rabbit, wand, top hat).”

This logo would be used across many mediums including: print materials, product packaging, video, shirts, web and signage. The target audience is families, kids and organizations that put on family events.

Development

I knew this logo was really going to need to pop, so I went back to my NCAA logo roots and started working with the type and 3-D space. I created 6 or so options with variations on some. Below are a few of these samples.

Chosen Design

Success! The final logo below showcases how well it can work on both light or dark backgrounds and as a one color option. This new lively identity helps give the name “Jonny Magic” the fun and professional look he was after. No one will forget the name “Jonny Magic!”

“It’s no secret, Brandon is an incredible designer! Recently he demonstrated his design magic by creating a logo for me that wonderfully illustrates the fun energy of my shows. His enthusiasm and attention to detail combined with his years of experience will certainly result in an encore of future work for me.”

- Jonny Magic

A couple years ago a design firm I worked for was asked by the Indiana BMV to submit a few designs for the new Indiana license plates. We submitted a few designs, but the BMV claimed they were not interested and that was that.  A few months later I was driving down the road and saw the first new plate on the back of a car in front of me. I was shocked to see the new plate shown above on the left looked very similar to my design on the right. I know there are a few differences like the white replacing the gold and the county sticker at the top, but for the most part they are the same. Perhaps it was just a coincidence, but I thought I should post this to get a few other opinions.  So, what do you think?

An established manufacturing company in Indianapolis, Draper Manufacturing was seeking to have a stronger more professional web presence with easy-to-edit capabilities. This clean design and content management system gives them both the sophistication they were after and the ability to keep there entire site up-to-date including content, images, flash slideshow and blog.

“I couldn’t be happier with the new site. I have gotten a flood of positive response from my customers. The first impression of quality that it gives prospective customers is invaluable. Brandon was very easy to work with. I definitely got much more than I expected for the price he quoted me.”

- Gabe Draper, President of Draper Manufacturing

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I designed all four of these “direct response” commercials based on the scripts provided by EasyWater. This included all graphics, typography, stock footage, sound effects and art directing. I also designed and screen printed the generic salt bags.

Design hasn’t changed that much in the last decade, but now that it has no boundaries with web design I believe it will coincide with design progression as a whole. Therefore, I do not believe we will be seeing the dramatic changes in the next decade as we have in the past.

To see other website archives visit: http://web.archive.org/collections/web.html

Like most designers, everywhere I go I am constantly analyzing and critiquing every design. While most people sit and enjoy a nice dinner out, I am studying the hierarchy of type between menu items and paying little attention to want I want to order.  This “curse” follows me everywhere. A nice road trip with my wife down to Florida, for example, consists of me staring down every billboard or semi truck logo we pass. My wife is kind enough to act interested as I spout on and on about each one and what I would do different.  Just this past Fourth of July we went to the Indianapolis Indians baseball game. Unfortunately, across the field from us was a huge banner with the worst letter spacing piercing my eyes. Half the night I was visualizing closing up the space between the letters to make it balance just right. To some this might all sound very familiar and others might just think I’m nuts. It is a hard life that a designer must face each day.

I just wanted to inform the public about a few of the many situations designers face every day. Although it may make me crazy in the end, I love what I do and wouldn’t change it for anything.