Example logo design projects. From tech to healthcare, to British design, to small businesses, this list shows a handful of my identity design projects I have worked on over the years.
This list of logo projects has been compiled together to showcase a variety of logos in the hopes of inspiring any would-be logo designers or for those looking to hire a logo designer. The majority of these logos have been created on behalf of my clients, both freelance and while at my former place of full-time employment.
All the logos in this post were designed by me but are copyrighted to their respective owners, no stealing or lifting these logos from this post please!
When I embark on a project, I’m rooting for my client to succeed!
Example Logo Design Projects – About This List
Each logo represents a unique story. From healthcare to technology to gifting, to retail. When assigned to work on this specific faucet of branding, I try my best to both adhere to a brief and offer something unique and creative to my clients. A logo needs to not only be memorable for all the right reasons, but it also needs to function across various applications.
Here are some questions I will ask myself or my client when I create a logo – ( As a rough example. )
What service can I offer that a robot can’t?
Have I tried to grasp what the client is really working towards?
What part of a narrative will this logo form?
Will what I have produced work in multiple cases and scenarios?
Can the logo work in Print and Web? Does it need to?
When designing a logo, I try to be empathetic towards my clients’ business intentions and needs. One of the biggest challenges is both consulting a client and trying to prevent the client from using their personal tastes in clouding their professional judgment. A logo is not an ‘art’ project for most, it is the visual spearhead of their brand. It needs to be professional and say the right words.
When I embark on a project, I’m rooting for my client to succeed!
When I Create Logos…
I try to avoid the tickbox solution that barely serves its intended purpose. A cheap solution is fine in the beginning, I get it! I would probably do the same if I were to try and save money. But this approach can only go so far with creating a strong logo.
A cheap price can mean cheap standards and that money that you thought you saved may end up being spent again on a revamp of your logo 2 months later! Remember that!
I would also like to add that when creating logos, I try to avoid turning brands into an innuendo, even if somewhat funny.
As they say, there is no bad publicity – apparently!
Example Logo Design Projects | Primary Industries
The examples in this logo showcase reflect a range of industries in which I have been involved as a brand and logo designer.
From healthcare initiatives to celebrating British design and innovation, I have worked on a variety of logos in technology, retail, and gifting markets. More on this below!
A Logo For A Developer – Acrobyte
Branding must reflect the personality and service offered by that company, individual, or charity. The same goes to those who work in IT, Tech, or Software Development.
A logo needs to be indicative that the person or company is part of a certain industry. In this particular instance – development ( coding ).
For this logo, I went for a clean, smart, and playful vibe that was reflective of the client and his service. To achieve this ‘vibe’ I used geometric shapes, sharp lines, and parts of ‘code’ to construct the image – a simplified robot face.
This was not the first intention, as the brief was quite open-ended, it came about after developing these ideas.
I used brackets ‘< >’ to represent the contours of friendly robotic expression. < – ? – >
The final design was a comfortable balance between sharpness, simplicity, and playfulness. Reflecting both the technical expertise, professionalism, and problem-solving capabilities of Acrobyte.
Here are some more examples of the journey.
Designing For The NHS: A Logo For A Dietitian
One particularly meaningful project involved myself creating a logo for a dietitian in the NHS ( my specifics of their role could be off).
Given the sensitive and essential role that our healthcare plays, this design called for a touch that was both professional and approachable.
I wanted the logo to convey health, trust, and approachability.
As with the other example logo design projects in this post, I have tried to include some of the design process.
Logo Celebrating British Design & Innovation
This British design logo was created as a hallmark to celebrate British design. This badge was used on packaging as a point of pride and to highlight that the product was ‘designed’ in Britain.
The logo needed to capture the essence of something quintessential British while offering a modern and contemporary look. To achieve this, I playfully adopted the path of using ye-olde British stereotypes, or at least how we perceived by other cultures in 1900’s Britain.
Bowler hats, Big moustache, you may think I am describing a Shoreditch hipster! This is actually fine also, but when creating this I was tickling heritage aspects of British innovation.
My logo design was but a few pen strokes away from having a monocle, of which I’m sure I experimented with – or perhaps my colleague designer did – it was a while ago!
Designing Brand Identities For Businesses
Beyond industry-specific projects, I’ve enjoyed working with small to medium-sized brands that need their stories to be told through their logo.
I’ve tried to capture; character, charm, memorability, and versatility. When creating a logo as an example, I aim to create a logo that works for a client across a variety of layers and mediums.
People will judge your business on the logo more than they realise or care to consider.
Example Logo Design Projects | MADKATZ
To round off my list of example logo design projects, I have decided to add this somewhat wacky and quirky piece, a design that I felt was unique to this day.
This project was used across a range of small-scale merchandise I used to sell after attending the Cumbria Institute of the Arts. Some of these drawings were created by hand! Scanned and then adjusted in a graphics program!
In hindsight, I feel it still has a non-clean human feel to it. Suitable for some businesses and sectors.
My Example Logo Design Projects – Process Snapshot
When working with a client both old and new, my creative design process is typically the same.
With logo design, it starts with me trying to gain an understanding of what the client’s brand values are – the message they are trying to convey, and where they want to be. A logo alone won’t necessarily guarantee the success of a business, but the logo is important when you are trying to build a recognisable brand. People will judge your business on the logo more than they realise or care to consider.
A logo, when applied to a business, is in part about capturing a certain distinct narrative in a concise mark – a representation of that brand and what it stands for. These marks can be representational of; origin stories, ideals, goods and services, sectors, private of public, or what that company stands for
The logo can be the forefront of their brand – the tip of the spearhead but the ‘brand’ isn’t strictly speaking just the logo.
This is an overview of how I will approach a logo design project for a client.
Example | My At Glance Logo Design Process
Given a detailed brief
Research + study of competition
Ideation
Develop the best idea or ideas
Finalise
Deploy or send across
Payments can also be made in milestones or in a large lump sum.
You may also be interested in reading more about the Graphic Design Process in this post.
Summary ~ Crafting Unique Identities For Every Client
Whether it’s healthcare, tech, heritage, or small business branding, every project is unique. My goal as a designer is to create logos that aren’t just visually appealing but also meaningful and relevant to the business to which they belong.
Each logo tells a story, reflecting the essence of the brand while offering something fresh and engaging to the audience.
Over the years, I’ve found that the key to effective logo design lies in the balance of creativity, functionality and making it adaptable across different media and platforms.
The example logo design projects displayed in this post are copyright property of their respective owners and businesses. Please do not share or copy any of the content on this page for commercial purposes or without prior consent from myself or the respective owners.
If you feel that this post was interesting please do share a link on social media, or – read more on building a brand story.
Testimonial:-
“Jimm created the logo for my web agency, (Acrobyte Ltd) from a very abstract idea. The process for the final logo – which I love – was smooth and timely. He is creative, friendly and excellent at communicating the pros and cons of early designs through to a polished logo for my website.”
During lockdown, a client commissioned me to create the visual design and hard copy prototype of their dice game. This post shares all of my processes and stages used to help create the packaging mockup, as well as some of the details involved in creating a prototype physical game.
To share the journey, let us begin with what the game was supposed to be!
“ I wanted the would be buyer to feel excited by what they see. Enough so that they may even take the game to the till to buy!”
What is ‘Eager Elephants’?
Based on the initial instructions that were supplied to me by the client, ‘Eager Elephants’ was a dice game directed toward children and families. Although only in its earliest stages, the game was to be a reasonable size for a shelf, educational, and fun.
The hard copy prototype was to take that idea closer to reality.
It was a dice game that encouraged children to think creatively and problem-solve. But I must confess, I was not involved in creating the game mechanics – the rules are now hazy.
What Is a Prototype Sample Game? ( Alpha Prototype )
In this case, the ‘prototype sample game’ was the first draft sample to stress test how the game played and looked in real life.
This copy also offered a detailed look into what the final packaging may appear. This was not the beta sample or pre-release sample.
This alpha prototype was an early production copy. Below is a photograph of the sample product.
Here is more on my part in the project.
Creating the Box Lid & Cover Design – Graphic Design
One of my main roles in this project was to create the cover artwork for the box lid.
The cover artwork needed to set the tone for a game and excite those who picked the game up.
The design needed to appeal to an audience: Young Children, Mums, Dads and Families.
With that in mind, I tried to imagine the would-be customer handling the game on the shelf.
Prototype Sample Game | Cover artwork
What was the game about?
Who is this game for?
Would my children, grandkids, or whomever be excited by this game?
With some of those base questions, I then considered ‘the how’.
Although this was only an early sample, I still had the idea in my mind that this would become a real game. When handling the game, I wanted the potential buyer to feel excited by the game and potentially purchase this from my client. This is exactly how I would want to think about this game.
When designing a piece of packaging or cover artwork, I try to put myself in the shoes of the client. When working on a design project, I try to avoid pressing my tastes onto a piece of design, this can cloud a customer’s first approach to a project. Ultimately, it will be the end customer and purchaser that will be the product.
Not me, not the client, the customer.
I wanted the would-be buyers to feel excited by what they saw. Enough so that they may even take the game to the till to buy!
*I was not involved in creating elephant illustrations FYI.
Creating the Box Bottom / Back For the Prototype
Purely aesthetic, I wanted to create a contrast in colour that complemented the already bright yellow on the box. In this example, I used a blue.
Soft on the eyes and a great background colour, it still made it easy for any customer to pick up the box and scan the content that was written on the back.
The contents, bar code, and conformity were designed by me in such a way as to make it the box easier to navigate and find useful information.
As with the top. I worked with pre-existing cutter guides.
Graphic Design For The Rules & Scoresheet
If truth be told, my part in creating a scoresheet was considerably lighter than the rest of the project. Much of the score sheet had already been considered, I just added the finishing touches helped in getting it printed, and added that final sugar coating.
Helping The Client To Get The Prototype Sample Manufactured
Another key stage for this assignment was for me act as both the guide and intermediary for getting the prototype manufactured. A daunting process, even for those with experience!
After I had run through the stages and processes with the client, I set about getting the artwork print-ready.
Once the core aesthetic was complete, this is what followed:-
Getting Prototype Sample Game Ready For Print
Finalising artwork
Colour-proofing and checking artwork
Working closely with the manufacturer and adhering to their rules and guides
Making sure the artwork is positioned correctly within the dielines and templates
Packaging design assets and sending this to print
After the prototype was manufactured the sample was sent directly to me to quality check the product before passing it across to the client. After this sample is checked by myself and notes taken, I will then send the product to the client. I also retained a sample for future reference
For clarity, I want to be clear on what stages and processes I wasn’t involved in this project. Please read below.
I didn’t work on the elephant drawings
Although I am an illustrator, as well as a designer. I did not create the elephant illustrations. These were supplied before I got to work on the graphic design. The credits are mentioned on the packaging box.
Game mechanics
I have been commissioned to come up with game mechanics on previous projects, but this was not the case for this project. I was commissioned to create the visual design, packaging, and sample of this project.
If you are interested in seeing how I have been involved in working in-game mechanics in the past, this post may be of interest. Testing game mechanics.
As in the creative process used by professional Graphic Designers.
This is a common question I hear from both new and old clients. I have illustrated this article to educate and explain the basics of the ( a ) graphic design process.
Before providing a generalised overview of ‘what a graphic design process’ is, and how it works, I wanted to dispel some common misconceptions about the graphic design process and discipline as a whole.
Conceptual graphic design does, or should have a process.
Graphic design isn’t just about making things look pretty. It needs style and substance. It should have an objective.
Good or relevant graphic design does not manifest from thin air.
Commercial graphic design is different from just ‘pure art’ and expression.
Graphic design existed long before the Adobe Creative Suite.
Those are some points I wanted to raise and resolve before going into the details of how a Graphic Design process works for many designers in a commercial setting.
So…
What is a Graphic Design Process? ( Short Answer )
A graphic design process is a series of steps Graphic Designers use to create visual content. This content can come in the form of logos, advertorial, online media, and print collateral. The design process will typically run in stages, often starting with the project brief and objective, the creation of ideas, through to development of the final artwork.
The design process is not only great for managing the workflow and adhering to a design brief in an efficient manner. It is also a great way for both the client and designer to explore the possibilities and potential outcomes of the design journey.
As part of the process, It is common for experienced Graphic Designers to assess a brief, plan a course of action for the design, and execute what needs to be created. While also keeping an open line of communication.
It is common for some Senior Designers ( and some Junior designers ) to openly discuss their design aims so that objectives set by a client, team lead, or managers.
As a breakdown, these steps may resemble the following – depending from designer to designer.
That is, of course, a simplification of how a graphic design process works as a commutative approach across the industry. Each company is different, as is each designer and sub-discipline with ‘design’. As well as Graphic Design.
My bias and perspective on the design process
Before going into the details of my design process in steps, I felt it responsible to mention to you as a reader, I work and have worked in graphic design.
Before becoming a ‘Freelance Designer’, I worked in-house at a company for over 8 ¾ years. During this time I had the opportunity to work on a broad variety of graphic design projects both online and offline. I learned a lot. I could have cried sometimes too!
My skills, my processes, and my steps had a significant influence on my previous employers. Not only just on creating the final design but in the processes that lead to that final design. This post is not about my skills and experiences, that is what CVs and about pages can be used for.
What is a Graphic Design Process? | The Caveats
1 ) Not all graphic designers work in the same way.
2 ) Some designers are at different points in their careers.
3 ) Some Graphic designers have worked in different sectors and industries.
4 ) It is quite likely that you will meet multi-discipline designers who may have a mish-mash of the process illustrated in this post.
All and more of the factors above can influence how a designer works. Please keep this in mind.
Graphic Design Process Diagram | Illustrated Explanation
Below is a simplified diagram of the graphic design process used by many Graphic Designers, including myself. Although this is a simplified version of the core workflow and processes, it does offer a simple overview of the whole design process employed by many graphic designers.
Graphic Design Process Steps – Overview
This is a breakdown of the design process and core stages. Each paragraph explains each step in detail and allows you to read and re-read certain stages at your leisure.
Stage 1 ) The Graphic Design Brief
The ‘brief’ is a crucial part of a design project, be it in Graphic Design or any similar field. The design brief is an opportunity to establish core goals and objectives for a project – normally set out by a client or business owner.
You can also imagine the ‘brief’ as setting a mission. This mission is given to a designer so they know what the aim of the project is. Without one, the end objective of what a design needs to achieve is left to costly guessing and piecemeal assembly of what needs to happen.
A design brief is very important. You shouldn’t work without one.
How can you or a designer find a solution when neither party can establish what the problem is?
Or… what the aim of the project is?
It is also harder to plan a budget for a project without one.
It is best to establish a clear brief as early as possible. This will save time, headache, and money for both designers and those setting a project.
What happens if you work without a design brief?
Without a brief – especially a written and mutually agreed one, proper communication between the designer and the person setting the brief is more likely to fail. This lack of clarity can also lead to the disintegration of a working relationship, poor budget control, and potential and unnecessary resentment between both parties.
Make sure to create a brief.
A brief can act as a mutual ‘project map’ to establish what, when, and how a design project needs to be fulfilled.
As for myself, I will often refer back to a brief or a “specification and agreement” to see what I’m working towards with the client. It could be regarded as a loose recipe to follow also for want of a better analogy.
1.1 Quickfire Tips For Constructing a Basic Design Brief
When creating a design brief for a graphic design project, try to consider some of the following :
Who?
What?
Why?
These are all things I consider when working on a design project.
When creating a brief you may wish to consider formats, mediums, and any restrictions or limitations that may impact the project. It is better to give detailed thought at the beginning, rather than part way through.
The “Who, What, and Why” can act as a great starting point and framework for creating a brief. If you can establish the who, what and why. Designers such as myself can establish the how and the details – it can help us better solve problems or avoid them altogether.
However, it is not also uncommon for me to collaborate and consult a client and the, who, what and why. It can be this that helps to craft a brief and point the client in the right direction.
Graphic designers don’t know your business!
The majority of designers, most likely, won’t understand your business as much as you do, especially if working on short-term freelance project.
When constructing your brief, it is better to assume that a new designer, or a designer you haven’t worked with previously, knows absolutely nothing about your business. From here, write all that is relevant to share with the designer in translating your initial thoughts into a well-rounded, well-described brief, with a clear direction.
Stage 2 ) Collecting Information & Research | An Important Stage In The Graphic Design Process
When looking at the stages and steps to a graphic design process, collecting together information, data, files, images, and text are all important aspects of the creative process. Especially when exploring new ideas.
The degree to which research is carried out for a graphic design can vary from project to project, but there are common patterns that are adhered to by many designers.
The preliminary research can be carried out by the client, designer, or both parties. In this stage, it can be a case of collating together: photos, data, logos, or anything that is useful in aiding the designer to create a compelling piece of visual design.
*Designers: When working with clients, encourage them to share research or at least mention that time will need to be set aside for research projects, this is something I do. I have listed some examples of what may be collected together for graphic design research.
2.1 ) Collecting Information
Collecting information together for a design project may consist of the following:-
Data
Photography
Fonts
Logos
Things can inspire
Plans
Initial copy or ‘text’ is a common requirement for design projects. As a designer, I tend to request this as early as possible so I can plan the space around and accommodate the word volume. This can apply to books, webpages, and many other mediums that require written words for the project.
It is quite common for a designer to also be aware that a certain amount of editorial changes are likely to arise later in the project and allow for wriggle room. It is still best practice to have as much of the word count calculated sooner rather than later.
Images and photography may also be sourced or collected together in the early stages of the design process, along with logos and brand guidelines.
2.2 ) Graphic Design Research
Research, or ‘design research’ is an important stage when it comes to the design process. Research can help form, inspire and guide the overall direction of a project.
For large or medium-sized projects, research is a vital tool in not only greasing the design wheels of your project but in helping to form a better more polished product. I am a big advocate for good research across various mediums, design being a key one.
Here are some examples of what the design research stage may consist of, noting that the criteria can vary from project to project and designer to designer.
What design research may consist of :
Studying competition.
Searching areas such as Pinterest, magazines of similar platforms for certain ideas.
Checking what types of design will appeal to your target market.
Looking for any relevant or inspirational criteria that can impact your final design.
Avoiding accidental copyright infringement.
Considering what courses of action will serve the project.
These are just some examples of what the design research phase may include.
Some freelance designers may prefer that the client does the majority of the research before contact. This can leave the designer to focus solely on the creative aspects of a project. I am of split opinions.
On one hand, I like to know that the client has at least carried out some basic research for their own product and business before speaking to me.
On the other hand, I also like to add to the research and build upon what the client has already found the further steer the course of a project, I tend to tweak and steer this from brief to brief.
Research Examples | Core Design Process
With the links below, I have pointed to where you can read more on case studies and research I used for some projects.
Here are a couple of links that may be of interest :
“On the other hand, designers have to be realistic. People change their minds.”
It is common practice for graphic designers, especially those of a more conceptual vein, to come up with an idea or a selection of ideas early in a project. However, strictly speaking, this is not a default practice for all designers.
Some designers may only work with one idea and revise this single idea as opposed to working with a variety of ideas and short-listing the strongest.
Depending on fees, time, and requirements, design ideas (ideation), can vary drastically in quality and finish. Each designer may only create a short selection of ideas and others may create a broader selection of ideas to illustrate intent and potential avenues a project can take.
In the earliest stages of ideas creation or ‘ideation’, what is presented may be little more than a rough drawing or digital sketch to illustrate what will be created.
Speaking for myself, I will often use this stage to discuss what has been created and why I have made the choices I have made. Here is an example idea.
Each designer is different, and our tools and methods may differ. But as a generalisation, design ideation may be presented in the following formats :-
The idea and the idea development stage can blur when it comes to developing a design.
To illustrate this flow – here is an image from another blog post – Design Journey.
For many conceptual-based graphic designers, the idea stage is a core stage in the design process. As a conceptual design. Here are to projects and case studies that may further illustrate how a project may go.
( Important ) The Ideation Stage May Need To Be Revisited
*There is no guarantee that the original ‘proof of concept’ from the selection of ideas will become the final product. Although costly, time-consuming and frustrating, it is not uncommon that a designer will need to backtrack to this pivotal stage once a project is near completion. I have on occasion had to do this on graphic design projects.
List of reasons as to why a graphic designer may need to revisit the ideas stage:
Executive discussion outside of design influences has come into play
Senior management wants to revisit or change course
An idea isn’t as good as originally hoped
New criteria and information have come into play that weren’t known before
Fussy clients
Too many people have differing opinions on a project
Weak project planning or thought given to the brief in the first place
A better idea came along
These are just some of the reasons why a designer may need to return to the proverbial drawing board.
Whoever said design was easy needs to actually work in design, or at least share their secrets to make it easier for them.
Revisiting or needing to backtrack to the ideas stage of a design project is sometimes required – there is no way to avoid it. However, it is best avoided for the sake of the client and the designer. Budget restrictions and time constraints can lead to rows between both parties if, for example, the culprit is a poorly written brief or the disregard for the sign-off stages.
On the other hand, designers have to be realistic. People change their minds.
If the design journey was a straight line, both the designer’s and the client’s lives would be a lot easier. Many internal and external forces will require a designer to revisit other ideas, even if the first choice was put into play.
Do all graphic designers create a range of ideas? ( Ideation )
No, not all graphic designers will create a range of ideas for your brief. As mentioned above, it will vary from designer to designer and from skill level to skill level. Not all graphic designers are conceptual designers. Some graphic designers will have certain leanings towards ‘creative artworking’ , marketing, etc.
It is beneficial to discuss with a graphic designer before embarking on a project. Ask about their process and methods. Make sure there is a clear brief between the designer and the client.
Stage 4 ) Development Stages | Graphic Design Process
How this stage translates in reality will vary from designer to designer. But as a general rule – it will work accordingly.
Once both the designer and client ( or clients ) have shortlisted the preferred design idea or ideas, this will then lead to that idea being developed. Being ‘developed’, or ‘developed further’ may consist of the following actions:-
Polishing the aspects of the design
Building upon the visuals to establish the viability of a concept
Moving the design to a delivery-ready stage
In layman’s terms, the development stages translate to the spit and polish applied to the shortlisted idea. The development stage can also be further proof of concept, in which an idea is built further.
Speaking for myself, this is the stage where I straighten up text, remove burs, tweak compositions, and add the final ingredients to get a design over that proverbial line.
The later development stages are when a design moves towards completion. Be it a piece of print media or as a digital project.
Common Situations That Arise In The ‘Development’ Stages
From my own experience, the development stage is the part of the process in which an idea is stress-tested against the brief.
It not uncommon for senior managers, CEOs, business owners and anybody else in between to have additional opinions on overall design direction – some relevant, some not. This is the reality of working with humans on a design brief.
Project requirements change. What was initially established as the winning idea, does not strictly translate to what was hoped when it comes to Graphic Design. Project scope can change, and external influences can derail the path of your project – there are many various factors when it comes to design.
Even in the development stages, I have had situations in which 2 of the same idea ( colour change for example ) have been created side by side.
Imagine A Development Tree ( illustration )
Design development can be one of the heftiest stages of design. I wanted to illustrate the development flow for the mid-to-late stages of a graphic design project.
This is a scenario.
A favourite idea has been selected. This idea has been polished and presented before the ultimate decision-makers. They like the design, however, somebody wants to see the same layout but on a different background. You have run with the same idea and made some minor changes. A sub-version of a main version – sound complicated?
A single idea has been selected. This idea will make up the trunk of the flow and energy to design.
From this single idea – the trunk of a tree – a single branch or node will stem.
On some projects, as is the case with experimenting with some minor variation of core ideas. 1 or 2 twigs will stem.
These ‘Twigs’ may be little more than a colour variation, or position change. Or some minor experimentation alignment.
Development Versions
Or to further illustrate, as a tested method I have used in the past. It makes look like so:
Version 3.1
Version 3.2
Version 3.3
Or it could also look like this.
The number 3 could represent ‘Idea 3’ and the variant or version ‘1’ and 2, and 3. And so on. It is similar to version releases.
3.0 = The main version
3.1 = May equate to almost the exact same look, perhaps a text change
3.2 = Still much the same as 3, only that the text and, text colour were changed to a lesser degree
4.1 ) How to communicate with designers regarding project development
Communication is an integral part of graphic design.
The very nature of graphic design is visual ‘communication’ and open dialogue is a must to ensure that the project is the best that it can be.
Communication should not stop with the end visuals.
Not being able to keep an open and frequent line of communication between the designer and client ( or manager ) allows more room for errors, misunderstanding, and needless time wasting which could have been easily averted with conversation. I am a big advocate for working as close with a client as possible as emails alone can miss those ‘water cooler’ moments.
Communication is important from start to finish, not only in the development stages but throughout.
Typically, communication in the development stages of a project will take the form of feedback on what has already been created by the graphic designer. A client will offer a point of view as will a designer. ( hopefully ).
Communication and feedback may come in this form :
Exchanges between emails
Phone calls
Video meetings
In-person meetings
Platforms in which you can message your team
And SMS – And Whatsapp ( both of which are my least favourite lines of communication when it comes to design )
4.2 ) Design Feedback
“ Can I just ask…”
“ This is will be quick…”
When an idea has been chosen and developed, it is at this latter stage that a client, client or team member will offer further feedback with regard to a design. And, if you are a designer reading this, it is a stage in which you brace yourself.
Once the feedback has been communicated to a graphic designer, they will then respond and act accordingly to that feedback.
This feedback to the designer may resemble the following :
Make some minor tweaks and adjustments
Listening the what the client has to say and offer polite help and advice in return
Refining the design
Preparing for completion
Or potentially going back to the conceptual stages
( Or crying )
Stage 5 ) Core Design Steps – Refine Design
Refining the design typically entails polishing ‘the developed’ artwork to completion. A project will be at a level of final draft in which the artwork is ‘near ready’ to be sent to the client, production or print. This is the latter stage of a project.
Refining a design can involve minor tweaks, minor changes, or the very last touches to the design and a once-over from the person giving a sign-off.
It is common for me to hear some of the following types of phrases at this stage ( paraphrased ) :
The final stage of the process – the Sign off. This phase may seem self-explanatory, but for the sake of completeness, I will elaborate.
The ‘Sign Off’ can refer to the stage in which a head of a team ‘signs off’ a final design or interim stage of a project. This may be a verbal or written formal declaration that what is being presented, is the artwork to be passed to the next stage.
In this instance, the ‘sign off’ on the final artwork – completion.
The ‘Sign off’ in the design process may take the form of the client saying that they are happy with what they have seen and wish to sign off the whole, or part of the project.
When at this stage, It is also wise for the client to assess their artwork closely before agreeing to sign off any design work. When artwork has already been sent to print as a PDF, it can be costly or sometimes impossible to remedy any mistakes once a project has been printed. Any mistakes need to be remedied with hacks and workarounds.
This is not strictly speaking as rigid as digital design, as projects tend to be easier to remedy and amend but this is still not a guarantee.
The Graphic Design Process | What Are ‘Deliverables’?
What are deliverables in design?
Speaking in terms of graphic design, the deliverables are the complete assets and artwork made by the designer. All completed artwork, files, and supporting documents are often referred to as ‘deliverables’ or final artwork. The completed artwork and supporting items are often handed to the client or owner when a project has been marked as complete or signed off.
This is how the deliverables may come into play at the end of the graphic design process.
Once a graphic design project has been signed off or marked as complete, it is common for the graphic designers to send the final print-ready artwork to other the new owners of the artwork.
Or if working internally the designer may package the artwork into a PDF and this is passed to another department for validation and QC for being shipped or sent to print.
* It should be noted however that companies do have their own ways of validating and signing off projects, do keep this in mind.
6 .1) Scenario 1 | Design Process | What Is a Freelance Design Project Sign-Off?
‘Sign off, marked as complete, green-lighted’ or any other similar terminology can all be markers to signal the end of a project. When working with a client on a design project, I will ask the client to sign off on the final artwork before sending the final versions across.
This is a rough example of how a Freelance project process may flow towards the later stages of a project :
Client sees work
Requires small changes
These changes are then sent to a client
The client then sends across their approval, assuming that they do approve of what they see
Project is either sent to print or packaged up and passed to a client or both
6.2 ) Scenario 2 | Design Process | Internal Design Team Sign-off
As above, ‘Sign off’, ‘marked has complete’, ‘green-lighted’ or any other similar terminology can all be markers to signal the completion of a graphic design project.
A key difference based on my experience from working in-house design positions, ‘a sign-off sheet’ or an Excel spreadsheet may be used to mark off the stages or parts of a project that have been completed.
There are often more people with internal teams when it comes to the sign-off in-house who will want to see or understand the status of a project.
What is a Graphic Design Process – Conclusion
A graphic design process or workflow is a process or system in which a piece of graphic design or visual communication is created following a sequence of important steps. These steps will often include research, collection of data and information, ideation, development of an idea, and the delivery of that idea in print or digital form.
This process is what follows as the end result of what was assigned in a brief.
How to draw on the computer with a Wacom Tablet & Stylus… ( updated 2024 )
To those who have never drawn anything on a computer, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start.
Before investing my time and money in using a professional Wacom tablet, I first started out with a basic roller ball computer mouse and MS Paint. Yes, it was that long ago!
When drawing on a computer, the mouse is the first obvious tool to use. As you invest your energy and education into drawing on a computer, you will want to seek out better hardware and software to support your digital drawing journey.
The mouse should be your first step, but don’t stop there!
This post is a great introduction if you are considering using a tablet to draw on your computer.
Drawing with a tablet | overview – why use one?
One of the best ways to draw on a computer is by using a Stylus & Graphics Tablet in conjunction with a powerful art creation program. Using a tablet will afford you a greater degree of artistic freedom and finesse once you have become accustomed to the nuances and sensations of using one. However, This is also assuming that you can draw to a certain degree in the first place.
How to draw on the computer with a stylus & tablet – blue vexel ball example
How to draw on the computer with a stylus & tablet – Quickfire answer
In terms of how to use a stylus and tablet ( or ‘drawing tablet’ ) from a technical standpoint, it is typically a case of plugging your tablet into your computer, downloading and installing the latest drivers and software, and then calibrating your drawing tablet.
Once this core set-up is completed, you can then set about installing drawing in programs such as Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.
The technical setup is not that complicated when comes to how to work with a drawing tablet.
How to draw on the computer with a stylus & tablet with regards to technique.
Treat the tablet as you would a sketchpad and pencil. Apply light strokes and heavy strokes, bold strokes, and small strokes. Get used to the pressure and sensitivity of your tablet. Learn to ‘feel’ the tablet ( cringe ). And give it time.
The video below is me drawing a blue ball using a Wacom Tablet and Photoshop.
*If you have applications installed on your computer.
This is a hyper-lapse of myself creating the blue ball above – ‘vexel’ a combination of Vexel and Pixel.
For more information on how to create digital artwork on the computer, read on!
“you will need to practice, practice and then more practice.”
Tablet & Stylus – Wacom
How to draw on the computer with a stylus & tablet | Managing expectations
Not wanting to lead any readers or budding designers astray, I feel one of the first things I should touch upon when learning how to draw on a computer with a drawing tablet such as a Wacom, is managing expectations.
Although knowing the technicalities of how to draw with a stylus and drawing a tablet on a computer sounds like a golden bullet. The technicalities are only the first part of the journey when it comes to drawing on a computer.
The real knack for making your own artwork comes with practice – not the tools. A piece of high-tech equipment won’t provide you with the soulless magic results like an AI generator.
That is not how it works if you want to create your ‘own’ artwork.
To get your digital artwork or design to the place you want it, you will need to practice, practice, and then more practice.
If however, you are of an arty-illustrator vein. Then ignore what I have said above. You may take to drawing or designing on a computer like a duck to water if you are already a proficient artist or illustrator! Let your flair flourish and shine!
Here are a few examples of what I have illustrated ( drawn ) on a computer with my Wacom Tablet. Followed by some simple steps.
What I have drawn ( illustrated) with a Wacom Tablet on a computer
Step ‘0’ ) How to draw on the computer with a stylus & tablet – Be able to draw
As a pre-step, I can’t assume too much.
You will need to make sure you can draw to a certain degree with a pencil or pen before you can expect to draw on a computer with Wacom or a digital tablet. No matter what hardware you own.
If you want to create your own artwork away from AI art generators, you will need to be able to draw to some degree.
The technology and hardware, will not magic your hand and eye into creating what you want.
Even if you can only sketch, this will be a huge advantage when drawing with a stylus on a computer. This is a pre-step warning!
Step 1 ) The required equipment to draw on a computer
To draw on a computer with a tablet … you will need to own the required equipment. Or borrow. This should be a given. I have used the following bits of equipment in the past ( aside from a mouse ):
Wacom Bamboo and pen – a more entry-level drawing tablet at the time ( now legacy)
Or a Wacom Intuos Pro & Pen ( medium ), this is what I’m using at the moment.
* Or a Cintiq ( I’m jealous )
A working keyboard
A computer that is compatible with a tablet
An operating system that is compatible with your drawing tablet
*Your computer will also need to be able to run both the drivers, the tablet, and the software
Step 2 ) Understanding the type of digital art you want to create ( not genre )
When considering how to draw on the computer with a stylus & tablet, you may wish to consider the type of artwork you want to create.
This can steer the type of software required to draw on your computer. I have attached an example here.
style examples, Photoshop Vs Illustrator
You will notice the different styles above I have created using certain software with my drawing tablet. You can create certain types of finishes in varying programs.
Vector Illustration ( left blue ball )
Imagine drawing with cut-out shapes, knives, sprays and pieces and pieces. With the types of programs that allow you to draw and create vector artwork, you can create a range of slick illustrations.
With vector artwork, the appearance can appear clean and tidy. You can also scale the work up and down without loss of quality. Vector artwork lends itself well to commercial logos, large format graphics, icons, and UI’s.
Here is an example of some of my other vector artwork.
Bitmap based artwork – Raster ( right blue ball above )
You may notice the ball on the right has a more painterly feel ( refer to the illustration above). For this more textured appearance, I digitally painted this in Photoshop. Some may find this approach more akin to drawing or painting using traditional methods.
Bitmap format or digital painting in particular lends itself well to a more painterly, textured, or grainy appearance. If you have painted in acrylics for example, you may prefer this approach. But it doesn’t always lend itself so well to all circumstances in print.
Is creating digital art easy?
Yes and no, getting started with creating digital art can be very easy and low cost. Getting to a stage where you could call yourself a professional artist takes time and years of practice. The best way of getting started with creating digital art is by downloading graphics software and practicing to improve your digital drawing techniques.
I wish I could find my very first digital drawing, it was created on a Windows 3.2 in the era of the awesome floppy disk – you can read a bit about me here.
This is perhaps a topic I would like to dive into again in another post.
Digital art can be accessible with the right tools and equipment. Working with the Wacom Tablet for example can streamline the process further.
Step 3 ) What digital art software should ‘I’ use?
There are so many to pick from, but for the sake of just creating something you can call ‘digital art’, as a hobbyist begin with something you may already have, MS Paint In Windows.
Gimp Logo
There are other art programs out there that are also free such as Gimp and Krita. I have personally never used Krita but the results on the website show what it is capable of and it has also been given a recommendation from a reputable digital art magazine IFX. This magazine is dedicated to creating fantasy, digital, and traditional artwork.
Advanced digital artwork software ( what I use )
As both a designer and digital artist, I use 2 main programs to create my art and design work, these programs being: Abobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator often gives a very clean-cut appearance that you may see in books, posters, lifestyle magazines etc – this is called ‘vector art’.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is a versatile piece of software that behaves like a drawing and painting tool and offers an intuitive workflow.
It should be noted that these programs can both be tricky to master and you may be more drawn to one than the other. You can get a free trial or purchase a subscription to use the software by going to Adobe Creative Cloud.
If you are just starting out on your journey to becoming a digital artist or illustrator, I would test a free program first.
Use the images above as a reference if you are just starting out or if this is part of a hobby. For me, it works like so.
Simple differences in what type of artwork Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator creates.
Clean cut, modern vector artwork = Adobe Illustrator
Grainly, textures, and painterly = Adobe Photoshop
How to draw on the computer with a stylus & tablet | Deciding on software
As a budding digital artist, designer, or illustrator you will want to consider how you want to draw with a Wacom Tablet. What sort of outcomes are you looking to achieve?
If you are unsure and just trying your hand at creating digital art on a computer, you may want to consider the selection like so.
Adobe Illustrator may suit you more if you want to become a designer or a clean-cut vector artist. The way a vector drawing behaves inside a program is quite different from a raster art program such as Photoshop.
Adobe Photoshop is great If you want to work as a traditionally styled illustrator, digital painter, game artist etc.
There are thousands of examples of digital artists on social media with websites and professional blogs.
This person here is a terrific vector artist and designer – Vicky Doodles
Step 4 ) Grab Your stylus, and your Wacom Tablet and start drawing
Assuming that you have now decided on the type of artwork you want to experiment with, now is the time to start using the equipment.
To continue with an overview of how to draw on the computer with a stylus & tablet. Make sure you have plugged in and installed your tablet correctly.
If you have started with Adobe Illustrator as your application of choice. I would recommend starting the tool that is in tune with the Wacom Tablet, eg the brush or pencil. My first port of call would either be the Pencil or the Brush tool.
Start making small strokes with the stylus on your Wacom and see how the stroke behaves.
Or if you prefer, start working with some of the most basic shapes first and move these around your artboard as you would with a mouse.
Short overview of how to draw with a tablet in Adobe Illustrator
1 ) Firstly you will want to start up Adobe Illustrator.
2 ) Create a new document of your choosing. You can start with A4 for the sake of experimentation.
3 ) Select the brush tool “B” and start making some marks and feel how the tablet responds to you and Adobe Illustrator. You can always undo it if you make a mess.
4 ) If you prefer, you can also try to create an image with shapes first if you are familiar with working with vector graphics.
Illustrations – working in Adobe Illustrator and making marks.
If you read on, I have also created some short exercises to play with – for free! Hopefully, these will get the juices and familiarity working when using your Wacom Tablet.
Short overview of how to draw with a tablet in Adobe Photoshop
If you have decided you would prefer to create artwork in Photoshop on your computer then this is the paragraph for you.
) Goes without saying, but open up Adobe Photoshop – and create a new document.
) Select a brush tool and start painting/ drawing onto your blank document. Remember, this is only to get used to using your Wacom Tablet and Stylus. I used black.
) Press ‘F5’ to open your “brush settings”, select a tip you like and tick “transfer”.
) Now start painting and building a feel for your Wacom tablet. Another tip, play around with the opacity to help build your brush strokes on top of one another.
When learning how to draw on the computer with a Wacom Tablet & Stylus, the snappy overview above will hopefully get you started. But, I have also created some exercises for you in the next step, to really give yourself some time when drawing with a Wacom Tablet.
5 ) How to draw on the computer with a Wacom Tablet & Stylus | Exercises
To further develop and play with your Wacom tablet. I invite to to take part in these exercises I have created for you for free. The illustrations below should guide you on what you need to do when drawing on a computer with your Wacom.
Exercise for drawing in Adobe Illustrator with your Wacom & Stylus
When practicing drawing with a Wacom Tablet, it may be easy to save and download the reference exercise above. If you want to use this for learning feel free to take it and save it to your computer. Although it cannot be used for commercial purposes. Feel free to credit and link back to this page – How to draw on the computer with a Wacom Tablet & Stylus
Exercise for drawing in Adobe Photoshop with your Wacom & Stylus
How to draw on the computer with a Wacom Tablet & Stylus | Concludes Steps
That concludes the step and general over of how to draw on the computer with a Wacom tablet & stylus. By all means, feel free to revisit the steps and stages above. Or if you feel this was a lot to remember, why not save this page as a favourite or bookmark. ( thanks )
But hey, I am not yet finished, I have also noted some key differences when drawing on a computer.
Wacom & stylus vs drawing with a mouse
If you are actually drawing on a computer with these legendary relics… Kudos to you. Image Source – Wikpedia
If you are still wavering as to whether you want to draw with a Wacom. I have gone into a little bit of additional depth. A bonus section that is a supplement to the ‘how-to’.
A computer mouse in action
This example shows the end result of some digital artwork created using a mouse in Photoshop. It’s a bit trickier to use although it’s not bad for straight lines!
Drawing with a mouse! (An Apple Smart Mouse)
I would advise moving on from a computer mouse at some stage if you are thinking of getting serious with drawing on a computer, be it for graphic design, illustration, or your own sanity.
If you are thinking of spending many hours drawing and creating digital artwork, using a different input will save on potential wrist aches.
The day I plugged in a Wacom graphics tablet, was the day I changed the way I created digital artwork on a computer. Using a drawing or graphics tablet can make the experience of creating artwork on a computer much more organic.
A Wacom & stylus in action
Below is an example of me sketching something in Photoshop using a stylus + tablet. It’s a quicker, smoother, and much more human way of creating a drawing.
Drawing with Stylus and Tablet. Handles, curves and waves, and is much easier to flow with
After using a Wacom Tablet for a few years now, I would struggle to return to drawing with a mouse. Outside the less control, the amount of RSI I used to get from drawing with a mouse, would be enough to put some off the profession.
Give a drawing tablet a try. I love them.
Summary | How to draw on the computer with a Wacom Tablet & Stylus
And that should conclude the basic overview in steps of how to draw on the computer with a Wacom tablet & stylus. As an overview, here is what we can do.
Buy a stylus and drawing tablet of your choice.
Install the hardware on your computer.
Check the drivers are up to date – calibrate the software to your computer
Download a graphics program such as Photoshop or one of free applications mentioned previously.
Open the software.
Start creating digital art!
Aside from the technicalities of the hardware, the real skill comes from lots of practice. Make sure to follow the short tutorial/exercises above to get you started with drawing your Wacom tablet.
Credits – All the best with your digital art journey and creating digital awesomeness on your computer
Thank you for reading, hopefully, this post has given you some insight into how to create digital artwork with a Wacom Tablet and an idea of tools you can use to draw on a computer.
Aardman Wallace & Gromit Project – flex those Adobe Illustrator muscles. I have a new post to share… kindly, the team over at Paper Engine has now said that I can share and discuss my part in creating some of the packaging concepts for a new range of Wallace & Gromit themed products.
The artwork shown in this post was used to pitch to Aardman for a new range of British designed card products, otherwise known as – Build Your Own, For Paper Engine.
Aardman Project | The Brief
The Brief | I was commissioned by Paper Engine to help create the core design for the packaging concepts for a new range of of Wallace and Gromit themed paper products.
Aardman had set up an agreement with Paper Engine for them to come up with a range of products, themed around Wallace & Gromit.
If you don’t know Aardman, they are the animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, Arthur Christmas, and Shaun the Sheep to name a few.
Paper Engine got in touch with me and asked for assistance in coming up with the core packaging concept to pitch to Aardman.
I won’t lie, I was excited and honoured.
Under a strict NDA, I was called in to help come up with some of the core concepts for the new eye-catching packaging.
The NDA has been relaxed now, as the products have been released onto the market. So don’t worry. And I asked the crew over at Paper Engine and they were happy to allow me to show my my part!
(All artwork on this page is the intellectual property of Aardman and Paper Engine. Do not copy, save, or download any of this content for commercial use ).
Packaging For Paper Engine… Which was actually for Aardman
To spill the beans on the projects.
Here is a bit of extra information on the project process. Once Paper Engine had sent the brief across to me, and we did all the admin, the project was set in motion!
Aardman Wallace & Gromit Project | The design process involved…
Coming up with some very early ideas for speech bubbles, titles, typography, backgrounds, and other accents and parts for the project.
It should also be said that this project was quite particular and that there were 2 companies involved in the approval process. Nonetheless, it still allowed room for design creativity.
Aardman Wallace & Gromit Project | Developing The Design
While I was allowed to work conceptually and creatively, I also had to adhere to 2 sets brand guidelines! One set was supplied by Paper Engine for Paper Engine and, the other was for Aardman!
Aardman Wallace & Gromit Project | The Delivery
After working on the polished designs, Paper Engine pitched the artwork to Aardman. I was told on the grapevine that they were pleased with the project – with very few changes to the pitch!
Thank you Paper Engine, it was an honour! From there the look and feel for the range was set. It was an awesome project.
How I approached the project
When creating the packaging, I tried to create artwork that was exciting and matched the tone of Wallace & Gromit. I also tried to create packaging concepts that would excite both children and adults if they saw them on the shelf!
‘wow look at that!’
type of thinking with the hopes somebody would pick the product up and purchase it. The product did most of the selling in all fairness, these are very cool products.
Aardman Wallace & Gromit Project | Paper Engine Testimonial
‘We worked with Jimm on some early packaging concepts for our collaboration with Aardman on three Build Your Own kits. He delivered some superb designs which enabled us to get ahead of the curve by keeping the client on board with approvals and saved us some valuable in-house studio hours. We would definitely work with Jimm again in the future when the occasion arises. Top marks. 5 stars.’
Geff – Creative Director, Paper Engine Ltd.
Aardman Wallace & Gromit Project | You may be interested in some of the following
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