DIY Logo Design: How to Create the Perfect Logo for Your Business in 6 Sweet Steps
When starting your own business, getting branding right is oh-so important. Branding is your business culture in visual form—it gives potential clients a sense of who you are before they ever interact with you. Great branding not only makes your business recognisable and memorable, it also makes things more sustainable for you by creating a go-to guide for all your on-brand design decisions. No more second-guessing or reinventing the wheel every time.
Estimated read time: 8 minutes
From Apple to Amazon, Nike to Netflix, the world’s most iconic brands are anchored by a strong logo. A logo isn’t just a fun graphic; it’s a shortcut in the client’s brain.
So, how do you get it right?
Why a Professional Logo Matters
Designing a high-quality logo takes time, effort, and/or money. But here’s why it’s worth the investment:
Standout from The Competition
Every year, thousands of new businesses launch. In Australia alone, more than 400,000 new businesses started last year, and there are now around 2.7 million actively trading businesses (ABS). That’s a lot of noise to cut through—and a strong, recognisable logo helps you standout.
First Impressions Count
Your logo is often the first thing your clients see—on your website, socials, or shopfront. Thanks to the Primacy Effect, those first impressions stick. A unique, well-designed logo signals professionalism, reliability, and trust.
Brand Recognition
A memorable logo creates a mental shortcut for your brand. Think of the Golden Arches—you don’t need to see the word McDonald’s to know exactly what it is. You might not hit those heights, but you can build recall with your own client base.
Consistency Saves Time (and Sanity)
Your logo is the foundation for your wider brand. Once it’s set, you can use the same colours, fonts, and style across everything—your website, socials, print, and ads.
The hidden bonus? Decisions are made upfront. You won’t waste energy rethinking design with every new project. This consistency avoids burnout, keeps your content looking sharp, and makes branding sustainable.
Loyalty That Lasts
Winning new clients is great. Keeping them is better. A strong logo builds familiarity and loyalty. Over time, it can even turn clients into advocates who share their experiences through word-of-mouth, reviews, and socials.
How to Design Your Business Logo in 6 Sweet Steps
Whether you’re DIY-ing it or hiring a designer (get in touch here), these steps will help you understand the process to getting it right:
1. Sweet Strategy
Get clear before you get creative.
Who are your clients? Research their habits.
What logos are your competitors using? (Tip: consider standing out with a different colour or style.)
What’s trending in your industry?
Gather inspiration in a Pinterest board or Canva moodboard, then tie it back to your brand values, mission, and USP.
2. Choose Your Design Style
Minimalist, vintage, abstract, emblematic—your style sets the tone. Generally speaking, minimalist says modern, vintage says heritage, abstract says artsy, emblematic says established. Explore until you find a vibe that fits.
3. Pick Your Colours
Colours carry meaning:
Red = energy
Blue = trust
Green = growth
Yellow = optimism
Black = sophistication
Limit to 2–3 colours max for clarity. Use an app such as Coolors to find strong pairings.
4. Find Your Fonts
Typography speaks volumes.
Serif = traditional
Sans serif = modern
Script = creative
Limit to 1–2 fonts. Use FontPair for ideas, or the WhatFont browser extension to ID fonts you like.
5. Sketch It Out
Get messy. Sketch multiple ideas, combine elements, and play with layouts. Don’t judge too early—themes will reveal themselves when you step back.
6. Digitise and Refine
Bring your best sketches into design software:
Canva (beginner-friendly)
Illustrator (industry standard)
Figma (browser-based, collaborative)
Then test your logo everywhere—website, socials, print. Collect feedback from your ideal clients (not just your mates), refine, and repeat.
Pro Service Shortcut: Don’t want to learn a new app or skill? Book my Sweet Sprint service and I’ll digitise your concept into professional, file-ready formats in a day—with a page of Brand Guidelines to keep your business on-brand and memorable.
Protips for Logo Design
Keep It Simple – The best logos are clear, scalable, and memorable.
Make It Memorable – Avoid clichés and stock icons. Create something unique.
Think Long Term – Rebrands are costly. Invest time now in a design that lasts.
Test Everywhere – A strong logo looks great on a billboard and on a tiny app icon.
Final Word
Your logo is the heart of your brand identity—it represents your business and deserves effort from day one. If DIY feels overwhelming, I can help:
