Personal branding is exploding, largely in regards to building a reputation online, but I learned about another kind of personal branding back in 2002 (you know, back before most of us were concerned with maintaining our personal blogs).
Back in high school, when I was still certain that I wanted to go on to become a graphic designer, my art teacher tasked everyone in the class with creating a personal logo. I’ve used mine on all over the place: on my resume, business cards, twitter and my digital media portfolio (now deceased).
If you’re pursuing a creative career, a personal logo will help you stand out. Done right, it adds a touch of professionalism and shows that you take pride in yourself and your work. If you have absolutely no artistic ability, it could be as simple as playing with typography and experimenting with font styles or colors. In fact, some of the world’s most famous companies use simple typographic logos.
For additional resources, check out these sites:
- Logo Design Love
- Logo Faves
- Blog Spoon Graphics: How to Create a Logotype from Conception to Completion
If you’re working on a logo and need some objective feedback (read: not from your friend or roommate who will feel obligated to like it), feel free to email me.
What do you think? Do you have a personal logo? Why, or why not?
Tags: logo, personal brand
Stephanie Russell
I used to have a personal logo. It came from a print I did in my printmaking class. It was the letter Z rotated a few times. It made a really pretty image…but for the life of me I couldn’t connect it to my work. It was pretty, and that’s all it was. It didn’t tell you my name or what I do or what I’m about.
So I dropped it. Now I just use logotype. On my current resume I use Helvetica Neue Thin. I’m on a kick of really thin typography. Using this method I’ve communicated several things:
A) My name. Most important. You really couldn’t even distinguished the Z in my previous logo.
B) My design philosophy: simplicity. No embellishes. No gimmicks. Simple, clean design.
Though I’ve also created a fun logo for a possible web portfolio entitled “Dino Pirate.” While it has nothing to do with design (my designs are extinct and I don’t steal them from others), it is pretty sweet.
That all being said, it is important to have some sort of brand for yourself–whether it is a certain typeface you always use or a mark that summarizes yourself and your work. You just need something that helps you stand out from all the other Times New Roman resumes and Arial websites out there.
Rachel Esterline .:. A Step Ahead
Allie,
I really like your logo. I have an image I use on my Web site, business cards and other places and I tie that to my name.
I think the image/logo makes it easier for people to recognize my brand.
Trace Cohen
Thanks for including one of our posts in your article, especially linked to the work “exploding,” which is a great way to describe what is happening to personal branding right now.
Now, the concept of having a personal logo seems very logical and practical. Every major company has one, and when you see it, you immediately associate certain values with it that the company over time has delivered on. As Tom Peters said, everyone is their own company, Me Inc., so I think it would be a worthwhile investment for anyone to create a personal logo for themselves.
Nicole Crimaldi
Thanks for the great resources Allie! Starting the logo/branding process for Career Girls is my project this weekend. Thanks for cutting my research in half.
Allie Osmar
Steph, you bring up another good point about logos. If you change your name when you get married, will the logo still work? Something to think about at least when you start the design process.