Your first logo has a lot of jobs
A new business needs a logo before it has much else. It goes on the website, the social profiles, the first invoice, maybe a food truck or a shop window. Many founders start with a placeholder made in an evening, and that's fine for a week. The trouble starts when the placeholder gets printed on 500 cards and stitched onto shirts.
We design first logos for businesses at that stage. We aim for a mark that survives small sizes and one-color printing, and that you won't need to redo when you open a second location or launch an app.
Services
Wordmarks
Your business name set as a logo, with spacing, letter shapes and weight adjusted so it reads at a glance.
02Icons and symbols
A simple mark that works without the name: app icon, favicon, profile picture, sticker.
03Brand starter kit
Logo files, two or three colors, a type pairing and a one-page sheet, enough to launch.
Tested small before it goes big
Most logos are seen tiny: a browser tab, a notification, a profile picture in a comment thread. So we test every mark on a pixel grid at 16, 24 and 32 pixels before you see it. If a detail fills in or an opening closes up, we fix the drawing, or we make a simplified version for small sizes. The drawing in the header shows that test on a concept mark.
We also check the mark in one color, reversed on a dark background, and at the size of a business card. A logo that only works in full color on white causes problems the first time you order a rubber stamp or a vinyl decal.
What to send
You don't need a polished brief. A few honest notes about the business help more than a mood board. Most requests include:
- The business name exactly as it should be spelled, plus any short form people already use
- One or two sentences on what you sell and who buys it
- Where the logo shows up first: a website, an app icon, a food truck, a sign, a sticker, a social profile
- Any colors, shapes or styles you like, and any you want to avoid
- Two or three logos you admire, from any industry, and what you like about them
- Your launch date or the first print order the files have to be ready for
Where we work
All work is remote. We focus on new businesses in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Seattle, all on Pacific time, so calls and reviews happen during your working day.
Los Angeles, CA
Wordmarks, icons and starter kits for new Los Angeles businesses.
Las Vegas, NV
Wordmarks, icons and starter kits for new Las Vegas businesses.
Seattle, WA
Wordmarks, icons and starter kits for new Seattle businesses.
What finished logo work look like
Common questions
How much does a first logo cost?
It depends on whether you need a wordmark, an icon or both, how many early directions you want to see, and whether you add the starter kit. We send a written quote after reading your brief, so you see the full cost before anything starts.
We haven't settled on a name yet. Can we still start?
It's better to wait until the name is final, since the wordmark is built around its letters. If you're choosing between two names, tell us and we can talk about how each one would work as a logo before you decide.
Do I own the logo?
Yes, once the project is paid. The written quote spells out the transfer of rights, and the files are yours to use with any printer or designer.
Should I register the logo as a trademark?
That's a legal question, and we're designers. We make original drawings and avoid copying existing marks, but a trademark search and filing should go through a trademark attorney or your country's trademark office.
Are the marks on this site real client work?
No. The marks and wordmarks here are concepts for imaginary businesses, drawn for this site, and the photos are labeled AI-generated samples. We don't show client work without permission.
Starting something new? Tell us the business name, what you sell and where the logo has to show up first. We reply with questions or a written quote.
Request a quote