How can you start to charge more for your logo designs when you feel stuck at your current rate? There’s a lot that goes into determining your price, such as the quality of the work itself, your negotiation skills, and the types of projects you land.

In this video, Chris Do walks through the very first step to charging 100x more for logo designs: learning to craft better logos.

Learn How to See

The key in learning how to see is to train your eyes to identify specific details. If you have a more rigorous, formal training in design, you might already know what details to look for.

But if you didn’t go to art school or are entirely self-taught, there’s good news: you can pick up this same skill and learn how to see to start designing better logos. We recommend starting with Typography to pick up the fundamentals that will carry you through every design project you work on.

The Minimum Level of Engagement (MLE)

More often than not, clients typically have a budget in mind before they even start looking for designers. If you’re running things solo, and designing logos is your main source of income, you have to charge accordingly to sustain your quality of life.

Beyond that, there’s time, energy, and skills that need to be factored into your pricing. You want to make sure your minimum level of engagement is enough to pay you fairly, while also covering any overhead costs. If a client’s budget is too low and they won’t budge, you might want to send that client on their way and welcome the next one.

The Difference Between a $30 Logo and a $3000 Logo

In this video, Chris and Ben Burns revisit some of Ben’s past logo designs, comparing a $30 logo of his to a $3000 one. The differences are pretty stark, with the $3000 logo displaying repetition and balance, whereas the other is not necessarily all bad, but is easily lost upon closer inspection.

A good rule of thumb is to try to design your logo within a half-inch square. If the company’s logo is clear, identifiable, and simple enough to be easily recognized time and time again, you’re on your way to designing a higher-valued logo.

Self-Taught vs. Formal Training

Whether you’ve been through design school or are considering enrolling, or if you’re entirely self-taught, there is no right or wrong way to pursue a career in design.

As long as you are studying the material, practicing, and asking yourself how you can improve, over time, your design skills will get better. Of course, a specialized art school does give you that formal training along with faculty and peers to help you with your work, but if you’re not in school, look for those resources yourself.

Find a mentor, or join a design group in your community. Don’t let the words ‘self-taught’ make you feel inferior compared to design school graduates. Your work ethic, passion, drive, and talent goes a much farther way than you’d think.