Design How-To: Fixing an Indistinct Logo by Using Figure-Ground
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When it comes to logos, distinctive does not necessarily mean complicated. Yet, oversimplification can result in a weak, unmemorable brand.
In this feature from our new partner “Before & After” magazine, learn how to re-make a so-so symbol as a memorable mark. We start with a straightforward black-and-white logo based on the designer’s initials.

You’ll see that changing the type style, playing with figure-ground, adjusting proportion, and adding a single color transforms this logo into a stamp of distinction. To see the final results, open the story as described below.
We’ve posted this story as a PDF file. All you do is click this link “A Design in Figure-Ground” to open the PDF file in your Web browser. You can also download the PDF to your machine for later viewing.
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This article was last modified on January 3, 2023
This article was first published on April 11, 2003


