KS1 / KS2 Design and Technology: Designing a logo

Design is used in almost everything,from the design of a lightto the design of the logoon your sports gear.

Logos are a key partof the identity of a business.As the company becomesmore well-known, so does the logo.Many logos are based around a nameor the initials of the company.Others are more abstract shapes,symbols or pictures.These logos don't actuallysay what the business does,or even what it's called,but they look good andare easily identifiable.All successful logosare distinctive and memorable,and designing a logo for yourselfcan be relatively easy.I'm using a basic word-processingdocument and by usingsome colour and shapes, I canquickly put together a logo.

Firstly, I'm picking a shapeso I'm going to go for a circle.Then I'm going to choose a brightcolour for the background.Then I'm going to type inmy initials.Line it all up and there you go.

But you don't even need a computer.You can use coloured pensand paper like Alex.

Alex is a budding entrepreneurwho wants some helpdesigning a logo for his business.

The first task is to come up witha company nameand he's thought of onethat's right up his street.It's going to be the second name ofthe road that I was brought up inand it's called Grove, so thestreets are named "something Grove"and that's where I was brought upso that's got a lot to dowith the title.

Alex has chosen a great designmethod to make his name stand out.I want it to be bold, 3D,if you know what I mean, so 3D.

Shall we draw that?

Three-dimensional letteringnot only helps a word stand outbut it can look great too.Write out the word in capitalsor lower case.

Alex has chosen capitals.

Cool. Are we making it 3D likeit's really blocky? Yeah.

Then make the letters blockyby drawing a line inside.Then another line following theshape of the letter to the side.Just imagine you're drawingthe letter's shadow.Off-centre, so it's just behind itto the right and up like this.Adding colour can help give itthe three-dimensional look.

Do you think a really modern greenor is it like a reallyold-fashioned kind of logo?

I did want the thing to be likea light green with yellow,all mixed in, like light colours.

I think that looks really good.

Then maybe an orange and redand then red going aroundbecause that's the darker colour,isn't it, out of the two.Then the orange again,just a pattern.It would be green, orange,green, orange, green, orange.

Are you happy with this or is thereanything you want to add?

I would like to add a computerand then maybe that into 3D as well.

Cool. Does it have to be real orcan it be like a line drawing?

I wouldn't actually like itto be real.I'd like it to be 3Dbut like a cartoon.

Again, Alex is showing greatdesigner know-how.

Logos should be simplebut effective and drawing an objectwith just an outline makesit straightforward and clear.

I think this logo's going to lookfab in your office.

A print company have convertedAlex's logo into letteringso that we can stick itonto the front of Alex's desk.His logo can be used on stationery,badges or even a T-shirt.