So I bet you all wondered like I did how do they create those neat icons on their web site and have it displayed in the bookmarks? Well here a few short steps on how to make one.

First you need to create a image that is 16×16 pixels because this is the size for the icons for the bookmark and browsers. Once you have Create that icon (that one is mine) save it out as a .gif or a png with transparency if you need it.

Next we will go to our favorite web page http://tools.dynamicdrive.com/favicon/ where they are super nice and have given us a tool to create our favicon! Yes that right we don’t have to install any software just upload and download.

Once you have created your FavIcon for your website upload it somewhere on your website.  Please make sure you know where you saved it cause you will need to link back to that file.  I put mine in the same wordpress theme folder that I am currently using.

The next step is to open up your page and go to the HEAD section and add the link.

<link rel=”shortcut icon” href=”/favicon.ico”>

If your using wordpress and uploaded the icon to the theme folder you are using please use the code below. Just copy and paste the code in the HEAD section of that theme.

<link rel=”shortcut icon” href=”<?php bloginfo(‘template_directory’); ?>/favicon.ico”>

Once you’ve added the code save your page and your done.

Now before you all start opening up Photoshop stop right there! Never EVER design any logo in Photoshop or any raster program it just won’t be feasible.  This is because anytime you to resize the logo the pixels in the images start to break and everything turns grainy (yes most of you will say duh… but I still constantly run in to designers telling me “I used PS when I created the logo”).  You have to use a Vector program like Adobe Illustrator to design the logo.  This will allow your logo to scale any size you want it just won’t matter.  You can design the logo 2×2 and then stretch it out to the size of a bus and it will still look perfect.

When I first start off with my logo I would type out the company name and go through a series of typefaces.  I usually stay with clean simple type like a Sans Serif font because anything too fancy will look dated over time.  I usually start off by typing the words with Arial font and make 20 versions with different font faces and pick the ones I like.

Once I picked my fonts it’s time to design the first draft of the logo.  My rule of thumb here is to design it black and white.  If your logo doesn’t work in black and white it just doesn’t work.  I usually go through 10 to 20 radically different designs during this process.  This includes combinations of modifying fonts, adding shape, or simple lines.  From there I pick the top 6 – 8 that I like and show it to the client.

Here are some samples of the logo I did.  These are just rough ideas from here I will let the client pick 2 – 3 and develop another series variation based on each design.  I usually come up with 6 – 8 variations per logo.