Logo Design Studio is a desktop graphics program designed to help you create a one-of-a-kind logo for your business. With over 200 customizable logo templates and more than 850 logo design objects, you have the design world at your fingertips. Logo Design Studio is intended to walk you through the logo design process. However, it is not as intuitive as you might expect.
The installation process, which took only about 20 minutes, including the initial download, was a little painful. The registration box that appeared after the installation was completed didn't function properly, causing a debug error. However, registration can be completed via a link in the Help menu.
From a user interface perspective, Logo Design Studio is designed to include a static canvas on the lower half of the screen and a dynamic menu on the upper half. Across the top are tabs for each of the main components of the tool: Home, Insert, Color, Effects, and Canvas. One of the items that is lacking in the UI is a dialog box that identifes the purpose of each icon. Fortunately, the icons become recognizable enough once you gain familiarity with Logo Design Studio. Along either side of the canvas are tabs that are similar to those in a PDF file. [See Image 8] The tabs provide menus that are also embedded into the menus on the upper half of the screen. Users can also customize the canvas to their liking using the Canvas menu options. [See Image 6] Specifications such as screen size, click or drag commands, and text options provide the user with a feeling of familiarity and personalization. While not obvious, the large Logo button in the upper left hand side of the screen, where normally a Windows user would see a File menu, controls the Save, Save As, and other typical file menu commands. [See Image 7]
From a logo design perspective, which is Logo Design Studio's main objective, there is something for everyone. Users who are not graphically inclined will appreciate the many logo templates that are available. [See Image 1] While, those who have some graphic talent will appreciate the ability to create their logos from a blank canvas. [See Image 2] From either a blank canvas or a customizable template, users can add their own personal touch by inserting a picture or graphic, customizing the logo's colors, and modifying design effects. [See Image 3, 4, and 5] A tagline can be created or chosen from the list of over 100 taglines in the Tagline Library. [See Image 9] Moving the components around on the canvas is very simple and similar to any Windows graphics program. Users simply grab the item with the pointer and move it to where they want it.
Completed logos can be exported into a number of file formats, depending on their use. Supported file formats include jpeg, tiff, gif, png, wmf, bmp, and pdf. Logos can be prepared for use on websites, letterhead, banners, t-shirts, business cards, and more. There is also an option for trademarking the logo via LegalZoom.com. By clicking on the Trademark Logo option on the Help Menu, Logo Design Studio will navigate to the LegalZoom website, where the user can find information on logo trademark regulations, the trademarking process, and the costs.
Logo Design Studio is most lacking in the area of support. At first glance, it appears as though the tool really does a great job in providing support for its users. However, after closer examination, many of the support options are minimal or don't function properly. Additionally, if the user does not purchase the box version of Logo Design Studio, they will not have reference materials readily available to them. Customer support or an email-only process could probably provide the necessary information, but these communication methods may not be as timely as desired.
