A cousin who's a designer, a friend who's handy with drawing software, a neighbour "who does that"… The reflex of turning to someone you know is natural: it's reassuring, cheaper and often quicker. But entrusting your logo to someone you know also has pitfalls, which are easier to see before than after.

The advantages of a friend

  • The price, often reduced, even symbolic.
  • Trust and ease of communication.
  • Availability, sometimes greater than with a busy supplier.
  • Knowing you, which can feed a very personal logo.

The risks to know about

  • Unclear rights. Without a written assignment, the situation can become delicate the day the business grows. See who owns a logo.
  • Unsuitable files. A logo delivered as a plain image won't work for a shop sign. See which file formats to request.
  • Difficulty giving criticism. You don't dare say "I don't like it" to a friend doing you a favour.
  • Vague deadlines, for lack of a framework and a due date.
  • No method: without a brief or research, you often fall back on solutions already seen.

What a professional brings

A specialised designer brings a method (brief, research, routes, adjustments), perspective on what works in your sector, planned variants, files you can use everywhere and a written assignment of rights. They also take responsibility for the result, which changes the relationship. To choose, see how to choose and hire a designer for your logo (in French).

If you choose a friend

  1. Write a brief and share it: see how to prepare your brief (in French).
  2. List the deliverables: vector files, colour and black-and-white versions.
  3. Provide for the assignment of rights in writing, even a simple one.
  4. Set a deadline and a date for approval.
  5. Keep the right to say no, politely, before paying or printing.

And if the result doesn't suit you?

Say so early, with arguments linked to your business rather than your taste, and suggest moving to a plain temporary logo while you look for something better. If you're starting out, a simple wordmark made by a friend can fill the gap, as long as you don't print in large quantities until you're sure you'll keep it. See creating a logo for free: the options and the limits (in French).

Frequently asked questions about a logo made by a friend

Can a designer friend make me a logo for free?
It's possible, but still set a written framework: brief, deliverables (vector files), assignment of rights. A friendly favour with no framework can become complicated the day you need to modify the logo.

Can you use a logo made by a friend to start, then have it redone?
Yes, as long as it is simple and used sparingly at first. Avoid large print runs until you're sure you'll keep it.

More questions about logo design

What Is the Difference Between a Graphic Designer, a Designer and an Art Director?
The graphic designer creates visual materials, the designer has a wider scope, the art director leads the visual direction. Read the article →

How Do You Compare Several Logo Design Quotes?
Compare quotes line by line (deliverables, revisions, rights, files, deadlines, payment) rather than on price alone. Read the article →

How Many Proposals and Revisions Should You Expect for a Logo?
It varies by offer, often with two to three rounds of revisions: a precise brief and argued feedback stop you using them all up. Read the article →

What Should You Do If the Logo You Received Doesn't Suit You?
Name exactly what bothers you, compare with the brief, use your revisions, then look at the remedies if the disagreement persists. Read the article →

What Common Mistakes Should Be Avoided When Creating a Logo?
The most frequent mistakes: unnecessary complexity, lack of originality, poor readability at small sizes, and no vector files. Read the article →

What File Formats Should I Request for a Logo So I Can Use It Across Different Materials?
A professional logo should be delivered as a vector file (SVG, PDF, EPS) for print, plus PNG and JPG exports for the web. Read the article →

How Can a Logo Strengthen a Small Business's Brand Image?
A good logo gives a small business instant credibility and consistency across all its materials, often before the first customer contact. Read the article →

See all questions about logo design →

My take as a designer

I'm not saying a friend can't make a good logo. I'm saying the friendship and the logo must both be protected, and that means a written framework, even a simple one. It is that framework that lets you say frankly what you think of the result.

A favour between friends is only worth it if it can be criticised without upsetting anyone.

To sum up

A friend can suit you if they have the talent, the method and the right files, and if a written framework protects the rights and the relationship.

A professional brings a method, variants, usable files and a clear assignment of rights.

In every case, list the deliverables and the rights before starting.