Logo design | Help - Logo / Livery Requests

I'm no professional, but I have a few steps when it comes to brand creation.

Step 1: Research Real-World Airlines.

No one likes an airline that doesn't fit the country it's supposed to be based in, whether that's because it's based solely off of stereotypes or if it's because it looks like it's from somewhere else (ie. the "ME3 look" in anywhere that isn't, well, the Middle East). Wikipedia lists like "List of Defunct Airlines of xxx" and "List of Airlines of xxx" are always a good start to get a grasp of how the aviation industry of the area has been shaped. Looking at past brands can give you a feel of what you want your airline to look like, prevent yourself from accidentally making a near-copy of a pre-existing airline, and ensure that your brand has the right "feel."

Step 2: Research Your Country.

If you're thinking about making a flag carrier, it's always best to make a brand that reflects something about the government of the country (seals, flags, national ensigns, etc.). If you're making a low-cost carrier, think about taking something associated with the country and twisting it to look "fresh" or "new." Remember what you've seen in Step 1 to make sure this airline doesn't end up being too cliché. This is also where you can think of potential names.

Step 3: Research the Period.

This is especially applicable if you're making a livery from the past, but even then still applicable for modern liveries. Searches for things like "Edinburgh Airport 2005" or "JFK Airport 2005" are nice for this, because you get to see a variety of brands on time-applicable aircraft and see how certain regions aim for certain styles on their liveries.

Step 3: Sketch a Logo.

I know what you're thinking. N664US, I make brands on my computer. Why do I need paper for this? Paper is great, if only because you have an eraser for your mistakes and it's easy to change things so you know what you're looking for. Use the ideas you got from Steps 1+2 and make a draft logo. It doesn't have to look perfect, just neat enough that you like how it looks. Also, know that this is where creativity comes in. If you want a moose, for example, don't just make a photo-realistic moose with antlers and all. Try going for something stylised (just the head and antlers, for example) if that appeals to you. Call me crazy, but I like to apply the vexillology rules for a good flag to aid me in creating logos. It's nice to Google things like "bird logo" or something like that for inspiration, but should not be a source for stealing logos.

Step 4: Bring it to Life.

Here's where you pull out the computer. Try making your logo on a computer now. Be sure, however, to use only one colour (black or white). That way, you can see what it looks like in monochrome and make sure it will work in applications real-world airlines will use as well (boarding passes, signs, etc.). If it's too complex or uses too many colours, chances are it won't work in monochrome.

Step 5: Perfect Your Logo.

When you're pleased with what you've done, try adding a splash of colour. You can use websites like coolors.co to find nice colour palettes that work well with each other. Try using only a few colours for your airlines, and ones that complement each other. Most brands (Delta, American, British Airways, Air France, KLM, etc.) only use one or two colours when they create their full-colour logos.

Step 6: Look for Fonts.

This is a difficult step. Using font websites like dafont.com, try looking for fonts that "fit" your brand. Once you have a name at hand to accompany your logo, download a few test fonts to see if there's one you like. Make sure it can be read from a distance and fits the same "style" of your logo. I don't really know how to describe it, but there's a moment when things just "click" together and it looks good. Remember that you want to make sure that the font fits the time and colour choices you made earlier, and look to what you saw in Step 3 for time-applicable fonts.

I'm not sure how applicable this would be for you, but this is all I have. It's gotten me far enough to get things like Danske and Algérien, and I'm sure it can help you too. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.