Overview

Create simple and clear logo designs that also seriously stand out with Will Paterson! Great logos are iconic and evocative of a brand—but designing them well without copying everyone else can be one of the biggest challenges in graphic design. In this class, graphic designer and YouTuber Will Paterson will walk you through the unique process for creating memorable logos for a variety of brands, and give you the tools to do the same. Starting from an imaginary client brief, you’ll work alongside Will as he goes step-by-step through the process of getting to a final design, including: - Researching the client and their competition, and coming up with a mood board of creative visuals to represent them. - Brainstorming potential concepts using Will’s approach of rapidly sketching and refining ideas until you “fail to success” and find the one that works. - Turning your best idea into a final vector in Illustrator, and choosing fonts and colors to round out your final design. Along the way, he’ll share pro tips about what makes a good logo great, strategies to properly assess your own work, and plenty of tools to level up your workflow. Whether you have a logo project you’re working on for a client or are just looking to grow your graphic design skills, this class will leave you with a system you can confidently follow to create great logos time and time again. This class is great for beginners who want to learn to design logos step-by-step, or more immediate designers who are hoping to refine their process and skills. You’ll need Adobe Illustrator or a similar vector program to complete the final project. A tablet with a digital drawing app like Procreate might help you out, but you can also complete the early brainstorming phases using pencil and paper. Instructor bio: Will Paterson is a professional logo designer and hand lettering artist who helps businesses of all kinds build memorable brands through custom logos and identity systems. Beyond his client work, Will is widely known for sharing his expertise with a global creative community on YouTube and Instagram, where he offers practical design insights and inspiration to millions of viewers. As the author of Calligraphy In 15, Will combines a passion for traditional lettering with modern design approaches, making his teaching both accessible and engaging. His courses are designed to give learners the tools, techniques, and confidence to develop their own creative style while mastering the foundations of professional logo design and lettering.

Syllabus

Foundations of Effective Logo Design

Start your logo design journey by grounding yourself in the fundamentals of branding and visual identity. In this module, you’ll explore the essential qualities of iconic logos, examine real-world examples, and learn how logos communicate brand personality and purpose. You’ll also conduct brand research and build a moodboard to guide your creative direction throughout the course.

From Ideas to Initial Design

Turn inspiration into action by learning how to brainstorm and sketch unique logo concepts. This module walks you through the ideation process, from rough thumbnail sketches to refined designs. You’ll develop a range of concepts, select the strongest ideas, and begin transforming them into polished visuals using Adobe Illustrator and foundational vector tools.

Polish, Present, and Finalize

In the final module, you’ll bring your logo to life with professional finishing touches. Learn how to enhance your design using thoughtful typography, color theory, and contextual mockups. You’ll also craft a clear, confident presentation of your final logo, articulating how your design aligns with the brand’s identity and goals.