HN Explorer

Ask HN: How to ensure my logo is unique?

6 points by vollmond ↗ HN
I am working to develop a personal logo. Is there a search engine which will find basically similar images? I believe TinEye and the like require photographic similarities for a match.

I want to ensure that whatever I end up with is unique and non-infringing, but I can't trust myself not to subconsciously plagiarize.

6 comments

[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 31.4 ms ] thread
huhtenberg
The best way is to ask around in logo design community, e.g. http://logopond.com. Just post your logo there, ask in its description for help with identifying duplicates and then follow up in Forums.

Second best option is to do a keyword-based search in logotype databases such as http://logolounge.com (though this one wants $100 in annual access fees).

instakill
A personal logo? That's quite interesting - I've never heard of anybody using one of those. I wonder if this will be the trend of the future?

Simplicity will be key for personal logos I'd think otherwise it would become something like a family emblem.

vollmond
Something akin to Jeff Atwood's "Personal Brand" [1] -- something I would put on my personal calling cards, my blog, that sort of thing.

The question, though, could just as easily apply to a startup logo.

Right now, the design I've sketched is a stylized version of my initials. Should be simple and flowing, once I work on it a bit.

[1] http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2006/04/your-personal-brand...

edit: I suppose it could be thought of as a modern, personal (instead of family) coat of arms. Right now I have the glider [2] in these sorts of places, but I'd prefer to have something that belongs to just me, rather than a group of people.

[2] http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/index.html

underdesign
No such thing as unique, really. Every idea is stolen.