I’m sorry (and I hope you’re not reading this before a meal). But it’s one of my "go-to" expressions whenever I see a logo design that nauseates my optic nerves. If only Pepto-Bismol made eye drops for:
The Pupil Barf
The type chosen for the name is inappropriate for the nature of the company, product or place. For example, choosing a fancy script for a steel manufacturer or a builder.
The Call-Iris-on-the-Big-White-Phone
Using photos or illustrations as logos. Too complicated! They never reproduce well in black and white or with embroidery. The best logos should be seen, read and recognized in a quick glance. Simple is best.
The Retinal Retcher
Applying too many blends and effects to a logo. Like the creator went crazy with the Photoshop filters and applied one of each, making the logo impossible to work with. Logos should be vector-based files so they can be sized up and down easily. You can always add an effect later in the application of the logo in different projects.
The Corneal Heave
Irregular, hard-to-use shapes (triangular, tall and skinny, etc.) that won’t fit into tight spaces or allow placement flexibility.
The Technicolor Macular Yawn
Lack of attention to kerning or spacing in the names. Especially when type is the dominant element in your logo. Any good graphic designer knows to make smart adjustments to type to achieve clarity and readability.
Did I miss any? Let me know. I may have overlooked other logo design violations that cause visual queasiness!
P.S. Images of logo examples have been purposely omitted to protect the guilty.
