Photo by Marek Levak: Pexels
If you are thinking about creating a logo with AI or Canva, read this important interview below!
Hi Laura, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge with entrepreneurial therapists! Let’s start with your background. What do you do, where did you get your education, and how long have you been a graphic designer?
Thanks for having me. I have been working in the commercial design space for over 18 years creating print and digital design solutions for clients across the country. I have a BFA in graphic design and an MA in design, and I tend to call myself a desigNerd; I love what I do and I can’t imagine doing anything else! As the owner and lead designer at my company, Smudge Pot Creative, I work alongside marketing departments and small business owners in order to assist them in establishing and maintaining proper branding through cohesive marketing materials.
That’s fantastic! I know you’ve more recently started helping therapists with book cover designs for their published books! What’s that been like for you?
Working on custom book cover designs for my clients has been a fun and challenging new adventure. I believe that everyone is capable of throwing a headline onto a page, however I strive to really capture the essence of the author and their goal(s) behind the written work within the design options that I present. The process involves multiple meetings, open lines of communication, and a lot of research and concepting on my end. This can take multiple months, but I’m not satisfied until my clients are happy!
Here’s the hard question! Entrepreneurial therapists are using AI in lots of ways within their business, but one that’s brought up questions is using AI or Canvas (as two examples) to create logos. What do therapists need to know?
Tools like AI generators or Canva are great for quick visuals, but logos created using those platforms generally can’t be trademarked and aren’t fully owned by the business using them. In many cases, the platform retains rights, or similar designs can be generated for other users, which can create legal or branding issues down the road.
That makes sense! I truly believe therapists have no idea that this is even a concern. What are their affordable options for a design that remains their intellectual property?
Working with a graphic designer can be outside of a small business owner’s budget, however approaching someone with examples of logos that you do and do not like can potentially cut down the costs associated with the research and concepting phases. I also recommend finding a seasoned designer with a logo and illustration background to assist you with coming up with a truly unique and custom logo. A new or green designer may unknowingly use stock assets or AI tools, and as we touched on earlier, this can cause problems for your business down the road when you attempt to trademark your logo.
Any last words of advice for therapists wanting quality, branded materials for their websites?
Once your logo and brand is established, using a free tool like Canva is a great way to start making your own collateral materials. With their abundance of templates, Canva offers a user-friendly option for non-designers to create consistent, brand compliant graphics themselves while keeping costs down.
Your insight is invaluable. Where can people learn more about your business?
Please feel free to check out my website at smudgepotcreative.com.
Laura, thank you again for sharing with us!