The Pressure to Get It Right (Too Soon)
If you’re a founder, you’ve probably been there: staring at a blank screen or scribbled sketches, trying to design (or commission) the “perfect” logo before your product is even live.
We get it. Your logo feels like your identity. It feels like a stake in the ground. But here’s something most designers won’t tell you:
Your first logo won’t be perfect — and it shouldn’t be.
In fact, chasing perfection early on can slow you down, waste time, and cost you momentum.
Your Logo Is Not Your Brand
Let’s get this out of the way: your logo is not your brand.
Your brand is the story you tell, the experience you deliver, the feeling people get when they interact with you. The logo? It’s just the flag you plant in the ground — a symbol, a shorthand, a recognizer.
Trying to make your first logo do too much is like expecting a first date to reveal your entire life story. Not only is it overwhelming, it’s impossible.
MVP Mindset: Minimum Viable Branding
At DesignLabs, we encourage founders to approach early branding the way they would a product: with a Minimum Viable Mindset.
That means:\n
- A clean, functional logo that’s legible at all sizes
- A consistent typeface and color palette
- One to two logo variations max
- A flexible style — not final
The goal isn’t to impress the world on Day One. It’s to look put-together and aligned with your tone while leaving room for evolution.
Examples You Already Know
Let’s talk evolution.
- Airbnb’s first logo? A basic script that looked more like a hotel brochure.
- Instagram? A literal camera illustration.
- Apple? Their first logo was a complicated drawing of Newton under a tree (!).
These weren’t failures — they were stepping stones. They gave the brand a place to begin and evolve from. Your first logo is allowed to be that, too.
What Matters More in the Early Days
Instead of obsessing over whether your logo is “memorable enough,” focus on what your audience will actually experience:
- Is your messaging clear?
- Do your visuals feel consistent?
- Does your brand voice sound intentional?
- Is your value proposition obvious?
Because a sleek logo won’t save a confusing offer. And great typography won’t rescue a broken landing page. But when your foundation is solid, your identity can grow with you.
When It Is Time to Upgrade
There is a time to evolve your logo — and it usually comes when you’ve gained traction, clarity, and customer insight. That’s when rebranding makes sense: when your audience is defined, your direction is sharper, and your values are dialed in.
That second (or third) version of your logo? That’s where you invest in refinement.
Final Thought: Let It Be Imperfect
You’ll outgrow your first logo. That’s the point.
So don’t wait on the perfect mark to launch your idea, validate your product, or send your first email campaign. Choose something that feels aligned — not iconic.
Build trust first. Polish comes later.
Need help designing a first version that grows with you?
Check out our Visual Identity Starter Pack — or book a Clarity Session to define your tone before you start sketching symbols.
