Stock Logos. Friend or Foe?

A lot has been said about the stock logos being introduced into the mainstream. The issue has crept up and surprised many designers, allowing for a wave a criticism from every end. Stock logos, like stock photography and illustration, allow for a buyer to pick and choose from a variety of logos created by designers (presumably) at a low price.

So whats the problem? Ask any professional illustrator or photographer who has dared to test the waters of submitting to a stock website. In short, the vision of the creator is usually lost quickly through purchase and use. Did the photographer intend for her image to be used as a billboard ad for Viagra? Probably not.

This is where the problem lies for stock logos. A logo is a brands cornerstone. A mark that encompasses an entire entity. It is created with the end result for a particular business or individual in mind. Buying a stock logo is comparable to having a suit made to fit every size, it does not work. The suit jacket may fit some, but the slacks are all wrong. Sinatra would not approve.

For some with low to no budget a stock logo may seem like the perfect answer. Cheap and simple! Throw on some Papyrus text and call it a day. It may seem like a good idea at the time, but what if the logo you purchased is not taken off the stock website? What if it is allowed to be sold more than once to other people? You then run the chance of seeing what you thought was a logo perfectly suited to your business now perfectly suited to eleven other businesses. Bummer.

In the end quality and relative cost are one in the same. If you desire something more budget friendly there are options. Students and novice individuals are more than willing to help at nominal cost in order to fill out their portfolio. And to the students and individuals out there looking to dedicate your hard work to a stock website, think of your other options. Is the $5 submission REALLY worth it?