Turn Your Name Into a Wordmark

A wordmark is your name set in a fixed way: same letters, same spacing, same case, every time. For most artists it does the whole job of a logo.

Photo: “steckschrift” by wilhei55, CC BY 2.0.

Why the name comes first

A symbol only means something after people have seen it next to your name many times. That takes years and a lot of exposure.

Your name is already what people search, say out loud and look for on a poster. Making it visually consistent is the fastest recognition you can buy, and it costs almost nothing.

Build it

1. Type your name in the title face from step 8.
2. Decide the case: all capitals, all lowercase or mixed. Pick one for good.
3. Adjust the spacing between letters until the word feels like one shape. Wide spacing feels calm and expensive. Tight spacing feels loud.
4. If the name has two words, decide whether they sit on one line or two, and make a version of each.
5. Stop. Resist adding effects, outlines or shadows.

Test it

Shrink it until it is as wide as your little finger. Still readable? Now place it on a busy photo, on black and on white. A wordmark that only works on one background will be redrawn by every promoter who receives it, each in their own way.

A good wordmark is boring to make and impossible to mistake.

Export the files

You need a small set, and you need it once:

• Dark version and light version
• Transparent background (PNG) for placing over images
• A vector file (SVG or PDF) for print and merch, which can be enlarged without losing quality

Name them clearly and keep them together. In step 28 they get a permanent home.

When a symbol makes sense

If you need something for very small or square spaces, such as a sticker, a stamp on merch or a drum head, a simple monogram or shape can help. Make it after the wordmark, and from the same letters when possible.

Do this now

Build the wordmark, run the three background tests and export the dark, light and transparent versions.

We design the logo and deliver the full set of files as part of an artist’s visual identity. See how it works.