How to Design a Modern Logo Using Figma (Step-by-Step Guide)

Is Figma Good for Logo Design?

Figma is excellent for logo design, though it has both advantages and limitations compared to Adobe Illustrator.

Pros of Figma for Logo Design

Free for most work: No expensive subscription for single design projects
Vector tools: Pen tool, shapes, and boolean operations match Illustrator’s capabilities
Easy iteration: Rapid prototyping and unlimited undo/redo
Component variants: Design light and dark versions simultaneously
Collaboration: Share with clients in real-time for feedback
Cloud storage: Never lose files; access from any device
Export flexibility: Output SVG, PNG, PDF at any scale
No file format limitations: Design at 10x scale without quality loss

Cons of Figma for Logo Design

Limited advanced features: Lacks some Illustrator tools (blend modes, gradient meshes)
Fewer design plugins: Adobe ecosystem has more specialized tools
Performance: Large files with many paths can slow down
Font limitations: Smaller font library than desktop apps
Calligraphic/brush tools: Not as refined as Illustrator’s

Verdict

Use Figma if: You’re designing geometric logos, minimalist marks, wordmark logos, or need real-time collaboration.

Consider Illustrator if: You need advanced calligraphic effects, gradient meshes, or are doing complex illustration-based logos.

For most modern, contemporary logo design, Figma is more than sufficient.

Setting Up Your Canvas for Logo Design

Step 1: Create a New File

Open Figma and create a new project
Name it “Logo Design - [Company Name]”
Set artboard to “1920 x 1080” (large working space)

Step 2: Create Working Frames

Create multiple frames for testing:

“Logo - Master” (1080px square) – Main design
“Logo - Icon Only” (1080px square) – Mark without wordmark
“Logo - Wordmark Only” (1920x256px) – Text only version
“Logo - Combined” (1920x512px) – Mark + wordmark together
“Variations” (1920x1920px) – Light/dark, horizontal/vertical

Step 3: Set Up Guides and Grids

Right-click canvas → “Grid settings”
Set grid size to 10px
Enable grid with keyboard shortcut (⌘’ on Mac)
Add guides for centering and alignment (View → Guides)

Step 4: Create a Color Palette

Before designing, establish your color system:

Primary color: Main brand color
Secondary color: Complementary or accent color
Monochrome: Black and white versions
Background color: Color to show contrast

Use Figma’s “Colors” panel to save these for consistency.

Vector Tools Primer: Pen Tool and Boolean Operations

Using the Pen Tool

Keyboard shortcut: P

How to draw:

Click to place points
Click and drag to create curved segments
Hold Alt/Option while dragging to adjust curve handles independently
Double-click to finish

Pro tips:

Straight lines: Click twice to place two points
Right angles: Hold Shift while dragging to lock angle
Smooth curves: Click and drag in one motion
Edit points: Select the shape, then double-click point to adjust

Boolean Operations

Located in top toolbar. Combine shapes intelligently:

Union: Merge multiple shapes into one
Subtract: Remove one shape from another (perfect for negative space)
Intersect: Keep only overlapping area
Exclude: Subtract overlapping areas

Example workflow:

Draw a circle
Draw a rectangle overlapping the circle
Select both (Shift+Click)
Click “Subtract”
Circle now has a rectangular cutout

Designing a Wordmark Logo

A wordmark is a text-based logo using custom typography and styling.

Step 1: Choose Your Font

Select a modern, distinctive font. Popular choices for logos:

Geometric: Montserrat, Futura, Jost
Modern serif: Crimson Text, Poppins
Bold sans-serif: Bebas Neue, Playfair Display
Elegant script: Pacifico, Dancing Script (sparingly)

In Figma:

Select text tool (T)
Type your company name
Click font dropdown
Select your choice

Step 2: Apply Typography Styling

Font size: Start large (80-120px)
Font weight: Typically bold or extra-bold
Letter spacing: Adjust for visual balance (usually +5% to +15%)
Line height: Not critical for single-line wordmarks

Step 3: Customize Individual Letters (Optional)

For unique wordmarks, modify individual letters:

Convert text to outline (Ctrl+Shift+O)
Select individual letter with Ctrl+Click
Use pen tool to adjust curves or modify shapes
Be subtle; maintain readability

Example: Modify the ‘A’ in “Apple” to create distinctive shape while keeping it recognizable.

Step 4: Create Design Variations

Duplicate your wordmark
Try different weights or spacing
Test with color, gradients, and effects
Save best version as component

Step 5: Add Supporting Elements (Optional)

Simple additions that enhance wordmarks:

Underline or dash beneath text
Background shape (circle, rectangle)
Decorative line or flourish
Small icon element

Principle: Less is more. Modern wordmarks are clean and simple.

Designing an Icon/Symbol Logo

An icon or symbol is a graphic mark that represents your brand (like Apple’s apple, Nike’s swoosh).

Step 1: Conceptualize Your Mark

Brainstorm ideas:

What does your company do?
What’s unique about your brand?
What symbol could represent this?

Tips:

Start with sketches on paper (10+ concepts)
Choose the strongest concept
Simplify ruthlessly (remove detail)
Ensure it works in small sizes (16px minimum)

Step 2: Draw Basic Shapes

Start with fundamental shapes using Figma tools:

Ellipse tool (O): Draw circles and ovals
Rectangle tool (R): Draw squares and boxes
Polygon tool: Click and drag to create stars, hexagons
Pen tool (P): Draw custom shapes

Combine these to build your concept.

Step 3: Refine with Boolean Operations

Arrange your shapes roughly
Select overlapping shapes
Apply Union, Subtract, Intersect operations
Adjust individual points with pen tool to refine curves
Iterate until satisfied

Example (creating a simplified tree mark):

Draw circle (canopy)
Draw rectangle (trunk)
Arrange and refine proportions
Adjust curves to modern smoothness

Step 4: Apply Styling

Fill color: Primary brand color
Stroke: Optional 1-2px stroke for definition
Shadows: Typically avoid for logo marks
Gradient: Modern but use subtly (1-2 color gradients max)

Step 5: Test Scaling

Critical for icon logos:

Duplicate your mark
Resize to 512px
Resize to 256px
Resize to 128px
Resize to 64px
Resize to 32px
Resize to 16px

At 16px, is it still recognizable? If detail is lost, simplify further.

Combining Mark and Wordmark

Most professional logos combine a symbol and wordmark. Here’s how:

Step 1: Lock and Align

Place your mark and wordmark on a canvas
Select both
Use alignment tools (top toolbar: “Align left,” “Center,” “Align bottom”)
Arrange horizontally, vertically, or stacked

Step 2: Set Proportions

Maintain consistent sizing:

Mark width: 100px
Wordmark height: 60px
Space between: 20px

Adjust these proportions to visual balance, not strict math.

Step 3: Create Variations

Create three standard layouts:

Horizontal: Mark left, wordmark right (primary use) Vertical: Mark top, wordmark bottom (social media, app icons) Mark only: Icon without wordmark (favicon, app icon)

Step 4: Make into a Component

Select mark + wordmark group
Right-click → “Create component”
Name it “Logo / Full”
Create variants for light/dark background
Save variations

Exporting Logos for All Use Cases

Export Settings for SVG

SVG is the best format for logos (scales infinitely).

Select your logo
Right-click → “Export”
Format: SVG
Decimal places: 2
Outline strokes: ON (for consistency)
Include “CODE” option to copy SVG code

Use SVG for: Websites, apps, digital media, any scalable use.

Export Settings for PNG (Multiple Sizes)

Select your logo
Right-click → “Export”
Add multiple exports:
- 512×512 px (default size)
- 256×256 px (medium)
- 128×128 px (small)
- 64×64 px (favicon)
- 32×32 px (favicon backup)
Format: PNG
Background: Transparent

Use PNG for: App icons, favicons, raster formats.

Export for Print

Select your logo
Right-click → “Export”
Format: PDF
Scale: 1x (maintains vector quality)
Download and verify in Acrobat

Use PDF for: Print providers, high-quality output.

Creating Light and Dark Variants

Professional logos work on any background.

Step 1: Create Component with Variants

Select your combined logo (mark + wordmark)
Right-click → “Create component”
Name: “Logo”
Create variants by clicking ”+” next to “Design” tab
Name variants: “Dark background,” “Light background”

Step 2: Adjust Each Variant

Dark background variant:

Change to white or light color
Increase stroke weight slightly for definition
Test on dark background

Light background variant:

Keep original dark color
Test on light background
May need to add subtle stroke for definition

Step 3: Monochrome Version

Create black-and-white versions:

Duplicate your logo
Convert to grayscale (right-click → “Colors” → “Grayscale”)
Verify legibility
Save as variant

Common Logo Design Mistakes to Avoid

Too complex: Logos with lots of detail don’t scale to small sizes. Simplify ruthlessly.

Poor contrast: Your logo must work in one color on any background. Test grayscale.

Trendy choices: Avoid overly trendy fonts or effects. Logos should last 10+ years.

Symmetry issues: Asymmetrical elements can look accidental. Be intentional or fully commit to symmetry.

Missing variations: Design for all contexts: dark background, light background, small size, monochrome.

Unintended associations: Research your mark. Does it look like something unintended?

Professional Logo Delivery Package

When finished, deliver:

SVG file (scalable vector)
PNG files (512px, 256px, 128px, 64px, 32px)
PDF file (print-ready)
Figma file (for future edits)
Brand guidelines document:
- Minimum size
- Color codes (Hex, RGB, Pantone)
- Spacing and clear space
- Approved backgrounds
- Misuse examples

Conclusion

Designing logos in Figma is efficient and professional. Whether you’re creating a wordmark, symbol, or combined mark, Figma’s vector tools and collaboration features make it ideal for logo work.

Start simple, iterate multiple concepts, and test extensively at small sizes. Export in multiple formats for different use cases. A great logo is timeless, simple, and works across any context—principles you can master in Figma with practice.