From the Greek root logos, meaning "word," a logo is a design or symbol that an organization uses to brand itself. Like a word in spoken language, a logo is small and easy to understand, but full of complex and symbolic layers of meaning. Companies and other groups use logos to communicate their mission and product, share their vision of the world, and to make themselves stand out from the competition.

	One of the most recognizable logos in the world, the "golden arches" of the fast food company McDonald's lets customers know that a restaurant is nearby.
	This logo for Crest toothpaste has a shiny lens flare behind the C, promoting the idea that your teeth will be white enough to sparkle if you use this product.
	This iconic logo for Nike symbolizes forward motion, and has helped make the company worth billions of dollars.

Chances are, you see dozens of logos every day: you'll find logos hovering above fast food restaurants, emblazoned on your tube of toothpaste, and lurking on the sides of your shoes. Logos may seem simple, but they are almost always the result of careful design choices and painstaking planning sessions. In this lesson, you'll go through the logo creation process from start to finish, creating a design brief, logo thumbnails, a variety sheet, and finally a finished design ready for branding.