You don't need a design background to tell if a logo is working — you just need to know what to actually check for, instead of going purely on gut feeling about whether it "looks nice."
1. Does It Work in Black and White?
Cover the color and look at just the shape. If it still reads clearly and looks intentional, the underlying design is solid — color is a bonus layer, not a crutch holding up a weak shape.
2. Is It Recognizable Small?
Shrink it down to the size of a favicon or a social media profile picture. If details disappear into mush, it won't hold up in the places a logo actually lives day to day — app icons, tiny print, watermarks.
3. Does It Still Look Right in a Year?
Trendy design elements (a specific gradient style, an of-the-moment font) date quickly. A good logo leans on more timeless choices, so it doesn't need replacing every couple of years just to stay current.
4. Is It Actually Different From Competitors?
Look at 3–4 competitor logos side by side with yours. If yours blends in — same color, same general shape language — it's not doing its job of helping people tell you apart.
5. Does It Fit the Business, Not Just Look "Nice"?
A playful, rounded logo for a serious financial consultancy sends a mismatched signal, no matter how well-executed it is on its own. Good logos fit their context, not just look good in isolation.
You're not judging art. You're judging whether a shape can do its job: be recognized, remembered, and trusted, at any size, for years.
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