Logos on the Cheap: A Newport Beach...

Logos on the Cheap: A Newport Beach design firm is promoting its own solution to the corporate identity crisis: a cut-rate logo design.

Design Ninety9 is offering to design a logo for $795. That’s a fraction of the $1,500 listed by the Graphic Artists Guild as a base price for design of a limited-use corporate logo.

The company says it is able to reduce its costs by getting the customer to do most of the research, allowing Design Ninety9 designers to concentrate on the actual creation of the logo. That results in fewer billable hours and, hence, lower costs.

“This program was designed with the small and start-up business owner in mind,” said Harushi Matsui, creative director for Design Ninety9.

The customer fills out a questionnaire that is either sent by mail, facsimile machine or computer to the designers. The designers then create a few preliminary sketches for the client, who then makes a final selection.

Matsui said the cut-rate logo does not suit the needs of all clients. “Some clients just don’t have the time to invest in the project so they are willing to pay extra for additional services,” Matsui said.