/Guide G02
Guide G02 • Visual Heuristics
What Makes a Good Logo: The 5 Golden Heuristics
The difference between an amateur Canva graphic and an enduring trademark comes down to five immutable engineering benchmarks.
1. Instant Recognition in < 0.5s
The human visual cortex parses silhouettes before color or text. If the shape is convoluted, memorability drops by over 80%.
2. Flawless 16px to 20-Foot Scalability
Must survive high-contrast 1-bit black/white fax, WhatsApp DP circular crop, and 300 DPI offset print on cotton visiting cards.
3. Cultural & Industry Appropriateness
A CA firm needs stable vertical balance; an organic Ayurvedic cafe needs organic curved terminals. Tone must match statutory trust.
4. Distinctiveness for Trademarking
Stock template copies fail Indian Trade Marks Act 1999 Section 9/11 distinctiveness scrutiny. Unique geometric vectors pass effortlessly.