Every designer has heard it. That infamous, immortal phrase that sends a chill down even the most seasoned creative’s spine: “Can you make the logo bigger?”
It usually arrives just after the unveiling of a beautifully balanced design—the result of hours of careful typographic harmony, thoughtful color choices, and layout precision. And then, with a smile and a quick jab to the gut of visual hierarchy, the client utters it.
You want to laugh. You want to cry. But most of all, you want to somehow explain that a logo the size of a sofa cushion doesn’t equal stronger brand presence. Still, like a rite of passage, every designer must eventually navigate the absurdity of the “bigger logo” request.
Act I: The Comedy of Proportions
Imagine this scene: the designer unveils a sleek landing page, a clean brochure, or a perfectly balanced banner ad. There’s just the right amount of whitespace, elegant typography, a tasteful logo in the upper left-hand corner. It’s a thing of beauty.
Then the client leans in, furrows their brow, and says it.
“Looks great! But… can we make the logo bigger?”
Cue the internal screaming.
At first, you nudge the logo up 10%. Then 20%. It grows like a rising loaf of sourdough, swelling with every revision round. Eventually, it dominates the layout like a territorial animal, pushing all other elements to the periphery. What was once a subtle nod to branding becomes a neon billboard demanding attention—and ruining everything else in the process.
Act II: The Battle Between Logic and Ego
Designers aren’t just being difficult. There’s real strategy behind keeping logos proportionate. Visual hierarchy, user focus, eye flow—all depend on balance. A massive logo breaks that balance, often at the cost of user experience and clarity.
But clients, understandably, see things differently. Their logo is their identity. It’s their hard work, their pride, their story wrapped into one graphic mark. To them, making it more prominent is simply ensuring it doesn’t get lost.
“People won’t know it’s us,” they argue.
In truth, visibility is more nuanced. Recognition isn’t just about size—it’s about consistency, placement, and how the brand shows up across multiple touchpoints. But that kind of branding literacy isn’t always easy to communicate in a short Zoom call.
So instead, designers often find themselves caught between design principles and emotional reassurance.
Act III: The Escalation of Madness
Once the logo gets supersized, the requests tend to snowball.
“Could we animate it?”
“Can it follow the mouse pointer?”
“What if it glows gently—like the Bat-Signal, but for consumers?”
Suddenly, the project feels less like a branding exercise and more like a low-budget sci-fi interface. You’re no longer designing a homepage—you’re building a shrine.
And while the designer struggles to maintain some semblance of order, the client cheerfully imagines a world where their logo spins, sparkles, and maybe even sings.
Act IV: The Subtle Art of Compromise
Veteran designers develop tricks. One common tactic? Make the logo marginally bigger and then redirect the client’s attention.
“Sure! While we’re at it, let’s look at this call-to-action button—it really drives conversions.”
Often, that sleight of hand is enough. If not, there’s always the nuclear option: creating an exaggerated mock-up that fulfills the client’s wish in its most extreme form.
It’s not malicious—it’s strategic. By presenting a layout with a logo so huge it becomes comically absurd, clients often realize the implications for themselves.
“Oh… yeah. That’s too much,” they admit.
Victory, at last.
Epilogue: More Than Just a Logo
Behind every oversized logo request is something deeper: a desire to be noticed. Clients aren’t trying to sabotage good design; they want to feel represented. That logo symbolizes everything their company stands for. Of course they want it to shine.
As designers, it helps to approach these moments with empathy. Yes, advocate for best practices. Yes, protect the integrity of your design. But also recognize the emotion behind the ask.
After all, the request to “make the logo bigger” isn’t just about a graphic element. It’s about visibility. It’s about value. It’s about a client hoping their brand will be remembered.
So the next time the phrase comes your way, take a deep breath. Smile. And maybe—just maybe—resize that logo 5% and move on.
You’ll have another great story for the next designer happy hour.
