I heard a client say they wanted their logo to look 'expensive' but not 'fancy'

I was grabbing coffee yesterday and overheard a guy at the next table talking to a designer. He said, "I need it to feel premium, like a good watch, but not like it's trying too hard." That got me thinking about how we show value in design without just adding more stuff. I mean, maybe it's just me, but sometimes a clean, simple mark with the right spacing and one good color says more than a busy, detailed one. I've been looking at old Swiss watch ads and some modern tech branding to see how they do it. Has anyone else had a client ask for that kind of vibe and found a good example to point to?

3 comments

3 Comments

lily_black442mo ago

Ever notice how the best restaurants have simple menus but feel expensive?

the_val2mo ago

My kitchen is the opposite.

adam_nguyen72mo agoTop Commenter

Yeah totally, it's like they're not trying to do everything, so they can do a few things perfectly. That simple menu means they get the best ingredients and don't waste anything. You're paying for that focus, not for a giant book of frozen options. It just feels confident, which makes it feel fancy.