modbender OpenGFX Logo System
Generate production-ready logo systems from natural language input.
What This Skill Produces
Every logo system includes:
- Icon — Single-color vector path in square container (1:1)
- Wordmark — Typography-based name, single-color vector
- Stacked Lockup — Icon above wordmark, centered
- Horizontal Lockup — Icon left, wordmark right
- Logo System JSON — Machine-readable metadata
All outputs are SVG vectors optimized for scalability (16px → billboard).
Icon Container Rule (Critical)
The icon SVG is ALWAYS a square container (1:1 aspect ratio).
- If the icon shape is not square, add negative space to make the container square
- NEVER stretch or distort the icon to fill a square
- The icon floats within the square with appropriate padding
Generation Pipeline
Step 1: Parse User Input
Extract from prompt:
- Brand Name (required)
- Icon Direction (emoji, concept, or abstract reference)
- Style Direction (minimal, playful, corporate, tech, etc.)
- Typeface Direction (sans-serif, serif, geometric, humanist, etc.)
If missing, ask clarifying questions before proceeding.
Step 2: Conceptualize Icon
Apply geometric construction principles:
- Select Base Shape — Circle, triangle, square, or compound
- Apply Concept — Map user's icon direction to geometric form
- Simplify — Reduce to single vector path that works at 16px
- Test in Black — No color until form is solid
Reference: GEOMETRY.md for shape meanings and construction.
Step 3: Select Typeface
Match typeface to brand personality:
| Style | Typeface Families |
|---|---|
| Tech/Modern | Inter, SF Pro, Söhne, Geist, Manrope |
| Minimal/Apple | SF Pro Display, Helvetica Neue, Avenir |
| Geometric | Futura, Century Gothic, Proxima Nova |
| Humanist | Gill Sans, Frutiger, Myriad Pro |
| Elegant | Didot, Bodoni, Playfair Display |
| Playful | Quicksand, Poppins, Nunito |
| Corporate | IBM Plex Sans, Roboto, Open Sans |
Convert wordmark to single-path SVG (outlined, not live text).
Reference: TYPOGRAPHY.md for type selection.
Step 4: Construct Lockups
Generate two SVG lockups with consistent proportions:
Stacked (1:1)
┌─────────────────┐
│ ICON │
│ │
│ WORDMARK │
└─────────────────┘
Horizontal (3:1 to 4:1)
┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ ICON │ WORDMARK │
└─────────────────────────────┘
Reference: LOCKUPS.md for spacing ratios.
Step 5: Output Package
Generate output files:
output/
├── icon.svg # Icon in square container (1:1)
├── wordmark.svg # Isolated wordmark
├── stacked.svg # Icon + wordmark vertical
├── horizontal.svg # Icon + wordmark horizontal
└── logo-system.json # Metadata + tokens
Design Principles (Enforce Always)
The One Thing Rule
Every logo must have exactly ONE memorable feature. Not two, not three. One.
Black First
Design in solid black (#000000). Color comes last. If the logo doesn't work in black, it doesn't work.
Geometric Foundation
All icons derive from the five universal shapes. Even organic forms should be constructed on a geometric grid.
Scalability Test
Every logo must pass:
- 16px (favicon)
- 32px (app icon)
- 64px (small UI)
- 256px+ (print/display)
Single Path Principle
Icon should be reducible to a single compound path. Wordmark should be outlined (no live text).
Quality Checklist
Before delivering any logo:
- Icon works in solid black
- Icon works at 16px without detail loss
- Wordmark is outlined (paths, not text)
- All three lockups have consistent spacing
- One memorable feature, not multiple
- Appropriate to industry/context
- SVG is optimized (no unnecessary groups, transforms)
Example Prompt → Output
Input:
"I need a logo for my new company called OpenGFX, it should be a paint palette like this emoji 🎨 paired with a clean sans serif font, think Apple / Steve Jobs design style"
Parsed:
- Brand Name: OpenGFX
- Icon Direction: Paint palette (🎨)
- Style: Apple-minimal, Steve Jobs aesthetic
- Typeface: Clean sans-serif (SF Pro Display, Helvetica Neue)
Generated:
- Icon: Simplified paint palette derived from circle + 3 dots
- Wordmark: "OpenGFX" in SF Pro Display (or Helvetica Neue), tracked -10
- Lockups: All three variants with Apple-style generous whitespace
References
- GEOMETRY.md — Shape meanings, construction grids
- TYPOGRAPHY.md — Type selection, pairing, tracking
- LOCKUPS.md — Spacing ratios, safe areas
- MODERNISM.md — Logo Modernism principles
Anti-Patterns (Never Do)
- ❌ Multiple competing visual ideas in one icon
- ❌ Gradients or effects in primary logo
- ❌ Live text in SVG (always outline)
- ❌ Icons that lose detail at small sizes
- ❌ Trendy effects (drop shadows, 3D, bevels)
- ❌ Literal representations (restaurant logo = fork, dental = tooth)
- ❌ Generic shapes without conceptual connection