Vancouver logo design by Cam Appleton

Graphic Refresh

“Why wouldn't I just use AI?”

Because your business deserves a point of view.

Yes, a logo designer is about to talk you out of AI. I know how that sounds. Hear me out.

Fair question, and sometimes you should. I'm Cam Appleton, a Vancouver logo designer with over 20 years of experience. I'll tell you straight when AI is good enough and when it'll leave you looking like everyone else.

20+ years of experience. Two generations of design.

Book a free call

The honest answer about AI (from the guy who'd obviously say this)

An AI logo takes about ten seconds. So does your competitor's, and there's a good chance they'll look related.

AI is quick and it's cheap. It's also built on what it's seen the most, so it tends to give you the average of everyone else's logos. That's fine for a weekend project. It's a problem when the whole point is to stand out.

A logo also has to hold up small, in one colour, on a sign and on a shirt. You need clean files you own, not a pretty picture you can't edit.

And AI can't look at the shop down the street and tell you what not to do. I can.

Real design is the part you don't see: knowing why one curve feels friendly and another feels cheap, what reads from across the street, and what still looks right in ten years. A good logo can make a small business look established before anyone walks in the door. That's what you're paying for.

How it works

  1. 01A quick call about your business and who you compete with.
  2. 02I look at your competitors and come back with concepts.
  3. 03We refine the one you like.
  4. 04You get every file you need, and they're yours.

Selected work

A few logos I've designed

  • WilPacific Plumbing & Gasfitting logo
  • NV Seafood and More logo
  • The Sourcerer, sourcing broker logo
  • Port Alberni logo
  • Canadian Firefighter logo
  • Sproat Lake Fire Dept. logo
  • Addy logo
  • TrueClean Carpet Care logo
  • My Alberni app logo
  • Hike Vancouver logo
  • BCFDA Conference 2016, Alberni Valley logo
  • Broken Record Entertainment logo
  • Tla-o-qui-aht Fire Dept. logo
  • EmOps Emergency Alert System logo
  • Emma Plant logo
  • The Smoke Stack and Vape Shack logo
  • Möbius Books logo
  • Tea Tea logo
  • Hike Alberni logo
  • AlpineWest Contracting logo
  • Planet Stupid logo
  • Shadowfish logo
  • Vinylly Here logo
  • ALF monogram logo
  • Tree mark logo
  • Swirl mark logo

Meet Cam

I grew up around design, and I've been designing logos myself for over 20 years. That means I know the styles that came before the internet: hand-lettering traditions, mid-century marks, old sign painting, and others that rarely show up in AI output.

When we work together, I look at who you're up against first. Then we find the look that's yours.

Packages

Three ways to start

Essentials

$500 CAD

For new businesses that need something solid and their own.

  • Kickoff call and a quick look at 3 local competitors
  • 2 original logo concepts
  • 2 rounds of revisions
  • Vector and PNG files: full colour, one colour, reversed
  • About 7 to 10 business days

Where most people start

Refresh

$900 CAD

For established businesses whose logo looks dated or blends in.

  • Everything in Essentials
  • 3 concepts, 3 rounds of revisions
  • Written review of about 5 competitors, with how to stand apart
  • Colour palette and font pairing
  • Favicon and social profile versions
  • One-page logo use guide
  • About 10 to 15 business days

Signature

$1400 CAD

For businesses putting real money behind the brand: signage, vehicles, a new location.

  • Everything in Refresh
  • 4 or 5 concepts across different graphic styles, including less common ones
  • Revisions for 30 days
  • Business card and one more application (sign, vehicle or email signature)
  • Short brand guide
  • Follow-up call after launch
  • About 15 to 20 business days

All prices in Canadian dollars. You own full rights to the final logo once the final payment is made.

Book a free call

Questions

Can't I just use AI?

You can, and for some things it's fine. If your logo needs to stand out, work at every size, and be yours to use anywhere, that's where I come in. Happy to look at an AI draft and tell you what I think.

Do you use AI?

AI is everywhere now, and I'm not going to pretend otherwise. But I've been doing this for over 20 years, and I still think a person who knows your business and your competition does better work. Your logo is designed by me.

Do I own the logo?

Yes. Once the final payment is made, you own full rights to the final logo, along with all the files.

How long does it take?

About 7 to 20 business days, depending on the package.

Can you refresh my logo instead of starting over?

Yes. A lot of good logos just need cleaning up and a modern touch. That's where the name comes from.

Do you work outside Vancouver?

Yes, we can do everything by phone or video call.

How do I get started?

Book a free call. We'll talk about your business and who you're up against, and I'll suggest the package that fits.

Want a second opinion on your logo?

Send me what you've got, even if it's an AI draft. I'll tell you honestly whether it's working and what I'd change. No pressure either way.

Book a free call

hello@graphicrefresh.ca