OpenGFX

Generate complete logo systems with icon + wordmark + lockups. Creates production-ready SVG vector logos from natural language prompts. Use when a user requests a logo, brand mark, icon design, or visual identity foundation.

OpenGFX Logo System

Generate production-ready logo systems from natural language input.

What This Skill Produces

Every logo system includes:

1. Icon — Single-color vector path in square container (1:1)
2. Wordmark — Typography-based name, single-color vector
3. Stacked Lockup — Icon above wordmark, centered
4. Horizontal Lockup — Icon left, wordmark right
5. 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

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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:

1. Select Base Shape — Circle, triangle, square, or compound
2. Apply Concept — Map user's icon direction to geometric form
3. Simplify — Reduce to single vector path that works at 16px
4. 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)

text

┌─────────────────┐
│      ICON       │
│                 │
│    WORDMARK     │
└─────────────────┘

Horizontal (3:1 to 4:1)

text

┌─────────────────────────────┐
│  ICON  │     WORDMARK       │
└─────────────────────────────┘

Reference: LOCKUPS.md for spacing ratios.

Step 5: Output Package

Generate output files:

text

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

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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).

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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)

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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

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References

• GEOMETRY.md — Shape meanings, construction grids
• TYPOGRAPHY.md — Type selection, pairing, tracking
• LOCKUPS.md — Spacing ratios, safe areas
• MODERNISM.md — Logo Modernism principles

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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