How to Design a Good Logo?

Whenever I get hired to produce a logo, I like to feast my eyes on other logos for a couple of days (if I have the time). You know, Inspiration.

I'll do a google image search for "logo" or just drive around looking specifically at logos. You know, get my brain thinking along those lines.

Well, while researching recently, I found this site called "GoodLogo.com".

This site is dedicated to the artform of the logo and its accompanied corporate identity. We hope to serve you here with the finest selection of logos, selected and submitted by everyone from all over the world. With our voting and rating system and our classification in categories we would like to give you a multidimensional view on the best logos for different purposes.

This is a site where they've got a bunch of international logos displayed. They've got a way to rate the logos and some case studies on some major logos.

It's interesting looking through these and noticing how familiar they are.

So, what make a good logo? More specifically, what makes these famous logos good logos? Well, I'd venture to say that they are just logos that are famous. Being easily recognized does not mean it's good. I mean, the World Wildlife Fund logo could have been anything. It could have been a zebra, you know? Well, although everyone thinks Pandas are cute, right?

Well, maybe one of my logos will end up being globally known. That would be fun.

What do you think?
1. Have you designed a globally known logo?
2. What is your favorite logo?
3. Has your business logo changed over the years?