How to design a logo in PowerPoint?

You want to design a simple logo but you don't know Photoshop, Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator. What should you do? Depend on others?

Need not. You can design your logo in PowerPoint and it will look very good and not take up much time. The process is very simple and needs only very basic understanding of the software. Let us take the case of how I went about designing the logo of my popular series '14 Tips to Make Awesome Charts'.

Step-1 The Design
You should know how your logo should look like. One has to decide on these 3 elements; shape, colour and text. I wanted the logo to be like a pie chart and the number 14 to come on one side of the pie. I wanted the logo in orange (that's the colour I use as a theme for the blog).

Step-2 Create a Pie
Insert a pie on the empty slide.
Insert -> Shapes -> Basic Shapes -> Pie in PowerPoint 2007.
This can also be done in 2003. Make a large pie so that it is easier to handle.
Step-3 Rotate the Pie
Format -> Rotate -> Flip Horizontal
Step-4 Fill Colour
By default, the pie is of blue colour with a dark blue outline.
Format -> Choose orange colour under Shape Fill.
Format -> Choose No Outline under Shape Outline.
Now your pie is filled with orange colour and it has no boundaries (outline).

Step-5 Add a Shadow
By adding a shadow, your logo will look much better.
Format -> Shape Effects -> Shadow -> Outer Shadow -> Choose the first option (the shadow comes on the right side in a diagonal fashion).

Step-6
Insert a text box and type 14. Try out many font styles and choose the one which appeals to you. I had chosen the font 'Impact'. Increase the font size to fit in the cut portion of the pie. Make the font bold and place it nicely within the cut.
Step-7 Moving the Text Box
There are two ways of moving a text box. One, by selecting it and using keyboard arrows or with a mouse directly. I prefer using keyboard arrows. Second, to move the text box slowly, press control and then use the keyboard arrows. It really helps set the '14' properly in place.
Step-8
Insert another text box and write down the remaining name of the series. 'Tips to present awesome charts'. Move the text box and fit it in alignment with the pie and the number 14.

Step-9 Grouping
Select all the three elements and group them.
Right click -> Group -> Group
This will group all the 3 elements into one element.

Step-10 Save as Picture
Your logo is now ready. Right click on the shape and 'Save as Picture...'
Save it as a .PNG image. This is because your logo contains both shapes and text. To read more on JPEG and PNG click here and here.
You can now use this logo wherever you want. Go ahead, design your own logo in PowerPoint and use it on your website, presentations and wherever you desire. And you don't need to be a Photoshop expert for that.