--- name: sales-designevo description: "DesignEvo (designevo.com, by PearlMountain) platform help — a budget freemium template-based logo maker + in-browser editor (10,000+ templates, 100+ fonts, millions of icons) with native Mac/Windows/Android apps. Freemium pay-per-logo: the FREE tier DOES download, but only a low-res PNG, requires crediting/sharing DesignEvo, and grants NO commercial ownership; Basic (one-time) adds high-res + transparent PNG/JPG; Plus (one-time) adds vector SVG/PDF + the fonts used + full re-edit/re-download + ownership. Vector and ownership are Plus-only. Use when making or editing a logo in DesignEvo, understanding what the free download actually gives you (and why it isn't really free to use), which tier unlocks vector SVG / transparent PNG / ownership, using its desktop or mobile app, or whether it has an API to automate logo generation — it is UI-only, NO public API/webhooks/Zapier/MCP. Do NOT use to generate the business name (use /sales-namelix) or to compare/validate branding tools (use /sales-idea-validation)." argument-hint: "[describe what you need help with in DesignEvo]" license: MIT version: 1.0.0 tags: [sales, branding, pre-launch, platform] --- # DesignEvo Platform Help DesignEvo (**designevo.com**, by **PearlMountain**, est. 2006) is a **budget freemium template-based logo maker + in-browser editor** — a peer in the budget logo cluster (**Hatchful / Brandolia / LogoAI / Zoviz / Brandmark / Mojomox / Logomaster / Logomakerr / Looka**). Unlike the "enter name + industry → AI proposes concepts" tools, it's a **template picker + manual editor**: browse **10,000+ templates** (marketed count) by industry, then customize **text/fonts (100+)/icons (a huge vector-icon library)/colors/layout** in-browser or in its **native Mac / Windows desktop apps or Android app**. It's the **branding/logo step** for founders and small businesses who've locked a name — and the boundary matters: a **logo is downstream of a locked name, which is downstream of a validated idea**, so validate demand first (`/sales-idea-validation`) and name it (`/sales-namelix`) before branding. **The one fact that trips everyone up: "free" does not mean "free to use."** DesignEvo's free tier **does let you download** (unlike Hatchful's email gate or Brandolia's no-free-download), **but only a low-resolution PNG, it requires you to credit/share DesignEvo, and it grants NO commercial ownership**. Usable, owned files are a **one-time paid purchase per logo** — **Basic** (high-res + transparent raster) or **Plus** (adds vector **SVG/PDF**, the fonts used, full re-edit/re-download, and copyright ownership). **Vector and ownership are Plus-only.** It is **UI-only — there is NO public API** (see Step 4). ## Step 1 — Gather context If `references/learnings.md` exists, read it first for accumulated platform knowledge. Ask only what you can't infer: 1. **What do you want from DesignEvo?** - A) Make/customize a logo (templates, fonts, icons, colors, layout) - B) Understand the **free vs paid boundary** — what the free download actually gives you and why it isn't really "free to use" - C) Which **tier** you need — for **vector SVG**, **transparent PNG**, **high-res**, or **ownership** - D) Use the **desktop (Mac/Windows) or Android** app vs the web editor - E) Integrate or automate ("API" / bulk generation — see Step 4) 2. **What will the logo be used for — digital/social, or print/large-format, and do you need to legally own it?** This decides the tier: free PNG is a credited placeholder you don't own; print/vector needs **Plus**. Skip-ahead: a *name* (not a logo) → `/sales-namelix`; the validate-before-building *method* or a branding-tool comparison → `/sales-idea-validation`; wider social/marketing creative → `/sales-canva` — route in Step 2. ## Step 2 — Route or answer directly | If the user's question is about… | Route to | |---|---| | Generating the **business name** itself (not the logo) | `/sales-namelix {question}` | | The validate-before-building **method**, or comparing branding/logo tools across the market | `/sales-idea-validation {question}` | | Getting a **vector from a raster** logo / print-readiness in general | `/sales-idea-validation {question}` | | Building the wider **social/marketing creative** or a design system at scale | `/sales-canva {question}` | When routing, give the exact command: "This is a {domain} question — run: `/sales-namelix {original question}`" Otherwise, answer DesignEvo-specific questions using Step 3. ## Step 3 — DesignEvo platform reference **Read `references/platform-guide.md`** for the full reference — the browse-template → customize → download workflow and every module's automation tag; the **three-tier freemium pay-per-logo model** (Free low-res credited PNG with no ownership; Basic one-time high-res + transparent PNG/JPG; Plus one-time adding vector SVG/PDF + fonts + full re-edit/re-download + ownership) and exactly **which tier unlocks vector, transparent PNG, high-res, and ownership**; the **free-tier trap** (low-res, mandatory DesignEvo credit/share, no commercial rights); the **desktop (Mac App Store / Windows) and Android** apps vs the web editor; the **commercial-ownership** terms and their trademark limits; and the **no-public-API** reality (why logo generation can't be scripted and what to use instead). Answer using only the relevant section — don't dump the full reference. ## Step 4 — Actionable guidance - **"Free" ≠ "free to use" — set this expectation before anyone commits.** DesignEvo's free tier **does download**, but only a **low-resolution PNG**, it **requires you to credit/share DesignEvo** (e.g. a social-media share), and it grants **NO commercial ownership**. Treat the free download as a **credited placeholder**, not a usable owned asset. To actually own and use the logo commercially you buy a **one-time package per logo**. **Flag all pricing/limits as best-effort and point users to designevo.com/pricing** — PearlMountain changes tiers. - **Map the tier to the deliverable.** **Basic** (one-time) = **high-resolution + transparent PNG/JPG**, raster only. **Plus** (one-time) = adds **vector SVG/PDF**, the **fonts used** in the logo, **full edit + re-download**, and **copyright ownership**. So: need **vector SVG/PDF, editable fonts, or ownership → Plus**; need only a high-res/transparent raster for web/social → Basic; a throwaway credited preview → free. Don't tell a user Basic gives vector — **vector starts at Plus**. - **If they need print/large-format, they need vector — which means Plus.** A raster PNG (free or Basic) **pixelates when enlarged** and is wrong for print/signage/apparel. DesignEvo *does* export vector, but only on **Plus** — so recommend **Plus** for anything going to print. (If they already have only a PNG, vectorizing it by auto-trace is **lossy and rarely production-clean** — prefer re-exporting from DesignEvo as Plus vector.) - **Lock the name (and validate the idea) before you make a logo.** A logo is downstream: validate demand first (`/sales-idea-validation`), settle the name (`/sales-namelix`), *then* make the logo — never brand a name you might still change. - **The paid logo is yours to use commercially (Plus), but ownership ≠ a registered trademark — do your own clearance.** DesignEvo grants copyright/commercial use on paid tiers, but a mark built from a **shared template library** can be **non-distinctive**, and thousands of others use the same templates. Tell users to run a **USPTO/EUIPO** search + distinctiveness check before relying on the mark legally. - **Desktop/Android apps are the same editor, not an offline-first differentiator.** DesignEvo ships **native Mac (Mac App Store) and Windows desktop apps and an Android app** in addition to the web editor — a genuine difference from the pure-web peers — but they're the **same template editor**, and the **same free-vs-paid download rules apply**. Installing the app doesn't unlock free vector or free ownership. - **There is NO public API — don't plan a pipeline around it.** If asked to "use the DesignEvo API" or generate logos in bulk from a script, be precise: it's **entirely a human-in-the-loop UI tool** — **no REST endpoints, no webhooks, no Zapier/Make, no MCP**, and the desktop/mobile apps don't change that. **Do not invent or describe endpoints, auth, or SDKs for DesignEvo — there are none.** For programmatic logo/image generation at volume, use an **image-generation service with a documented API**. If you discover a gotcha or tip not in `references/learnings.md`, append it there with today's date. ## Gotchas *Best-effort from research (2026-07) — features, tiers, and terms move; verify at designevo.com/pricing.* - **The free download is a trap if you assume it's usable.** It's a **low-resolution PNG**, it **requires crediting/sharing DesignEvo**, and it comes with **NO commercial ownership**. Free = credited placeholder, not an owned asset. Reported free resolution varies by source (~300–500px) — don't assert an exact number; verify. - **Vector (SVG/PDF) is Plus-only — Basic is raster.** Basic (one-time) gives high-res + transparent **PNG/JPG** but **no vector**; **Plus** (one-time) is the tier that unlocks **SVG/PDF**, the fonts used, full re-edit/ re-download, and **copyright ownership**. Don't promise vector on Basic. - **Three one-time tiers, not a subscription.** Free / Basic / Plus are **one-time purchases per logo project**, with a 7-day money-back window (best-effort). It's pay-per-logo, not a monthly plan. - **Commercial ownership comes only with a paid tier — and even then ≠ a registered trademark.** Templates are shared by many users (non-distinctive); run your own USPTO/EUIPO clearance before trademarking. - **There is NO public API, webhooks, Zapier/Make, or MCP.** UI-only; logo generation can't be scripted, on web or in the desktop/Android apps. For programmatic generation use an image-generation service with a documented API. - **Native desktop (Mac/Windows) + Android apps exist — but they're the same editor.** Same templates, same free-vs-paid download rules; the app doesn't unlock free vector or ownership. - **By PearlMountain (Chengdu, China), est. 2006.** An established tool, not a 2025 indie — but treat all pricing and feature specifics as best-effort and confirm live. ## Related skills - `/sales-namelix` — Generate the business name first (a logo is the hand-off from the name) - `/sales-hatchful` — The other **free** logo maker (Shopify Logo Maker) — PNG-only, no vector at all; compare when "which free logo maker" is the question - `/sales-namecheap-logo-maker` — A **100% free** logo maker (by registrar Namecheap) that exports **free vector SVG** — compare when weighing free-vector-here vs DesignEvo's paid-Plus vector (watch its Noun Project icon-licensing catch) - `/sales-logo-com` — A budget peer whose paid vector is a **recurring subscription** (Brand Plan) rather than DesignEvo's **one-time** per-logo Plus — compare the two payment models when the free PNG isn't enough - `/sales-brandolia` — A budget **freemium** peer (logo + brand kit + site builder; free to generate but can't download free) — compare the two freemium models - `/sales-mojomox` — Typography-first budget peer that exports vector SVG — compare if you want a modern type-led mark - `/sales-logoai` — Budget AI logo maker + Brand Center (PNG + vector) — compare if choosing a paid AI logo maker - `/sales-zoviz` — The cheapest paid logo/brand-kit peer + a broader Canva-like suite — compare if you need a full brand kit - `/sales-brandmark` — AI logo maker (Namelix's paid sister tool) — compare if choosing an AI logo maker - `/sales-logomaker` — LogoMaker.com: a **one-time** peer where **vector SVG is in the base ~$40 package**, but there's **no free download at all** — compare on cheap one-time vector vs DesignEvo's free-but-credited PNG / Plus-only vector - `/sales-ucraft-logo-maker` — A blank-canvas peer with a **free PNG** plus a **~$7 one-time SVG** (the cheapest paid vector in the cluster) — compare against DesignEvo's pricier ~$50 Plus-only vector - `/sales-freelogodesign` — A template-based peer where **vector sits in the base BASIC ~$45 one-time plan** (not a Plus-only tier) — compare when weighing where each tool puts its paid vector (its free download is only a 200px PNG) - `/sales-smashinglogo` — The closest analog to DesignEvo's "vector is a tier upgrade": a **one-time** peer whose **vector (EPS/PDF) unlocks at the mid Business tier** (its cheapest tier is PNG-only) — but SmashingLogo has **no free download at all** (watermarked preview), while DesignEvo gives a free credited PNG - `/sales-logonerds` — A **done-for-you HUMAN** service (real designers, flat ~$27–$97, vector .ai/.eps in the base package) — contrast a DIY tool you operate with paying one designer team to make it for you when you want custom human work + source files - `/sales-idea-validation` — The validate-before-building method and the full naming/branding landscape (validate and name before you brand; also covers the raster→vector / print-readiness problem) - `/sales-canva` — Once the logo's done, build the wider marketing/social creative and design system at scale - `/sales-do` — Not sure which skill to use? The router matches any sales objective to the right skill. Install: `npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skill sales-do -a claude-code` ## Examples ### Example 1: "DesignEvo says free — is my logo actually free to use?" **User says**: "I made a logo in DesignEvo and downloaded it for free. Can I put it on my website and business cards and own it?" **Skill does**: Explains that DesignEvo's free download is a **low-resolution PNG that requires crediting/sharing DesignEvo and grants NO commercial ownership** — a credited placeholder, not an owned asset. To actually own and use it, they need a **one-time paid tier**: **Basic** for high-res + transparent raster, or **Plus** for vector + fonts + full editing + **copyright ownership**. Flags pricing as best-effort → designevo.com/pricing. **Result**: The user learns the free logo isn't safe to build a brand on, and knows which tier to buy. ### Example 2: "Which DesignEvo plan gives me an SVG for print?" (plan-gated / references) **User says**: "My printer needs a vector SVG of my logo. Does Basic give me that, or do I need to pay more?" **Skill does**: States that **vector (SVG/PDF) is Plus-only** — **Basic is raster (high-res + transparent PNG/JPG) with no vector**. Recommends **Plus** for anything going to print, since it also includes the fonts used and full re-edit/re-download. Notes a raster PNG pixelates when enlarged and that auto-tracing a PNG to vector is lossy — better to export vector from DesignEvo directly on Plus. **Result**: The user buys the correct tier once instead of paying for Basic and finding no SVG. ### Example 3: "Can I use the DesignEvo API to generate logos in bulk?" (developer/automation) **User says**: "How do I call the DesignEvo API to auto-generate 200 logos for my clients from a script?" **Skill does**: States that DesignEvo has **no public API** — it's entirely a **UI tool** (web + Mac/Windows desktop + Android) with **no REST endpoints, webhooks, Zapier/Make, or MCP** — so logo generation **cannot be scripted**. Suggests an **image-generation service with a documented API** for programmatic logo/image generation at volume. Does not invent endpoints. **Result**: The user avoids building on a nonexistent API and picks a workable path. ## Troubleshooting ### "I downloaded my logo free but it's tiny / low quality / says I must credit DesignEvo" **Symptom**: The free download is a small, low-resolution PNG and asks you to promote/credit DesignEvo. **Cause**: That's the **free tier by design** — low-res PNG, **mandatory DesignEvo credit/share, and no commercial ownership**. It's a preview-grade placeholder, not a usable owned file. **Solution**: Buy a **one-time paid tier** for a real file — **Basic** (high-res + transparent PNG/JPG) or **Plus** (vector SVG/PDF + fonts + full editing + ownership). Confirm current tiers at designevo.com/pricing. ### "There's no SVG in my download — I paid but only got PNG" **Symptom**: You purchased but the files are PNG/JPG, no vector SVG/PDF. **Cause**: You're on **Basic**, which is **raster only**. **Vector (SVG/PDF) is Plus-only.** **Solution**: Upgrade to **Plus** to get vector SVG/PDF (plus the fonts used and full re-edit/re-download). Vector is the tier to buy for print/large-format. ### "Is there an API to generate logos in bulk?" **Symptom**: Can't find API docs to script logo creation. **Cause**: DesignEvo is **UI-only** — **no REST endpoints, webhooks, Zapier/Make, or MCP** on web or in the desktop/Android apps. **Solution**: Don't build a bulk-generation pipeline on it. For programmatic logo/image generation, use an **image-generation service with a documented API**. Reserve DesignEvo for interactive, one-off logos.