If you want to make sure your branding remains consistent, no matter how many people are working on your project, then having a brand style guide is helpful. Brand style guides provide guidelines for writing and design, so your company can get the message across visually.
If you want your social media images sized perfectly, you could send your style guide to your new graphic designer. Alternatively, you could send it to your printer so they and print banners and flyers for you.
It is important to get your style guide off the ground as soon as possible. Make yours great by following these 3 essentials.
1. Logos
Even though your brand is much more than just your logo, it is still an essential part, so be sure to include it in your style guide. It’s what makes your brand recognizable across platforms and what potential customers notice first. It would be a good idea to include all of your logos if you have more than one.
When designing graphics for print or online, a freelance graphic designer may want options. Consider adding some logo options with a transparent background for use on landing pages and social media graphics. A logo overlay protects your photos and makes your brand graphics look more professional.
2. Fonts
It may be true that a picture is worth a thousand words, but when it comes to your brand identity, your fonts speak volumes. There is no doubt that different fonts can completely change the look and feel of a brand. Some of them are classics. Some of them are serious. There are some that are playful. Make sure your brand tool belt has more than one typeface, but keep your combinations consistent.
Additionally, you may include which fonts to use for titles versus body copy as well as how your copy will be formatted in this style guide section. Rather than sending back-and-forth revision requests, this helps all your writers get the formatting right the first time around.
3. Colors
How would you describe your brand? Is it bright and cheery, dark and mysterious, or somewhere in between?
Choosing fonts and choosing brand colors are very important, both have an impact on how your brand is perceived. It’s great to have your brand style guide as a place to display your colors in a grid along with the codes for each color.
As a general rule, when choosing which colors to add, it is a good idea to look at popular brands for inspiration. This is because each color palette creates a different tone. For instance, take a look at cars. A luxury brand like Lexus uses grays, blacks, silvers, and gold. Family-friendly brands like Ford and Volkswagen use more blue to symbolize reliability and durability.
Conclusion
With the help of a brand style guide, this dream can become a reality. It is possible to keep a whole team on track with a document created once and updated occasionally. Colors, logos, and fonts. Keeping these three things in mind will save you time and money when creating a brand style guide. The style guide can also include guidelines for photography, iconography, and web-specific elements if you choose to expand it later.
Additionally, you may want to include your ideal target audience or customer avatar and your brand mission statement. It’s completely up to you what you include. It is possible to adjust your style guide over time as you work with your team to see what needs to be added or removed.
