Style Guides
One of the most important aspects of your design journey will be your brand identity which is outline in your style guide. This guide will format the basis of all of the design items that are created for you. It is also a living document that should be updated whenever design changes are made.
So why is this guide so pivotal for your business?
🩴 Time and money saver:
With a clear style guide in hand, you sidestep wasting resources on designs that deviate from your brand essence. It fine-tunes the creative workflow, assuring quicker and more economical results.
🎩 Recognition:
By consistently applying the same visual and verbal elements, you simplify the task for customers to recognize and recall your brand amid numerous competitors.
👔 Consistency:
When we’re crafting a website, drafting a social media post, or designing a business card, your style guide guarantees a uniform appearance and tone. Such consistency underscores your brand’s reliability and professionalism.
🪖 Guidance for creatives:
If you’re collaborating with an in-house team or external designers, or even doing it yourself, the guide provides lucid directions, ensuring everyone aligns with your brand vision and retains its integrity.
⛑️ Builds trust:
A coherent brand appearance fosters trust among your audience. It signals that you’re meticulous, professional, and committed to delivering a cohesive experience to your patrons.
“It conveys your business ethos, narrates your story, and distinguishes you.”
So what exactly is a style guide?
Here’s an in-depth look at what a style guide might comprise, although not all style guides will contain everything listed below:
🌈 Colour Palette:
- primary brand colours with their codes
- secondary or complementary colours
🦄 Logo Design:
- main logo in full color
- variations of the logo (horizontal, vertical, icon)
- black and white versions
- clear space requirements
- minimum size requirements
- improper use examples
🧮 Imagery guidelines:
- type of photography and imagery
- image treatments.
- illustration styles.
🥨 Application Examples:
- mock-ups of brand applications across mediums
☎️ Voice and Tone:
- description of the company’s brand voice
- dos and don’ts for writing
- examples of brand voice
💌 Stationery design:
- business card design
- letterhead
- envelopes
- email signatures
🤖 Icons:
- custom icons for various uses
- usage guidelines
🧚 Graphic Elements:
- patterns, textures, or other elements
- usage guidelines
🦑 Brand Story:
- the company’s mission, vision, and values
- brand history
- elevator pitch
💁♀️ Social Media Assets:
- profile and cover photos or graphics
- guidelines for post designs
🌴 Random Assets:
- specific items like mascots, animations, or sound bites
🚓 Usage Guidelines:
- instructions on brand assets usage
Examples of style guides:
