In this tutorial, we will provide some practical tips for creating effective brand guidelines that will help your business or organisation maintain a consistent brand identity. These tips will show you how to create a brand style guide:
- Be specific with design: When creating your brand guidelines, be as specific as possible about the visual and verbal elements of your brand’s identity. This will help to ensure that your brand is consistently represented in all of your communications, and it will make it easier for others to understand and follow your guidelines.
- Update and refresh the guidelines: Your brand’s identity may evolve over time, so it’s important to regularly update and refresh your brand guidelines to reflect any changes. This will help to ensure that your guidelines are always up to date and relevant, and it will help your brand stay consistent and effective.
- Include communication and writing rules: In addition to the visual elements of your brand’s identity, your brand guidelines should also include rules for how your brand should be communicated and written. This includes rules for grammar, punctuation, tone, and other aspects of language that are important for maintaining a consistent brand identity.
EXAMPLE: Precision Brand Guidelines created by Firefly.
Some things to avoid when creating your brand guidelines include:
- Making universal rules: It’s important to avoid making overly restrictive or universal rules in your brand guidelines. For example, don’t make a rule that says “always use the primary font” or “never use any colors other than the ones in the brand palette.” Instead, provide guidelines that are flexible and allow for some creative freedom and flexibility.
- Ignoring your brand’s story: Your brand’s story is an important part of its identity, so it’s important to include it in your brand guidelines. This means telling the story of your brand, including its history, values, and unique characteristics, and using it to inform the design and communication of your brand.
By following these tips and avoiding common pitfalls, you can create brand guidelines that will help your business or organisation maintain a consistent and effective brand identity. This will help you differentiate your brand from its competitors, and it will make it easier for customers and clients to recognize and connect with your brand.