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Blog, Branding Design

Brand Guidelines Examples to Inspire Your Brand Guide

Posted on by Tuan Nguyen
10
Oct

Brand guidelines, also known as brand style guides or brand books, are a set of rules and instructions that define how a brand should be presented visually and verbally.

What to Include in Your Brand Guidelines

Brand guidelines keep your brand consistent and help build trust and authority for your business. From visual aspects like photography styles and logos to the brand voice and tone used when speaking on the company’s behalf.

Here’s what to include when creating your brand style guide:

  • Logo: Acceptable logo usage, including colors, sizes, and variations
  • Colors: The brand colors that represent your brand, both the primary and accent colors.
  • Typography: The brand fonts, along with size guides and how to use them
  • Design elements: Shapes, illustrations, and other visual elements that represent your brand.
  • Photography: The style of photos in marketing materials and where to source them.
  • Mission statement and values: What your brand is about and why your company exists.
  • Voice and tone: Words and phrases that should/shouldn’t be used when speaking on behalf of the brand, and tone (ie. compassionate, professional, fun).

Why are brand guidelines important?

Brand guidelines are important because they establish a set of rules and standards for how a brand should be presented to the public. These guidelines ensure consistency in the messaging, design, and overall brand identity across all platforms and channels. By having clear brand guidelines, companies can maintain a strong and recognizable brand image, which in turn helps to build trust and loyalty with their target audience. Additionally, brand guidelines can also help to streamline the creative process by providing a framework for designers and marketers to work within, ultimately saving time and resources.

 What should be included in a brand style guide?

     A brand style guide, also known as a brand book or brand guidelines, is a document that outlines the visual and messaging elements of a brand. It serves as a reference tool for designers, marketers, and other stakeholders to ensure consistency and coherence across all brand communications.

Here are some elements that should be included in a brand style guide:

  1. Brand identity: This includes your logo, color palette, typography, imagery, and other visual elements that define your brand.
  2. Brand voice: This refers to the tone, language, and messaging style that your brand uses to communicate with its audience.
  3. Usage guidelines: This outlines how your brand elements should be used across different mediums such as print, digital, and social media.
  4. Brand story: This includes your brand’s history, mission, values, and personality.
  5. Examples: Including examples of how your brand elements should be used in real-life situations can help ensure consistency and clarity.

By including these elements in your brand style guide, you can create a clear and consistent brand identity that resonates with your target audience.

How can brand guidelines help maintain consistency?

Brand guidelines are essential tools that help maintain consistency in a brand’s visual identity and messaging across different platforms and mediums. They provide a set of rules and guidelines that ensure a consistent brand experience for customers, employees, and stakeholders. Here are a few ways brand guidelines can help maintain consistency:

  1. Visual Identity: Brand guidelines outline the rules for logo usage, color palette, typography, and graphic elements. By providing clear instructions on how these elements should be used, brand guidelines ensure that the brand’s visual identity remains consistent across all communication materials.
  2. Tone of Voice: Brand guidelines also define the brand’s tone of voice, which includes the style of writing, language, and personality. By establishing a consistent tone of voice, brand guidelines help ensure that the brand’s messaging is cohesive and reflects its values and personality.
  3. Messaging and Positioning: Brand guidelines often include guidelines on messaging and positioning. They outline the key messages, value propositions, and brand positioning statements that should be used consistently across all communication channels. This helps maintain a consistent brand image and ensures that customers receive a unified message about the brand.
  4. Consistency Across Channels: With the proliferation of digital channels and social media platforms, maintaining consistency across various touchpoints can be challenging. Brand guidelines provide instructions on how the brand should be represented on different platforms, ensuring a consistent brand experience regardless of the channel.
  5. Employee Alignment: Brand guidelines are not only useful for external communication but also for internal alignment. They help employees understand the brand’s visual identity, messaging, and values, enabling them to consistently represent the brand in their interactions with customers and stakeholders.

Overall, brand guidelines serve as a reference tool that helps maintain consistency in a brand’s visual identity, messaging, and overall brand experience. They are crucial for establishing a strong and recognizable brand presence in the market.

Some examples of effective brand guidelines

  1. Mailchimp: Mailchimp’s brand guidelines provide a clear and concise overview of their brand personality, visual identity, and tone of voice. They also include examples of how to use their logo and color palette in different contexts.
  2. Slack: Slack’s brand guidelines are designed to be simple and user-friendly, with clear instructions on how to use their logo, color palette, and typography. They also include examples of how to apply their brand elements in various scenarios, such as on social media or in print materials.
  3. Nike: Nike’s brand guidelines are comprehensive and detailed, covering everything from brand values and personality to typography and photography. They also include examples of how to use their logo and other brand elements in different contexts, such as on apparel or in advertising.
  4. Google: Google’s brand guidelines focus on their visual identity and provide guidance on how to use their logo, color palette, and typography. They also include examples of how to apply their brand elements in various scenarios, such as on mobile devices or in print materials.

I hope these examples give you some inspiration for your own brand guidelines!

Tuan Nguyen

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