What Should Your Perfect Brand Style Guide Look Like?

Blog Post

This is a subtitle for your new post

Consistency is vital when it comes to branding. But how can you achieve brand consistency when your branded material is produced by many departments, partners, or agencies? As your small firm grows, how can you rapidly express your brand requirements? Of course, with a branding style guide! In this piece, we'll go through building a style guide that describes your brand asset rules and assures competence and coherence in all of your communications.

A brand style guide is indeed a guideline that outlines how a company shows itself to the public through the logo, font and colour choices, photography, and other visual elements. In other words, it's a reference tool that aids in the consistency of how a brand looks, feels, and sounds. It's so effective that some people refer to it as a brand handbook, but don't be scared—those are simply different labels for the same book. Using a brand book guarantees that your business appears and feels the same across departments such as customer service, marketing, design, and sales.

Key components of brand identity

Before establishing a style guide, you must first understand your brand. There are a few essential components:

Mission and vision: Create a mission statement that explains why your firm exists, as well as a vision statement that describes where you desire your brand to go. These might be large or small, as much as they are consistent with your brand.
Values: Establish the principles that will guide organisational choices and activities. Special deals will help your team stay on message.
Demographics: Describe your consumers and why they require your services. Include any market research findings that might assist your team in interacting more successfully with your consumers.
Personality: Create a list of 3-5 words that represent your brand's personality. This will establish the mood for both the design and the writing. Are they sophisticated or eccentric? Classic or modern? Solicit feedback and opinions from your staff.

Purpose of brand style guide

Your branding style guide is a helpful document that will assist you in preserving the consistency of your business across many touchpoints. You should be able to give it to an expert designer who has never worked with the brand before and have them generate on-brand products flawlessly for you based on the information in the guide. As a result, it should be written in your voice, as if you were speaking directly to the designer, team member, or partner who is developing assets for your brand.

Moreover, the contents of your stylebook should be specific to your company. Every tour leader is unique. It should be focused on the assets required by your company. For example, if social media is your essential sales technique, it may take up a more significant percentage of your guide. However, this would be the priority if you are a product-based company whose customer touchpoints are branding service in Sydney and advertisement.

Creating a brand style guide

Start with a good brand story

Showcase your company to the rest of the world. A summary will provide individuals with insight into the soul and essence of your organisation, allowing them to understand better how to promote your brand. A captivating brand narrative lies at the heart of every great brand. If you need to become more familiar with the word, a brand narrative defines and describes what matters most to a firm. It is used to convey a company's beliefs to the public and may also assist in influencing significant organisational decisions. Many firms take inspiration from branding archetypes, and the finest brand stories inject their personality into the mix.

Create a memorable brand trademark by following logo principles.

Aside from the brand story, your logo is the most crucial aspect of your brand. It's the one element that everyone ought to identify as yours and yours alone immediately. A logo must be utilised constantly to become instantly identifiable! To ensure that their brand does not give the wrong impression, each of their top brand style guidelines sets standards for how to utilise their logos.

Discover your brand's voice.

The value of having a distinct brand voice in your marketing cannot be overstated. Spend some time determining the style that will resonate with your target audience and be consistent with the essence of your business. Once you've found it, ensure it's consistent throughout your channels by including it in your branding style guide!

Outline how your brand fonts are used

Enabling font selections to slip through the cracks can seriously devalue your brand. Use a brand guide to ensure that typography is applied consistently throughout your assets to improve your brand experience. This entails specifying which typefaces are used for which reasons. Depending on your product or service, you may need to define multiple fonts for different platforms. An essential brand style guide does not have to be this extensive—just emphasise the most often used typefaces, which are generally only one or two.

Include the display of images and data.

Last but not least, it's time to discuss visuals. Everything about your graphics, including design, colour, and substance, influences how people see your company. Create some imagery standards for your business style guide. How may these recommendations look? The importance of photographic style is equal to that of illustrated style. If you routinely utilise images in your branding, the style guide should include the amount of intricacy, compositions, colour palette, styles, and design specs that allow photographs to fit inside your brand.

Your business includes more than the goods or services you provide. A powerful brand communicates to the world why people should select you over all other possibilities on the market. A brand style guide instructs your staff on remaining faithful to the brand. Some guides are as extensive as a novel, while others are a one-page reference. It all depends on your company's requirements. Each brand design agency in Australia should include different things, and the points above are far from complete. Determine your company's needs and ensure that your style guide covers every contact point.

< Older Post Newer Post >

The Impact of Brand Consistency on Sales and Business Growth

03 Oct, 2023

We delve into the importance of brand consistency, supported by data and real-world instances that underscore its role in driving sales and fostering customer loyalty.

The Art Visual Storytelling

07 Sep, 2023

In a world flooded with information and content, standing out has become more challenging than ever. Businesses are constantly striving to capture the attention of their target audience and create a lasting impression. So, what's the key to leaving a mark in the minds and hearts of your customers? The answer lies in the power of visual storytelling through design. The Art of Visual Storytelling Visual storytelling is the practice of conveying a message or narrative through visual elements, such as images, graphics, and videos. It's a timeless art that has been used throughout history to communicate ideas, evoke emotions, and create connections. In the modern business landscape, visual storytelling plays a pivotal role in shaping a brand's identity and resonating with its audience. Why Visual Storytelling Matters Memorability : Human brains are wired to remember visuals better than text. When you tell your brand's story visually, you make it easier for your audience to recall your message and associate it with your brand. Emotional Connection : Visual storytelling has the unique ability to evoke emotions. Through carefully crafted visuals, you can elicit feelings of joy, trust, excitement, or nostalgia, forging a deeper connection with your audience. Simplicity and Clarity : Complex ideas can be simplified and made more accessible through visuals. This clarity helps your audience understand your brand's values, mission, and offerings more easily. Universal Appeal : Visuals have a universal language that transcends barriers like language and culture. A well-designed image or graphic can convey a message to a global audience. The Role of Design in Visual Storytelling Design is the vehicle that drives visual storytelling. It encompasses everything from your logo and website to marketing materials and social media posts. Effective design ensures that your brand's story is not only told but also understood and embraced. Logo : Your logo is often the first visual representation of your brand that people encounter. A well-designed logo should encapsulate your brand's essence and values, making it instantly recognisable. Website : A user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing website is crucial for conveying your brand's story online. It should guide visitors through your narrative, providing them with a seamless and engaging experience. Graphics : Infographics, illustrations, and other graphics can simplify complex information and make it more engaging. They are powerful tools for storytelling, especially when explaining processes or showcasing data. Social Media : Visual content on social media platforms is highly shareable and can go viral. Engaging visuals can help you tell your brand's story to a wider audience. Examples of Successful Visual Storytelling Nike : Nike's "Just Do It" campaign is a prime example of compelling visual storytelling. Through powerful imagery and emotionally charged videos, Nike has encouraged millions to push their limits and pursue their dreams. Coca-Cola : Coca-Cola's classic holiday ads use heartwarming visuals and narratives to create a sense of joy and togetherness, reinforcing their brand as a symbol of happiness. Apple : Apple's minimalist design philosophy is evident in its products and marketing materials. The sleek and simple design tells a story of innovation and elegance. Conclusion In the ever-evolving world of branding and digital presence, DesignFox is here to empower your business with the art of visual storytelling through design. We understand that your brand's story is unique, and we're passionate about helping you craft and convey that story in a compelling and unforgettable way. With our expertise in design, we can assist you in creating a brand identity that not only speaks volumes but also resonates deeply with your audience. Whether it's designing a memorable logo, developing a user-friendly website, or crafting captivating graphics, we have the tools and creativity to bring your brand's narrative to life.