How to Create a Style Guide
How many times have you dispatched business cards to print and procured yet another version of your corporate colour? Ever been frantic to see your advert in the latest newspaper and then recognized that the crucial tag line is not present or your logo has been wrecked.
There is only one way to thwart this from happening and that is to set up a style guide. Not only will a style guide aid you control the reproduction of your logo - it will also help you extend your brand recognition – which many argue is one of the strongest selling tools.
We have placed the below steps together for you as a starting point.
Step 1 : Define the audience for your Style Guide. Is this for staff to put to work in-house or is this for suppliers and contractors to refer to?
Step 2 : Outline what your output uses are. This is important because you will require different logos and file formats for example, black and white publication adverts in comparison to vehicle graphics.
Step 3 : Define the tone for the copy and content required. For example you may requirecopy rules for printed content and then copy rules for website content.
Content rules cover all punctuation rules and how to refer to the business and team.
Step 4 : Assure you layout all the design templates so it is clear how and where the logo and branding lies on all the different pieces of collateral that may be repeated.
Step 5 : Make sure to include any contributing logos or logos of business that are associated with you. It’s also important that you send a copy of the layout to these companies to insure they accept the layout of their logo as they too may have their own Style Guide and hierarchy layout rules.
Step 6 : Confirm that grammar, spelling and contact details are correct.
Step 7 : Make certain that when suppliers are using the Style Guide they understand~know~discern~apprehend} that a proof needs to be dispatched~sent~mailed~commissioned}to you to be affirmed as correct.
Get your Style Guide completed and as secure as possible. Then have it saved in an email friendly file format and have a couple printed. Once this is done we strongly suggest a training session – whereby your design studio comes in and trains your staff on how to put to work the Style Guide and most importantly your brand.
For graphic design Brisbane, logo design Brisbane and web design Brisbane, contact Bydaughters today. We help your brand build business.
