What is a guideline?
A guideline is a set of rules. It tells you how to use the visual elements of a company identity:
- logos
- patterns
- colors
- fonts
What is a guideline for?
A guideline prevents brand dilution: eliminates amateurishness and unnecessary creative ideas. It helps clarify what can and cannot be done with a signature style.
What needs to be in a guideline?
A guideline must comprise several sections. Each section is dedicated to a separate element of a signature style. In our guideline we include the following sections:
- fonts and colors
- signature style application rules
- basics of business record keeping
Sometimes a series of visual elements is picked and established as templates with examples – should the business need it.
What to do if you have a signature style but no guideline?
If your company employs a designer or collaborates with one on an ongoing basis – then don’t worry. The problems may arise if the specialist changes his place of work: in such instances files are often lost and one is forced to start over. In any case it is always better to create a guideline and save all the source files.