Creating a ‘generic’ brand guideline document

Creating a ‘generic’ brand guideline document involves several key steps. These guidelines serve as a roadmap for how a brand is presented to the world. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating the brand image within such a document:

Step 1: Define Your Brand’s Core Values and Personality

Mission Statement: What is your brand’s purpose?

Vision Statement: What does your brand aspire to be?

Brand Values: What principles does your brand stand for?

Brand Personality: How should your brand be perceived? (e.g., friendly, professional, innovative)

Step 2: Design Your Brand’s Visual Identity

Logo Design: Create a versatile logo that represents your brand at a glance.
Include guidelines for logo variations, sizing, and spacing.

Color Palette: Choose a set of colors that will be used in all brand materials.
Include color codes for print (CMYK), digital (RGB), and web (Hex).

Typography: Select fonts that reflect your brand’s personality.
Specify guidelines for headings, subheadings, body text, and any special typography uses.

Step 3: Establish Your Brand’s Graphic Elements

Imagery Style: Define the style of photos and graphics used.

Iconography: Design a set of icons that match your brand’s visual identity.

Data Visualization: Create templates for charts and graphs that may be used in presentations or reports.

Step 4: Voice and Tone

Brand Voice: How should your brand communicate? Choose a voice that reflects your brand personality.

Writing Style: Provide examples of dos and don’ts in your brand’s writing.

Step 5: Brand Application

Business Cards: Design standard business cards for employees.

Email Signatures: Create a template for a standardized email signature.

Templates: Develop templates for presentations, reports, and marketing materials.

Social Media: Outline how your brand should appear on different social media platforms.

Step 6: Usage Guidelines

Dos and Don’ts: Clearly articulate how to use the brand elements correctly.

Incorrect Usage: Show examples of what to avoid.

Step 7: Legal Guidelines

Trademark Usage: Set rules for how and when the brand name and logo can be used.

Copyright Notices: Provide language for copyright protection where needed.

Step 8: Compiling the Document

Use a clean, consistent layout that reflects your brand’s design aesthetics.

Make it easily accessible and distributable, both in print and digital formats.

Include a table of contents for easy navigation.

Step 9: Distribution and Implementation

Share the brand guidelines with all team members, partners, and stakeholders.

Conduct training sessions if necessary to ensure everyone understands how to apply the guidelines.

Step 10: Review and Update Regularly

Set a schedule for reviewing the guidelines to ensure they remain up-to-date.

Update the guidelines as your brand evolves.

Remember, the purpose of brand guidelines is not just to maintain consistency, but also to empower anyone who works with the brand to do so confidently and effectively. These steps will help you create a comprehensive document that ensures everyone is on the same page when it comes to your brand’s image.