What Are Brand Guidelines, and Do I Need Them?
If you’ve been looking for a brand designer to develop a logo for your business, you’ve probably seen “brand identity guidelines” listed as a deliverable.
But what are “brand guidelines,” “brand style guides,” and “brand identity guidelines”? And what is a brand Bible anyway?
From a client’s perspective, I can see these being confusing terms!
Are they the same? Are they different? Do I need them?
I’m here to clear up the confusion! In this blog, I explain what’s included in a brand guidelines PDF deliverable (post-brand design), and why you need professional brand guidelines for your business.
What is a brand style guide?
Brand identity guidelines, brand style guide, brand book, brand standards, brand manual PDF – or as I like to call it, your “Brand Bible” – all refer to the same document. The terminology is subjective but the deliverable is not!
“Brand guidelines are a set of design standards that establish how your brand visually communicates itself to the world online and on paper.”
What’s included in a brand guidelines PDF?
Below I’ve listed some screenshots from brand guidelines I’ve created for various clients. Your brand guidelines should consist of these five elements (at least!)
03. Brand typography & font hierarchy
04. Brand photography
05. Print collateral
Why you need a set of brand guidelines
It's SO easy to find a color that's "close enough" and veer off from your established brand identity. Or—worse yet—start using a new typeface that you're infatuated with, causing you to deviate from your brand typography *gasps*.
“A brand style guide helps your content look consistent and on-brand wherever it shows up.”
If you change up your brand identity every time something pretty catches your eye, you’ll dilute your chances of creating a memorable brand.
Brand recognition (when your audience can recall your brand) happens when you consistently use the same fonts, colors, logos, and imagery to represent your brand across digital and print platforms.
Now, I've got a two-part question for you:
Do you have brand guidelines or standards that keep your brand consistent?
If yes, do you follow them? Don't make your designer throw up their arms in frustration! Follow the rulebook we thoughtfully design for clients like you 🖤
If not, let’s chat! As a brand stylist, I take a holistic approach to brand design for entrepreneurs. We’ll dig into color psychology, your ideal clients, and your industry, building a brand identity that’s unique to you and sure to “wow” your audience.
