Let’s talk about Brand guides for a moment. According to 99designs.com what a brand guide (brand styled guide) is a rule set that explains how an organization is supposed to present itself. From how it’s supposed to be to what it’s not supposed to be, in terms of logos, colors, titles, fonts, photography, and even mission. The brand guide is THE guide as to how-to-brand the right way, because without it the brand has no identity. No guide, no direction, hence why it’s called a brand GUIDE.
How to brand guide
There are a few key components to a brand guide.
- Mission/vision: This mission is why your company exists and the vision statement to where you want the company to go.
- Target audience: Who do you want to attract? Who are the customers and why do they need you? And what can your brand do to solve their problems? This is what your brand has to do for your audience. Note this: remember, it can’t please everyone so make it so that you can please as many as you can.
- Personality: Describe your brand. 99designs.com suggests to try listing three to five adjectives describing what it is. (And to also list what it is not.)
- Core values: What are the guiding principles for your teams decisions and actions. Make it memorable so your team can stay on brand easily.
When I was doing a brand guide I included the colors and title and logos and ect. The design for this involves the wordmark being made out of the agency FB type font, and the “B” in blackhat to look like a lock to symbolize the security that our company provides.
The best tool for designing mockups would be illustrator for designing logos and photoshop for editing any photography for your company. Though I have to say using illustrator was hard for me because I’m more of a stranger to it than photoshop, but once I actually knew what the hell I was doing, I managed to get it. It’s all a matter of getting your foothold and then once you start, there will always be the finish line.
So now that you know how to brand guide, and now that you know how to brand guide there should be nothing standing your way to make your company flourish.
SO GO MAKE IT.
Henry Iglesia 