Knowledge Base

This page outlines a brand guide's general structure, purpose, and the process for developing one. 

Any member of Buzz Marketing tasked with creating a logo/branding project should follow this procedure.

Conduct an onboarding meeting with the client. Ascertain the project's scope (Are we creating a new logo? Just a brand guide based on an existing logo? Modernizing an old logo?) and what existing brand elements exist. During the onboarding, inquire about what the client wants their brand to represent, preferred colours, stylistic choices, etc. 

Once you have all the required information, share it with the appropriate team members via kick-off meeting and project brief in Teamwork. 

If a new logo is required, go through the logo project steps or commence the brand guide creation process if a logo is already in place. 

Check with the project manager (if you are a graphic designer) periodically to ensure you are on the right track. Please see the tips below for where to draw inspiration. 

Once the brand guide is complete, have the team review it internally. Complete any edits.

Send the brand guide off to the client and create a folder in Google Drive for any associated assets.

Then, invoice the client.

Brand guides generally contain the following information about a business: brand, colours, logotypes and applications, rules regarding the use of the logo, photography standards and regulations, motifs or other graphical elements consistently used within the brand, typefaces, and more. 

Brand guides are an incredibly useful tool for a business to outline all 'rules' for any kind of visual output representing the company. This could include social media, printed materials, business cards, etc. Brand guides are an excellent communication tool for all internal/external graphic design support to ensure that visuals accurately represent a company's branding. 

If a company has any existing branding, start there. If we are developing a logo and accompanying brand guide for them from scratch, research companies in the same industry to get a feel for colour, style, typeface, etc. Google and Pinterest are great tools to help you research what makes the most sense. Use the onboarding form to clearly understand what the client is trying to convey with their logo and branding and design accordingly. 

We have several internal examples to take inspiration from, but Envato Elements also has some templates available to download.

Please keep in mind that the information and elements within the brand guide must be customized to the client, but the brand guide's look should also adhere to the client's branding guidelines.

Armourclad: This is an example of a brand board, a condensed version of a brand guide.

Hexcore: This is a fully comprehensive Brand Guide document.