If you’ve tuned into my YouTube channel, you’ll know how much I emphasize the strategy stage in my design process. Similar to how a mood board sets the stage for visual identity, a brand sheet functions as this super handy, one-page cheat sheet that everyone working on the brand can reference quickly. It lays our the brand simply yet comprehensively.
Creating a brand sheet isn’t just about throwing together some logos and color palettes; it’s about showcasing the brand into an easily digestible format. This is super helpful, especially when you’re juggling multiple projects or when you need to bring a new team member up to speed. It keeps everyone aligned, from the marketing team to the social media managers, ensuring that whatever they create resonates with the brand’s core identity.
For us designers, this means less time explaining the basics and more time diving deep into what makes the brand tick. A one-page brand guidelines template is the perfect starting point—it focuses on the essentials like logo usage, the brand color palette, brand fonts and typography. Plus, it’s a lifesaver for clients to use, that might not be as versed in design lingo as we are. It helps them see, in a glance, what their brand stands for and how it should be portrayed across various platforms.
Moreover, a brand sheet is dynamic, evolving as the brand grows. Maybe there's a new logo or a bold black color scheme you're incorporating. The brand sheet will adapt to include these elements, ensuring that the brand’s visual identity remains consistent but fresh over the years.
So whether you're crafting a minimalist style guide for a startup or a detailed brand book for a corporate client, think of the brand sheet as your foundation. It not only helps your client maintain consistency and professionalism but also makes your design process more efficient and effective. And honestly, it can make clients feel less overwhelmed when using their brand identity because they’ve got a clear, visual brand guideline sheet to help.
The brand sheet is your secret weapon to make sure everyone—your team, the client, their audience—is seeing the brand through the same lens.
