But it's a bloody good place to start!
Not every business needs a full brand strategy or a detailed brand guide running to multiple pages. In many cases, what small businesses need is a strong, well-designed logo and a clear understanding of how that logo should be used.
We often work with start-ups, growing companies and local businesses who are at exactly that stage. They want a professional identity that represents their business properly, but they do not necessarily need the depth and structure of a full brand development project. What they do need, however, is a solid and practical foundation that ensures their new logo can be used consistently wherever it appears.
When we design a logo for a client, we therefore provide more than just the artwork files. Alongside the logo we supply a simple Brand Sheet which acts as a clear reference for how the identity works and how it should be applied. This sheet shows the logo in a number of practical scenarios so that anyone using it can see immediately how it should appear. It will typically include the logo on a white background, a reversed version for darker backgrounds, and a solid black version that works well when only single colour printing is available. Where appropriate, we also include icon or symbol versions that may be useful for social media, favicons or smaller digital applications.
Alongside these visual examples, the Brand Sheet also sets out the colour palette – clearly defined with CMYK, RGB and hexadecimal values so that colours remain consistent across both print and digital media. Also, the fonts used within the identity are specified, helping to ensure that marketing materials all maintain the same visual character and consistency.
In many ways, the simplicity is what makes it so useful. When another designer, printer or marketing partner has quick access to the correct colours, fonts and logo versions, it becomes much easier to keep everything consistent. Whether the logo is appearing on a leaflet, a website, a social media graphic or a piece of signage, the identity remains recognisable and coherent.
Over time, some businesses do go on to develop much more detailed brand guidelines as their marketing grows and their teams expand. But starting with a well-designed logo and a clear Brand Sheet ensures that even in the early stages, the business presents itself in a professional and consistent way.
Looking to build those brand foundations... Let's talk!
