BEHIND THE SCENES: Non Profit Client Branding Guidelines
Get a look BEHIND THE SCENES at my branding guidelines. This is the roadmap and guide on how to keep your branding identity aligned after I provide all of the beautiful logo variations that I sent over after a branding project. REMEMBER THIS BLOG WHERE WE WENT OVER ALL THAT I PROVIDE?
These guidelines have been refined year after year, with over a decade of revisions to truly communicate exactly what others need to know to beautifully execute your brand… from this moment forward. I LOATHE as a designer to get a LOTR-sized stack of branding guidelines that I will never read. They are redundant and often times contradict themselves. My version is concise and lets other designers, printers and creators know what they need to stay on brand.
SO WHY AM I SHARING?
Because I wanted you to see just how awesome it will be to work with me.
Working and trusting a designer with your brand and website is a big thing. And I, as the designer, never take this task lightly. Being as transparent and visible in my process and how I go about it ensures you understand what to expect with me. So what other steps are apart of making sure we have the best project process ever and never, ever ever want to leave me?! haha JK but seriously… you wont want to work with another designer. Scouts Honor.
So its only fair that we go through my own brand, The Charity Design Co’s Branding Guidelines to show you just what you get.
PAGE 1
Yes, ok, just a boring cover page… but it also establishes when it was created with the date in the bottom right hand corner and who made it. ME!
PAGE 2
And a TABLE OF CONTENTS… but this also helps establish the importance of a quick and easy flip thru for your vendors.
Again, your creators loathe that massive volume of guidelines… this is small, concise and ORGANIZED… you are welcome.
PAGE 3
POSITIONING
This page helps explain the layout of the logo as well as how it should be space within its placeholder and its surrounding objects. Vendors who are dealing with collateral like merch etc will need this page.
PAGE 4
MEASURMENTS
This page helps explain the measurements of the logo, its composition, why it “works”. Vendors really wont need this page but its cool to see how your logo works within the laws of math as well as design. Hence.. you got a good designer.
PAGE 5
LOGO OPTIONS
This page gives limitations on when and where your different main color logos should be used. Vendors, social media managers, marketing agencies etc who are dealing with your charity in any iteration will need this page.
PAGE 6
MORE LOGO OPTIONS
This is a continuation of the page before and gives single color logo limitations on when and where your different this variation of the logo should be used. Vendors, social media managers, marketing agencies etc who are dealing with your charity in any iteration will need this page.
PAGE 7
TYPOGRAPHY
This page is of vital importance. It talks about your approved typefaces. It discusses where they can be used, what styles, weights etc and best practices. Vendors, social media managers, marketing agencies etc who are dealing with your charity in any iteration will need this page.
PAGE 8
COLORS
This page is probably the most important for designers. This goes over your colors and their different CMYK, RGB and HEX values. Vendors, social media managers, marketing agencies etc who are dealing with your charity in any iteration will need this page.
PAGE 9
LOGO BEST PRACTICES
This page is probably the most important for your internal charity+ non profit team. This goes over best practices of logo use. Often times in NPO’s, things happen quickly and someone on your team will have to design something… this is usually when the brand veers off course. Sticking to these best practices and having a single person on your staff review ALL media before it goes out for these 4 rules are guaranteed to help. Vendors, social media managers, marketing agencies etc who are dealing with your charity SHOULD know these… this is for our NPO.
REMEMEBER:
Consistency represents stability
DONORS WILL NOT GIVE TO YOU IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A CLEAR IDENTITY THAT IS CONSISTENT. Why? Because you look flaky AF.
I know that at times, in the THICK of running your charity, tending to your cause… these small seemingly stupid things seem trivial at best… but I PROMISE there is a reason for this detailed madness.. its to help your legitimacy and establish your stability.
