Guides to brand books
Brand guidelines, brand kits and design systems, explained plainly, with real books you can open.
Brand book vs style guide vs brand kit: what's the difference?
Brand book, brand guidelines, style guide, brand kit and design system explained side by side, with what each one is for and which you actually need.
Brand guidelines template: a free outline you can copy
A free brand guidelines template as a plain outline, page by page, with what to write in each section and an example of every part filled in.
Brand voice examples: how to write a tone of voice that people follow
Brand voice examples from three different businesses, a simple format that works better than adjectives, and how to find your voice in what you've already written.
DESIGN.md: what it is and how to use it with Claude, Cursor and Lovable
DESIGN.md is a plain text file that tells AI tools how your brand looks. What goes in it, where it came from, how to use it, and a real example from a software brand.
Ecommerce brand guidelines: how product brands stay consistent
What brand guidelines need when you sell physical products online, from product photography to packaging and print colors, with a real example.
HEX vs RGB vs CMYK (and Pantone): which color code to use where
What HEX, RGB, CMYK and Pantone codes mean, when to use each one, and why your brand color looks different on paper. With a real brand palette as the example.
Hotel brand guidelines: an example for small hotels and guesthouses
What brand guidelines look like for a hotel or guesthouse, from photography and signage to booking emails, with a complete example of a small Douro valley guesthouse.
How to choose brand colors: roles, contrast and a palette that works
A practical way to choose brand colors, starting with the job each color does, then checking contrast, building scales and writing it all down. With real palettes as examples.
How to create a brand book in 7 steps
A practical, step-by-step way to create a brand book, from gathering your logo and colors to writing your voice, plus the faster route if you already have a website.
SaaS brand guidelines: what software brands need, with an example
What makes brand guidelines for a SaaS or software product different, from interface colors to tokens for developers, with a complete example you can click through.
What is a brand book? Meaning, contents and examples
A brand book is the one place that shows how a brand looks and sounds. What goes in it, who uses it, and a real example you can click through.
What to include in brand guidelines: a complete checklist
The sections every set of brand guidelines needs, what goes in each one, and what you can safely leave out. With a real software brand as the example.