Create a Consistent Brand Using Brand Guidelines?

Hi everyone,

I’ve been working on branding projects lately and noticed that brand inconsistency is one of the most common problems—especially when multiple designers or marketers are involved.

From my experience, brand guidelines help maintain consistency by clearly defining:

  • Logo usage (spacing, size, do’s & don’ts)

  • Brand colors and color codes

  • Typography hierarchy

  • Layout and spacing rules

  • Tone of voice and visual style

When these rules are documented and followed, branding stays consistent across social media, presentations, print materials, and websites—even when different people work on the same brand.

I’m curious to hear from other designers here:

  • What sections do you think are must-haves in a brand guideline?

  • Do you prefer short brand guides or detailed brand manuals?

  • How do you make sure clients or teams actually follow the guidelines?

Looking forward to your insights and real-world experiences.