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Brand guidelines
At Harvest, we create brand guidelines designed as genuine living tools: accessible, inspiring and able to evolve. They do more than lay down rules: they explain how to bring your identity to life in every visual expression.
Well-designed guidelines are a living ecosystem: they support the brand’s growth, keep it balanced
and let it evolve over time.
We define all the essential elements: logos, colours, typefaces, imagery, grids, compositions and real-life applications. Each section is written and illustrated to guide your teams and partners in the right direction, without holding back their creativity.
The aim: keep your image consistent, strengthen your impact and give
a clear framework to everyone who contributes to your communication.
Brand guidelines at a glance
Brand guidelines set the rules for using your visual identity: how to use the logo, which colours, which typefaces, which layouts. They let your teams, suppliers and partners produce consistent materials without reinventing the brand every time. At Harvest, a communication agency in Lyon, France, brand guidelines usually take 2 to 3 weeks once the visual identity has been approved.
What brand guidelines contain
- The logo: versions, clear space, minimum size, misuse.
- The colours: values for print and screen, primary and secondary colours, recommended combinations.
- The typefaces: heading and body fonts, hierarchy, fallback fonts for office software.
- The graphic elements: shapes, patterns, icons, illustration and photography style.
- Template layouts: stationery, documents, social posts, web pages.
How we deliver them
Guidelines are only useful if people use them. So we deliver them in the form that suits the people who will rely on them:
- a reference PDF document, clear and illustrated;
- source files and templates ready to use: document, presentation and social post templates;
- online guidelines, available at any time to your teams and partners;
- a Figma library of colours, styles and components, for teams who design screens.
Living guidelines
A brand evolves: new materials, new ranges, new uses. We evolve the guidelines with it, so they remain the reference rather than a forgotten document. That is the role of art direction over time.
Find out more: what should brand guidelines contain? (in French)
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to produce brand guidelines?
Allow 2 to 3 weeks at Harvest, once the visual identity has been approved.
What is the difference between a visual identity and brand guidelines?
The visual identity is the set of the brand’s signs. The brand guidelines are the document that explains how to use them correctly.
Can you write guidelines for an identity you did not create?
Yes. We can formalise the rules of an existing identity, and use the opportunity to fix inconsistencies that have built up over the years.
Will our teams be able to use them without design software?
Yes. We provide office templates and online guidelines, so everyone can produce on-brand documents with their usual tools.
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