Organisations and company’s use graphic design manuals to communicate their brand identity to designers, this ensures the designers tailor their work to their clients standards so that everything sits in line with their brand.
The screenshots below show the Hull branding manual as an example and initial research for inspiration for the Rooted in Hull graphics manual. The Hull branding manual shows good examples of simplistic design methods used to create new promotions for Hull. The pages below were a great inspiration when designing the Rooted in Hull Graphic Standards Manual. The contemporary layout makes for an attractive design, swaying away from the usual corporate graphic design manuals, which helps draw in the audience.
The first page in the Rooted in Hull graphics standard manual is Typography; this page shows all the acceptable and unacceptable examples of typefaces that can be utilized for future Rooted in Hull branding. The layout of this page makes it easy to understand and simple to follow. The good typeface examples have a woody appearance, linking well to the overall theme of the urban farm, whilst the bad is bold and bulky, relating to a more manufactured feel.
The second page in the Rooted in Hull graphics standard manual is Composition; this page shows the acceptable and unacceptable examples of layouts and Composition. The page shows how to place the Rooted in Hull logo on pieces of future work. The future designs should not be manipulated in a way that makes the overall design look squashed and out of place. The logo placement should be consistent throughout future plans, helping to emphasize brand identity. It also explains ways in which the logo, for example, would look out of place, guiding on the necessary placements for future design work.
The third page in the Rooted in Hull graphics manual is Colour; this page shows acceptable and unacceptable examples of colourways. The acceptable colour choices are displayed on the left; these include Rooted in Hulls original brand identity colours with added shades for typography and design details. The page is easy to understand and displays the colours in a simplistic but creative way.
The final page in the Rooted in Hull graphics manual is Photography; This shows acceptable and unacceptable examples of photographs. The correct photos are clear with good Composition. The images haven’t been edited heavily, which projects an honest and transparent message to the audience. The incorrect photographs are overly zoomed with bad Composition, creating a less professional outcome. The images are also overly-edited, losing quality and essential details of the definition required to bring the photo to life.
In conclusion, the standards discussed above are easily understandable, making it easy for future designers to follow the branding guidelines, ensuring that the work sits well alongside the past projects.
References
Human Design. 2022. City Brand for Hull – Human Design. [online] Available at: <http://humandesign.co.uk/portfolio/city-branding-hull/> [Accessed 9 January 2022].
Rooted In Hull. 2022. Rooted In Hull. [online] Available at: <https://www.rootedinhull.org.uk/> [Accessed 9 January 2022].