you've strategically hit upon the logo & icon portfolio and blog of UK logo designer Graham Smith — the original Logo Smith since '86.
New Four Page Guidelines Template For Download
As promised, here is the basic template for the A4 single page set of identity guidelines for a general logo design. You can download below.
It covers the basic essentials that a client needs to keep the identity looking consistent and to avoid abusing the use of it such as distorting the image, changing colours, changing fonts etc.
3 Styles
Since first posting this, I have now updated the download to include 3 styles of identity guide. Styles 1 and 2 are the same as previous, used for my Wavepulse Acoustics logo.
Style 2 contains a small colour section. So in one version I have removed one of the minimum size modules, and replaced it with a colour chart. Here you can specify the Pantone colour, the CMYK and HEX breakdown.
Style 3 is based on a new layout, and it’s based on my revised layout which you can see for the Keyboard Kahuna logo. I will say that Style 3 uses slightly different font styles and the layout is quite different from Styles 1 and 2. A few wording changes have been made as well. For the main logo breakdown, I have substituted the ‘X-height‘ reference found in Styles 1 and 2 to ‘Cap-Height‘ due to the fact this logo uses all capitals. Thus made sense to use the ‘Xap Height’ reference instead of ‘X-height’, make sure you use the right one for your own logo.
You will find that you will need to chop and change each layout for your own use.
As this is the template I use myself, please consider making style changes to inject your own brand into the mix. Font styles, colours etc could all be changed.
Spacing between sections
I have not paid too much attention to spacing on this template. This will all change once you have your own stuff in there. Just pay attention to vertical spacing of each section when you are done, leave enough vertical space between ‘primary logo’, ‘alternative logo versions’, ‘fonts used in logotype’ and ‘don’t abuse logotype.
Remember, it’s all about presentation. Don’t cram too much in.
InDesign Template
The original design I used for Wavepulse Acoustics guideline design was created in Illustrator, but felt InDesign would be easier to maintain. I have re-created it using layers and font styles, to make it super easy for you to customise. I have inserted tinted screen shots of the Wavepulse logos which are locked to a layer. So you need to drop your own artwork over the top. As well as InDesign CS4, there is a InDesign CS3.inx file included as well.
The guides are not ‘pixel perfect’, they really don’t need to be. So don’t bust a gut here. It’s only a visual guide, it’s not being mass printed.
Illustrator logo
The actual main logo, seen above in top photo has been created in Illustrator as a separate file. As with the InDesign file, I have used layers to separate each element, the grey striped background, the blue area, the magenta lines, the logo and type are all layered. It is available as InDesign CS4, Indesign INX and a PDF version.
Use these elements to form the logo breakdown, the guides, the boundaries and size details. It should all make sense when you open the Illustrator .ai files. Have provided CS1 CS2, and CS4 versions in the ZIP file.
Download
I have left text remarks on the InDesign file as reminders as to what needs to be done. I am sure much chopping and changing will be required for your own personal requirements, rather than using as is.
Download Identity Guideline Template
I hope this proves somewhat useful and maybe will encourage more logo designers to start providing these styles of identity guidelines with your completed logo projects.
Tagged: cap height, Featured, Identity Guidelines, keyboard kahuna, logo design, logos, template, wavepulse acoustics, x height
I was looking to create a simpler style guide… and you just saved me a huge amount of time. Thanks Graham!
I was looking to create a simpler style guide… and you just saved me a huge amount of time. Thanks Graham!
Thank you so much!! I’m always fascinated by your works & their style. Hopefully this’ll be of great use for me, fantastic work on the logomark btw. :)
Thank you so much!! I’m always fascinated by your works & their style. Hopefully this’ll be of great use for me, fantastic work on the logomark btw. :)
Great work. Thanks a million for posting.
Great work. Thanks a million for posting.
Graham, this is great! Now now only do I have an awesome moleskin from you, but I have this great reference for my own logo work! Thanks!
Graham, this is great! Now now only do I have an awesome moleskin from you, but I have this great reference for my own logo work! Thanks!
Thanks Graham, this is such a huge timesaver.
But I’m not able to open it in ID CS3, is there any way to get a backwards-compatible version for those of us who are stuck in the past? :)
Now downsaved a version to CS 3 INX, hope that helps.
Test
testing
Thanks Graham, this is such a huge timesaver.
But I’m not able to open it in ID CS3, is there any way to get a backwards-compatible version for those of us who are stuck in the past? :)
Now downsaved a version to CS 3 INX, hope that helps.
Test
testing
looks great, but i please very much for CS3 version.. thanks!
looks great, but i please very much for CS3 version.. thanks!
This fantastic. Thanks so much David!
It’s Graham but don’t sweat it… :)
This fantastic. Thanks so much David!
It’s Graham but don’t sweat it… :)
This is great! Will be using for my next logo development. Thanks!
This is great! Will be using for my next logo development. Thanks!
gracias david
gracias david
Much appreciated
Much appreciated
Awesome little template, thanks very much!!
Awesome little template, thanks very much!!
Wow!
I thought this was awesome when I saw it on Dribbble, and now you’re giving it away?!
I think I’ll brand this up a little and use it for myself.
Thanks so much for this, it’s greatly appreciated.
I now own all of your souls…
Wow!
I thought this was awesome when I saw it on Dribbble, and now you’re giving it away?!
I think I’ll brand this up a little and use it for myself.
Thanks so much for this, it’s greatly appreciated.
I now own all of your souls…
Cheers Graham.
BTW I think Garth’s url is wrong – Should it be iamgarth.com not imamgarth.com?
Cheers Graham.
BTW I think Garth’s url is wrong – Should it be iamgarth.com not imamgarth.com?
This is great! I always keep reminding myself to create a template like this but never get around to doing it.
Thanks Graham!
This is great! I always keep reminding myself to create a template like this but never get around to doing it.
Thanks Graham!
What a brilliant resource. Good on you for making it available Graham!
What a brilliant resource. Good on you for making it available Graham!
How embarrassing. My apologies and thanks again.
How embarrassing. My apologies and thanks again.
Awesome! Thank’s so much for providing this.
Awesome! Thank’s so much for providing this.
This is quite excellent Graham, thanks so much for offering this up.
This is quite excellent Graham, thanks so much for offering this up.
Thanks Graham. Excellent stuff! Appreciate you making this available to us :-)
Thanks Graham. Excellent stuff! Appreciate you making this available to us :-)
Just to say a more indepth guide is in the works, probably a 4-6 page, will also make this available soon as a download.
Just to say a more indepth guide is in the works, probably a 4-6 page, will also make this available soon as a download.
Nice logo work! Great job on the twitter and blog I enjoy your posts.
Nice logo work! Great job on the twitter and blog I enjoy your posts.
Booom!
Awesome. Thanks.
Booom!
Awesome. Thanks.
wow… thanks Graham for sharing this with us. well, the only problem i have is maybe i need to redraw the whole thing as i am not using those program of what the pro is using right now. (window based coreldraw.) :P
Guess it really takes me more time in becoming an amateur (to be) maybe? lol
Anyway, it really does help me a lot for work presentation practices.
Beribuan Terima Kasih!(Malaysian primary language means – Thank you very much!)
wow… thanks Graham for sharing this with us. well, the only problem i have is maybe i need to redraw the whole thing as i am not using those program of what the pro is using right now. (window based coreldraw.) :P
Guess it really takes me more time in becoming an amateur (to be) maybe? lol
Anyway, it really does help me a lot for work presentation practices.
Beribuan Terima Kasih!(Malaysian primary language means – Thank you very much!)
Thanks… is perfect!
Thanks… is perfect!
Much appreciated!
Much appreciated!
grat work, thks for sharing!
grat work, thks for sharing!
thank you sooo much! great work!
thank you sooo much! great work!
This is great, and very kind of you to share too.
I’ll be refering to this when doing my next identity guide
This is great, and very kind of you to share too.
I’ll be refering to this when doing my next identity guide
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much!
thats pretty awesome mr.g
thats pretty awesome mr.g
Thanks. Amazing template.
Thanks. Amazing template.
Very generous, thank you.
Very generous, thank you.
Thanks for all the kind words above, hopefully will have a 4-6 page version coming soon.
Thanks for all the kind words above, hopefully will have a 4-6 page version coming soon.
wow!!! its amasing… im very happy!
thanks for this brilliant stuff
wow!!! its amasing… im very happy!
thanks for this brilliant stuff
Very useful, thans a lot!!
Very useful, thans a lot!!
This is sweet! Just about to design my first official logo. Just what I was searching for. Thanks a lot Graham!
This is sweet! Just about to design my first official logo. Just what I was searching for. Thanks a lot Graham!
I’m using Illustrator CS4 for my logo designs, could I import this or something?
By the way I think there is something with your website. I am using Google Chrome and noticed that when I scroll to the right, your center column is being moved to the left. I also tried in IE8 it does the same.
Yup, having problems myself with the main column sliding under the left column. Can’t work out why just yet…
I’m using Illustrator CS4 for my logo designs, could I import this or something?
By the way I think there is something with your website. I am using Google Chrome and noticed that when I scroll to the right, your center column is being moved to the left. I also tried in IE8 it does the same.
Yup, having problems myself with the main column sliding under the left column. Can’t work out why just yet…
Very cool! Very useful! Thanks for sharing generously :)
Very cool! Very useful! Thanks for sharing generously :)
Great share, thanks Graham…
Great share, thanks Graham…
I really, REALLY appreciate your generosity in sharing this template. It’s fascinating to see how other designers present their work (and how poorly I present my own!). I’ve learnt so much reading your articles. Thanks!
I really, REALLY appreciate your generosity in sharing this template. It’s fascinating to see how other designers present their work (and how poorly I present my own!). I’ve learnt so much reading your articles. Thanks!
Thanks Graham, it is very helpful
Thanks Graham, it is very helpful
KA Graham! I look at your site all the time for inspiration! Your a GREAT designer. This template will help me out allot.
KA Graham! I look at your site all the time for inspiration! Your a GREAT designer. This template will help me out allot.
Wow. Please accept my firstborn.
Wow. Please accept my firstborn.
Great design template!
Great design template!
GREAT STUFF GRAHAM.
GREAT STUFF GRAHAM.
Very nice work.
Thanks for the template.
Cheers.
Very nice work.
Thanks for the template.
Cheers.
Amazingly useful, thanks!
I'm huge on organization. I love having all this advice in one, easy to read place. Fantastic.
Thank's Mike, appreciate your other comments as well. :)
Great work! What a great template, nice work. This is time saving.
Now that's what I call a freebie! I usually recycle one of my old ones but I'll certainly put this to good use. THANKS
Great simple 1 page guideline template – great use of space! Thanks. I think this is a valuable asset to your logo design package.
Excellent work….
I actually love reading identity guidlines…. and this one will become the new standard.
Thanks for the post.
We really like all of your logo designs. We like to search the web to get inspiration for new ideas. not that we are going to copy your ideas but you have great work.
Great, really useful, I've never settled on an ID
Thank for sharing. This is really helpful and a great starting point for building my own. Much appreciated.
Wow, you've saved me oodles of time! Thank you very much
thanks for the guideline! its great
Thank you so much! I really appreciate this!
Thank you.
how generous, thank you!
http://www.davidpotterswork.com
Nice logo templates shared. These will be very handy for graphic designer. feel lucky to find it. thanks a lot.
Thanks Graham! We do guidelines quite a bit and usually have multi-page books. I dig the one-sheet. *-)
Y is a common space betweent each word, the logomark and the mark within the circle. It’s just my own measurement and does not relate to anything like x-height. It’s just to show how I have kept this spacing consistent.
Z is the space from top of x-height to either ascender and bottom of x-height (baseline) to descender. Again, just my own measurement to show balance.
Hope that helps.
This is SUCH a time saver! Thanks a million!
Thank you Graham!
Really useful, thanks. Now I’ve got no excuse not to do a proper handover with future logo designs – cheers!
Thanks a lot for sharing! It will be really helpful for my work.
Amazing post.
Great template. Thank you for sharing
Great template. Thank you for sharing
Thanks Graham, very helpful for newbies like me :D (in the field of logo design)
Hi there. I’m in the graphic design biz and I found this to be VERY helpful in simplifying my processes and saving time. You’re a lifesaver!
coolest one :)
I’d say “thank you so very much,” but that would be an understatement. Truly sincerely appreciate, Graham, this is awesome.
This is great! Thanks very much!!
Downloading now. I’ve been looking for something like this; thanks for sharing!
Thankyou Graham. Very Helpful to designers new to the industry…
Thank you!
Thanks for the template Graham, gonna make my life a whole lot easier!
great!!!
Excellent resource. Just what I need right this moment. Many Thanks!!!
Took this issue under its wing when it decided to look into whether small- and medium-sized agencies could link these applications across agencies at a low cost.
Thanks for sharing!!!
Thanks for sharing!!!
Pretty sweet!
Pretty sweet!
Brillian share Graham. You beat me to it.
Thank you, Graham
What a great link, ty so much!
Thanks for thinking of “us” ‘out there’, Graham
–> a truly generous creative
Good resource, thanks for sharing
Thanks Graham
Very useful resource. Thank you.