What should a useful brand guidelines document include?

A useful guide starts with a brief description of the audience, positioning, and message the brand should convey. It should then show approved logo versions, colour values, typefaces, imagery direction, and examples of how those elements work together. Add voice and...

How can we test a new company name before committing to it?

Write criteria before judging names: what the name should suggest, who must understand it, where it will be used, and what it should avoid. Shortlist a few options, then ask people in your intended audience to read, hear, remember, and describe each one without a long...

What should we ask for in a branding agency proposal?

Ask each agency to describe the business problem it believes it is solving, the research it will use, and the decisions it expects your team to make. Request a clear list of deliverables, project stages, feedback rounds, responsibilities, and what is outside the...