WHY STYLEGUIDES MATTER TO YOUR BUSINESS

February 11, 2016 Design

Designers are undeniably creative and ambitious (don’t believe us then check out our portfolio here). However with great creativity and ambition could come somewhat confused brand identity and messaging for the styleguide short. A styleguide acts as a tool for marketers, copywriters and designers to steer their creative efforts whilst still maintaining some creative reign. Formulating a comprehensive styleguide can be a lengthy process, however it is time purposely and effectively spent. At this point you’re probably questioning how this really applies or matters to your business. Here at theroom we’ve compiled the main reasons this matters for you, with a focus on how to get the most out of your designer in the process.

It saves your designer and you time.

A graphic designer is a complex, impactful and sometimes a time conscious person. Demands for speedy turnarounds are regular in the industry, with most clients requiring work completed in X amount of time. From this, a styleguide helps both the designer and you by reducing the time spent for fetching fonts, cleverly coordinating colours or waiting out that design block to lift. A defined styleguide prompts decisions to be made across your web design, logo design and other marketing collateral without excessive and timely stylistic decisions or exhaust. With a styleguide not in place, it could promote longer turnaround times and increased design costs for your corporation.

It makes your visual designers happy.

Designers are visual kinds of people, so this part needs to be obnoxiously clear. A styleguide should not be purely about web copy, instead, it should also attribute comprehensive focus across all design aspects, inclusive of data visualisations, video design, infographics, charts, even the tone and imagery of your video presenter. When sourcing design both through in-house or via agencies, it is key to have succinct and important notes regarding creation to mimic your brand’s persona and tone. From this, a consistent pattern needs to be realised; to include the colours of the chart, the font on graphic title, all down to the colour of your page numbers. Consistency is key.

It evolves with the designer and your brand.

It is common practice that often corporations might selectively work with several freelancers or agencies across the course of an organisation’s operation. Or, alternatively, return back to work with a designer you haven’t for some time. A styleguide will greatly reduce a designer’s time spent researching and familiarising oneself with your brand and your portfolio, as after each project it will remain up to date and consistent. Moreover, it makes your work more reliable from a design point of view, with updates being made frequently, facilitating a styleguide that is up to date and present across all medium.

Here at theroom we take pride in listening and providing projects that fit your scope, budget and time frame. Styleguide or not, our talented team will be able to provide a solution that delivers results. Have a look at our styleguide collection and see the work our design gurus are most proud of.