Graphics DesignGraphics Design · Lesson 06

Branding & Identity Systems

Beyond a logo — the full system that makes a brand recognisable.

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A brand is not a logo. It is a repeatable system: marks, colours, type, imagery, tone and rules for how they combine. The system is what creates recognition across a hundred touchpoints.

  • Strategy first: audience, positioning, personality, three adjectives.
  • Mark set: primary logo, horizontal lockup, stacked lockup, icon/monogram, favicon.
  • Palette: primary, secondary, neutrals, semantic states — with hex, RGB and CMYK values.
  • Type system: display, body, and a defined scale with usage rules.
  • Imagery direction: photography style, illustration style, grade.
  • Guidelines: clear space, minimum size, misuse examples, do/don't grid.
DeliverableWhy it exists
Clear-space ruleStops crowding by other elements
Minimum sizeKeeps the mark legible when small
Monochrome versionWorks on invoices, stamps, embroidery
Misuse pagePrevents stretching, recolouring, effects

Design the logo last. Strategy, then type and colour, then the mark — reversing that order produces pretty marks that mean nothing.

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A brand identity is primarily...

Why include a monochrome logo version?