Graphics DesignGraphics Design · Lesson 06
Branding & Identity Systems
Beyond a logo — the full system that makes a brand recognisable.
Video tutorialTrack course · Envato Tuts+
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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.
| Deliverable | Why it exists |
|---|---|
| Clear-space rule | Stops crowding by other elements |
| Minimum size | Keeps the mark legible when small |
| Monochrome version | Works on invoices, stamps, embroidery |
| Misuse page | Prevents stretching, recolouring, effects |
Design the logo last. Strategy, then type and colour, then the mark — reversing that order produces pretty marks that mean nothing.
Knowledge check
0/2 answeredA brand identity is primarily...
Why include a monochrome logo version?