Brand Guidelines Collection Guide

Purpose

Brand guidelines ensure all generated images maintain visual consistency with the brand identity. Collect comprehensive brand information so the image generator can incorporate brand elements naturally into every image.

What to Collect

Colors

Primary Colors:

• Main brand color(s) - the dominant colors that represent the brand
• Hex codes or color names (e.g., "#3B82F6", "navy blue")
• Usage context (when to use each primary color)

Secondary Colors:

• Supporting colors that complement primaries
• Hex codes and usage guidelines

Accent Colors:

• Highlight colors for emphasis
• Call-to-action colors

Neutral Colors:

• Grays, whites, blacks used in the palette
• Background colors

Color Usage Rules:

• When to use each color
• Color combinations to avoid
• Accessibility considerations (contrast requirements)

Typography

Font Families:

• Primary font (headings, titles)
• Secondary font (body text)
• Font names or styles (e.g., "Inter", "sans-serif", "geometric")

Typography Style:

• Font weights commonly used (light, regular, bold)
• Letter spacing preferences
• Text treatment (uppercase, lowercase, mixed case)

Style Preferences

Overall Aesthetic:

• Minimalist, bold, playful, professional, modern, classic
• Visual style keywords (clean, geometric, organic, hand-drawn)

Composition Preferences:

• Layout style (centered, asymmetric, grid-based)
• Use of negative space
• Visual hierarchy approach

Mood and Tone:

• Brand personality (friendly, serious, innovative, trustworthy)
• Emotional tone (energetic, calm, confident, approachable)

Logo Usage

Logo Placement:

• Preferred positions (top-left, center, bottom-right)
• When to include logo vs. when to omit

Logo Sizing:

• Relative size guidelines
• Clear space requirements (minimum space around logo)

Logo Variations:

• When to use full logo vs. icon-only
• Color variations (full color, monochrome, reversed)

Visual Elements

Patterns and Textures:

• Recurring visual patterns
• Texture preferences (smooth, textured, matte, glossy)

Imagery Style:

• Photography vs. illustration preference
• Illustration style (flat, 3D, hand-drawn, geometric)
• Photography style (lifestyle, product-focused, abstract)

Collection Process

1. Ask about each category systematically

   • Start with colors (most critical for visual consistency)
   • Move through typography, style, logo, visual elements
   • Don't skip sections - even partial guidelines help

2. Use examples when helpful

   • "What colors represent your brand? (e.g., blue and white for tech companies)"
   • "What's your brand personality? (e.g., friendly and approachable vs. professional and authoritative)"

3. Accept partial information

   • If user doesn't have complete guidelines, collect what they know
   • Note what's missing so it can be added later
   • Default to neutral choices when information is unavailable

4. Clarify ambiguous responses

   • "Navy blue" → ask for hex code if possible
   • "Modern style" → ask what "modern" means to them (minimalist? bold? geometric?)

Structuring the Data

Store guidelines in YAML format with clear sections:

colors:
  primary:
    - name: "Brand Blue"
      hex: "#3B82F6"
      usage: "Main brand color for headers and key elements"
  secondary:
    - name: "Accent Orange"
      hex: "#F97316"
      usage: "For call-to-action elements"
  neutrals:
    - name: "Charcoal"
      hex: "#1F2937"
    - name: "Light Gray"
      hex: "#F3F4F6"

typography:
  primary_font: "Inter"
  secondary_font: "Georgia"
  style: "Clean, modern sans-serif"

style:
  aesthetic: "Minimalist and professional"
  mood: "Confident and approachable"
  composition: "Centered layouts with generous white space"

logo:
  placement: "Top-left corner"
  clear_space: "Equal to logo height on all sides"
  variations: "Use full-color logo on light backgrounds"

visual_elements:
  imagery_style: "Clean illustrations with flat colors"
  patterns: "Subtle geometric patterns"

Using Guidelines in Image Generation

When generating images:

1. Incorporate colors naturally

   • Use brand colors for key elements, backgrounds, or accents
   • Don't force all colors into every image - use appropriately
   • Maintain color harmony and contrast

2. Respect style preferences

   • Match the aesthetic (minimalist images for minimalist brands)
   • Use appropriate composition styles
   • Reflect brand mood and tone

3. Apply logo usage rules

   • Include logo when appropriate per guidelines
   • Follow placement and sizing rules
   • Use correct logo variation for context

4. Match visual elements

   • Use preferred illustration or photography style
   • Incorporate patterns or textures when appropriate
   • Maintain consistency with brand visual language

Updating Guidelines

Guidelines can evolve. When user wants to update:

1. Read existing guidelines
2. Ask what they want to change
3. Update specific sections
4. Confirm changes with user
5. Save updated guidelines