How to create a brand style guide (one-page version)

A one-page brand guide is enough for 90% of small businesses — logo rules, colors, typography, and tone. Skip the 60-page PDF.

6 min read beginnerUpdated Jun 10, 2026
BI
Reviewed by the editorial team · Jun 10, 2026
Before you start
  • Final logo files (SVG + PNG)
  • Picked brand colors and fonts

Step by step

  1. 01

    Section 1 — Logo usage

    Show the primary logo, the secondary (icon only), the minimum size (usually 24 px), and one big 'DON'T' (don't stretch, don't recolor, don't add effects).

  2. 02

    Section 2 — Colors

    Primary, secondary, neutral. For each: name, hex, RGB, CMYK. Add a usage note ('Primary on CTAs only').

  3. 03

    Section 3 — Typography

    Heading font + weight, body font + weight, and the H1/H2/body size scale. Show a sample line of each.

  4. 04

    Section 4 — Voice

    Three words you ARE (e.g. direct, warm, expert), three you AREN'T (corporate, casual, jargony). Add one sample sentence.

  5. 05

    Section 5 — Imagery

    3-4 example photos that fit your brand, and a one-line rule ('natural light, real people, no stock smiles').

  6. 06

    Ship it as a PDF

    Export the Figma/Canva file as a PDF, name it brand-guidelines-v1.pdf, and share with anyone who makes things in your name.

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