Hrvatski1-2
Basics and logo
Who you are in one line, logo versions, clear space and smallest size.
Brand OS Portal
Free brand style guide template: copy it and fill it in.
Ten sections, fill-in lines, a filled example and a checklist. Copy it, then fill it in.
Below is a free brand style guide template you can copy into Google Docs, Word or Notion. It has ten sections: brand basics, logo, colour, type, voice, facts, photos, icons, templates and AI rules.
Replace every part in brackets. Keep each rule to one or two lines and add a do and a do not example. Most teams can fill in a first version in one afternoon.
By Vedran Obradović · Updated 4 November 2026
What is inside this template.
Ten sections. Use all of them, or start with the first five.
3-4
Colour and type
Colour codes, ratios, readable pairs, fonts and sizes.
5-6
Voice and facts
How you sound, banned words and facts people may quote.
7-10
Images, templates and AI
Photo style, icons, templates and rules for AI tools.
Need something even shorter? Use the one-page brand guidelines format. Want to see full guides? Look at brand guidelines examples.
Copy the brand style guide template.
Paste it into any doc. Replace every part in brackets. Delete lines you do not need.
Brand style guide template
[COMPANY] BRAND STYLE GUIDE Version [1.0] - [date] - Owner: [name, email] 1. BRAND BASICS - What we do, in one line: [We make X for Y.] - Who we serve: [customer type, markets] - What we promise: [one line] - Three words that describe us: [word], [word], [word] 2. LOGO - Versions: primary, horizontal, symbol. Colour, white, black. - Clear space: [the height of X] on every side. - Smallest size: [X px on screen], [X mm in print]. - Do: [use the white logo on dark photos] - Do not: stretch, recolour, rotate, add shadows, put it on busy photos. 3. COLOUR - Main: [name] HEX [#] RGB [ , , ] CMYK [ , , , ] - Second: [name] HEX [#] RGB [ , , ] CMYK [ , , , ] - Accent: [name] HEX [#] - use for [one job only] - Ratio: [60]% main, [30]% second, [10]% accent - Readable pairs: [text colour] on [background colour] 4. TYPE - Headings: [font], [weight] - Text: [font], [weight], [size] on screen - Where to get the fonts: [link or note] - Rules: sentence case for headings. No more than [2] fonts. 5. VOICE - We sound: [word], [word], [word] - We write: short sentences, plain words, [I or we]. - We never say: [word], [word], [word] - Example before: [a stiff sentence] - Example after: [the same sentence in our voice] 6. FACTS - Facts people may quote: [fact + source] - Things nobody may promise: [claim] 7. PHOTOS - Style: [real people, natural light, no stock poses] - Do: [example] Do not: [example] 8. ICONS AND SHAPES - Icon style: [line or filled], [stroke width], [corner radius] 9. TEMPLATES - Social post: [link] LinkedIn banner: [link] - Slides: [link] Email signature: [link] Letterhead: [link] 10. AI RULES (for ChatGPT, Claude and others) - Use this voice: [section 5] - Use only these facts: [section 6] - Never: invent numbers, quotes or client names.
Section 10 is new for most teams. It keeps AI drafts on brand. More in ChatGPT brand guidelines and tone of voice prompts.
Free tool
Make the clear space rule for section 2.
Add your logo, pick a rule and download the guide. Your file stays on your device. Paste the guide into the logo section.
A filled-in example.
Here is section 3 and 5 for a made-up software company, Acme.
Example: Acme, sections 3 and 5
3. COLOUR - Main: Night HEX #10141C RGB 16, 20, 28 CMYK 43, 29, 0, 89 - Second: Fog HEX #EEF1F4 RGB 238, 241, 244 CMYK 2, 1, 0, 4 - Accent: Signal HEX #3DDC97 - use only for buttons and key numbers - Ratio: 60% Night, 30% Fog, 10% Signal - Readable pairs: Fog on Night, Night on Fog, Night on Signal 5. VOICE - We sound: clear, calm, practical - We write: short sentences, plain words, "we" for the company - We never say: "revolutionary", "seamless", "cutting-edge" - Before: "Our revolutionary platform seamlessly empowers teams." - After: "Acme shows your team which servers need fixing first."
Brand OS Portal
Get 3 templates in your brand. Free.
Leave your email. I design them by hand and send them to you within 48 hours. It costs you nothing.
Got it. I start on yours today. Your 3 free templates reach you within 48 hours.
I write to you from [email protected]. If you do not see it, check spam.
How to fill it in, in one afternoon.
Step 1
Collect files
Logo files, colour codes, font names and your best 20 photos. See which logo files you need.
Step 2
Fill sections 1-4
These are facts, not opinions. Copy them from your files.
Step 3
Write the voice
Pick three words. Rewrite one real sentence before and after.
Step 4
List the facts
Only facts with a source. Add what nobody may promise.
Step 5
Add do and do not
One pair of pictures for the logo, colour and photos.
Step 6
Share it as one link
Not as an attachment. Then turn it into a page people use.
Ready to move it online? Follow how to make a brand guidelines website. Voice help: brand voice guidelines.
When a template is not enough.
A template gives you the structure. It does not give you a strong logo, a clear position or tools your team uses every day.
MTG got 104-page guidelines, 54 social posts and 121 graded photos, all inside a Brand OS Pro Portal where the team makes its own posts. That is the step after the template.
Is your style guide done?
Tick what is true today. Your ticks stay on this device.
0 of 10 done
Want it designed and set up as a Brand OS Portal? Book a 15-minute call.
Social Studio
Try one Brand OS Portal tool
From style guide to finished post.
This is a real tool from a real Brand OS Portal, on the MTG brand. Change the words. The design and the rules stay right.
Straight answers.
What should a brand style guide include?
Brand basics, logo, colour, type, voice, facts, photos, icons, templates and AI rules. The template above has all ten.
Is there a free brand style guide template?
Yes, the one on this page. Copy it into Google Docs, Word or Notion and replace the parts in brackets.
How long should a brand style guide be?
Short enough that people use it. A first version can be a few pages. Big brands often go much longer.
What is the difference between a style guide and brand guidelines?
Often nothing. When people split them, the style guide is the short rules and the guidelines are the full book.
Can ChatGPT write my brand style guide?
It can help fill in the voice and facts sections, but check every fact. Read ChatGPT brand guidelines.
Does AI get your brand right? Check it free.
See what ChatGPT says about your company, and how to fix it.
Rather write to me?
Got it.
You hear from me within 2 to 8 hours.