In class this past Monday, we viewed some examples of Brand Standards documents. These documents detail the ins and outs of a particular brand, showing potential affiliates, employees, and businesses how to properly represent the brand or organizational identity. Design firms invest huge amounts of time and effort into conveying a precise attitude and message through branding. The resulting corporate or organizational identity is only fully realized when used and represented in a coherent and consistent manner. This Apple Logo Guidelines document and this New School Brand Standards document are two solid examples of brand standards are implemented.
These documents can also reveal some great technical tips about how to portray identity through graphic media. For extra resources, this Style Guidelines and Standards Resource, will provide you with more enough material to satiate your interests.
Again, all this information about branding and identity design does not mean you need to develop your own brand standards or even your own logo. Keep your efforts on representing your identity appropriate to your career. You most likely are interested in being professional furniture designers, and should not overwhelm any potential clients or consumers with flashy logos, or graphic media void of real substance. Rather, a simple and concise use of graphic elements to convey your professional persona is the goal. Allow a refined and consistent format of your personal media to be the vehicle that exhibits your talent, creativity, and potential.
f Taylor McKenzie-Veal
