{"id":11143,"date":"2024-03-03T16:03:25","date_gmt":"2024-03-03T21:03:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/savvydigitaldesign.com\/?p=11143"},"modified":"2024-03-04T13:07:36","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T18:07:36","slug":"your-website-style-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savvydigitaldesign.com\/blog\/your-website-style-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Include in your Website Style Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#e4f1f3″ custom_padding=”16px||10px|||” saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.5em” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
A website style guide contains information and rules about your visual brand identity, and for the look & feel of your website.<\/p>\n
If you’ve already worked with a brand designer, you’ll have a lot of this info already in your branding guidelines they provided.<\/p>\n
If not, we will work together to create a website style guide for your design project.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ text_font=”Quattrocento Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” header_2_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#1397AC” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.5em” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
The visual elements on your website should be consistent with the ones on social media, your email newsletters, your business cards and any other printed material. These elements are:<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text ul_position=”inside” ul_item_indent=”40px” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.5em” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ text_font=”Quattrocento Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” header_2_font=”Abhaya Libre|800|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#1397AC” header_2_font_size=”34px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text ul_position=”inside” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Quattrocento Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.5em” ul_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#1397AC” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_3_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” header_3_text_color=”#1397AC” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
Giving me a single, low-resolution image of your logo in a PDF simply won’t do. I’ll need several versions of your logo, in several orientations and file formats. <\/span><\/p>\n Having black & white versions of your logos is an advantage. When your brand colors can’t be used – or when they won’t stand out – having light and dark alternatives can save the day.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/savvydigitaldesign.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/web-style-guide-logos.png” title_text=”web style guide – logos” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text ul_position=”inside” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Quattrocento Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.5em” ul_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#1397AC” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_3_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” header_3_text_color=”#1397AC” header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ text_font=”Quattrocento Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” header_2_font=”Abhaya Libre|800|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#1397AC” header_2_font_size=”34px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=”10%” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Quattrocento Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.5em” ul_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#1397AC” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_3_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” header_3_text_color=”#1397AC” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Your color palette should show the full range of colors that your brand will use for web use. I’ll need the hex codes for your colors – you can see examples of these in the photos below.<\/p>\n The four categories of color you should include in your web style guide are:<\/p>\n Specify how much you want each color used on your site. Let me know how often a color should be used. Show which colors to use the most, and which are highlight or accent colors, to use the least. You can show your color hierarchy as percentages or with a comparison chart.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/savvydigitaldesign.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/web-style-guide-colors-1.png” title_text=”web style guide colors 1″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/savvydigitaldesign.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/web-style-guide-colors-2.png” title_text=”web style guide colors 2″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”Abhaya Libre|800|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#1397AC” header_2_font_size=”34px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=”8%” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#1397AC” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n This section of your web design style guide should include all the typography information needed for the text portions of your website.<\/p>\n If you’ve already worked with a brand designer, you’ll have this information in your brand guidelines. When designing your website, I’ll need to know which fonts should be used for headings, subheadings, body text and calls-to-action.<\/p>\n Your web style guide should specify:<\/p>\n Most small business owners use free, web-safe, universal fonts for their websites. If you choose to use a premium\/paid font, you’ll have to purchase a license for web use and provide me with your license key. <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/savvydigitaldesign.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/web-style-guide-typography.png” title_text=”web style guide – typography” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ text_font=”Quattrocento Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” header_2_font=”Abhaya Libre|800|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#1397AC” header_2_font_size=”34px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text ul_position=”inside” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Quattrocento Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.5em” ul_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#1397AC” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_3_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” header_3_text_color=”#1397AC” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n You’ll want your website style guide to provide some guidelines for the types of imagery to use. For example, do you want photography or illustrations? If photos are used, are people looking at the camera or at each other? Are photos brightly lit or do they feature moody shadows? Which of your brand colors can be used as overlays?<\/p>\n This section of the web style guide should show a selection of the type of images to use for the brand, and the type of images to avoid.<\/p>\n For photography, focus on light, composition, and subject matter. For illustration, show style, color, and subject matter.<\/p>\n You can find good sources of stock images for your brand in this post on resources for your business.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/savvydigitaldesign.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/web-style-guide-photos-1.png” title_text=”web style guide – photos 1″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/savvydigitaldesign.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/web-style-guide-photos-2.png” title_text=”web style guide – photos 2″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/savvydigitaldesign.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/web-style-guide-illustrations.png” title_text=”web style guide – illustrations” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text ul_position=”inside” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Quattrocento Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.5em” ul_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#1397AC” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_3_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” header_3_text_color=”#1397AC” header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ text_font=”Quattrocento Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” header_2_font=”Abhaya Libre|800|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#1397AC” header_2_font_size=”34px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text ul_position=”inside” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Quattrocento Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.5em” ul_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#1397AC” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_3_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” header_3_text_color=”#1397AC” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Patterned backgrounds can add visual interest and dimension to your website. If you choose to use them, your style guide should designate if they can be used with text or other imagery placed on top.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/savvydigitaldesign.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/brand-patterns.png” alt=”set of 3 grayscale patterns for a brand” title_text=”brand patterns” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#888888″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_divider divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#136877″ background_image=”https:\/\/savvydigitaldesign.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/old-desk-altered.png” background_blend=”multiply” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”blackjack||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”34px” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”32px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Define your brand identity.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_font=”Quattrocento Sans||||||||” header_text_align=”center” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”24px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Learn more about develop branding that appeals to your ideal customer.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wb3N0Iiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjM2MDcifX0=@” button_text=”Branding Your Business” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” button_text_size=”22px” button_text_color=”#fb7c10″ button_bg_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” button_border_width=”2px” button_border_color=”#FB7C10″ button_font=”Quattrocento Sans|700|||||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” button_bg_enable_color=”on” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\nLogo Orientations
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<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nColor Variations<\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nFile Formats<\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/span><\/li>\nColor Palette<\/h2>\n
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Typography\u00a0<\/h2>\n
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Photos \/ Illustrations<\/h2>\n
File Formats<\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/span><\/li>\nPatterns and Backgrounds<\/h2>\n