Style guides examples offer a clear blueprint for consistent branding and communication. Whether a company needs visual guidelines or editorial rules, a well-crafted style guide keeps every team member aligned. This article explores practical style guide examples, from brand-focused templates to editorial frameworks. Readers will discover what makes these documents effective and how to build one from scratch.
Key Takeaways
- Style guides examples from brands like Spotify, Slack, and Mailchimp demonstrate how visual clarity and practical “do and don’t” sections create effective guidelines.
- There are two main types of style guides: brand style guides for visual identity and editorial style guides for written content standards.
- Effective style guides examples share common traits—visual demonstrations, scannable sections, clear reasoning, and examples of both approved and prohibited uses.
- Most companies build editorial guides by adopting a baseline style (AP or Chicago) and adding custom rules for voice, tone, and industry-specific terminology.
- Creating your own style guide starts with auditing existing materials, defining core elements, and organizing content for easy reference.
- A simple, accessible style guide that teams actually use is more valuable than a comprehensive document that goes ignored.
What Is a Style Guide?
A style guide is a document that defines rules for brand presentation and content creation. It covers visual elements like logos, colors, and typography. It also addresses voice, tone, and grammar standards.
Companies use style guides to maintain consistency across all platforms. Marketing teams, designers, and writers reference these documents daily. The result? A unified brand experience that audiences recognize and trust.
There are two main types of style guides:
- Brand style guides focus on visual identity. They specify logo usage, color palettes, fonts, and imagery.
- Editorial style guides cover written content. They define grammar preferences, punctuation rules, and voice guidelines.
Some organizations combine both into a single comprehensive document. Others keep them separate for different teams. The approach depends on company size and needs.
Style guides examples from leading brands show how detailed these documents can be. Apple’s guidelines span hundreds of pages. A small startup might need just five. What matters is clarity and usefulness for the people who rely on it.
Brand Style Guide Examples
Looking at style guides examples from successful brands provides valuable direction. Here are several worth studying.
Spotify
Spotify’s brand guidelines stand out for their simplicity. The guide uses bold colors and clear sections. It explains logo placement rules with visual examples. Designers can quickly find specifications for the signature green (#1DB954) and approved logo variations.
Slack
Slack maintains a publicly available brand kit. The guide covers logo usage, color codes, and voice principles. It even includes “do” and “don’t” examples that show proper application. This practical approach helps external partners use the brand correctly.
Mailchimp
Mailchimp’s style guide blends brand and editorial elements effectively. The visual section addresses illustrations, photography, and the famous Freddie mascot. Clear rules prevent misuse while allowing creative flexibility.
Netflix
Netflix provides detailed guidelines for its iconic logo. The guide specifies minimum clear space, acceptable backgrounds, and color requirements. It protects brand recognition across thousands of partner applications.
What Makes These Style Guides Examples Effective?
These brands share common traits in their style guides:
- Visual examples accompany every rule
- Sections are easy to scan and search
- Guidelines explain the “why” behind decisions
- Documents include both approved and prohibited uses
A strong brand style guide removes guesswork. Teams spend less time asking questions and more time creating consistent work.
Editorial Style Guide Examples
Editorial style guides examples help writing teams produce consistent content. These documents address grammar, punctuation, formatting, and tone.
The Associated Press Stylebook
The AP Stylebook serves as the foundation for journalism worldwide. It provides rules on abbreviations, capitalization, and number usage. Many companies adapt AP style for their own editorial guidelines.
The Chicago Manual of Style
Chicago style dominates book publishing and academic writing. The guide offers detailed grammar rules and citation formats. It’s more comprehensive than AP and suits long-form content.
Microsoft Writing Style Guide
Microsoft’s guide focuses on technical documentation and digital content. It emphasizes plain language and accessibility. The guide covers everything from button labels to error messages.
Mailchimp Content Style Guide
Mailchimp’s editorial guide deserves mention alongside its brand guidelines. The document defines voice as “fun but not silly” and “confident but not cocky.” It provides word lists, grammar preferences, and inclusive language guidance.
Building From Established Style Guides Examples
Most companies don’t start from zero. They adopt a baseline style (AP or Chicago) and add custom rules. This approach saves time while addressing specific needs.
Key elements in effective editorial style guides:
- Voice and tone descriptions with examples
- Word lists (preferred terms, banned words)
- Grammar decisions (Oxford comma or not?)
- Formatting standards for headings, lists, and links
- Industry-specific terminology guidelines
How to Create Your Own Style Guide
Creating a style guide doesn’t require months of work. Follow these steps to build a useful document.
Step 1: Audit Existing Materials
Gather current brand assets and content samples. Identify inconsistencies across platforms. Note what’s working and what needs standardization.
Step 2: Define Core Elements
For brand guides, document:
- Logo files and usage rules
- Primary and secondary colors with hex codes
- Typography selections and hierarchy
- Photography and illustration styles
For editorial guides, establish:
- Voice characteristics
- Tone variations by content type
- Grammar and punctuation preferences
- Formatting conventions
Step 3: Create Visual Examples
Show correct and incorrect applications. Style guides examples work best when they demonstrate rules visually. Screenshots and side-by-side comparisons clarify expectations.
Step 4: Organize for Easy Reference
Structure the document logically. Use a table of contents and searchable headings. Teams need to find answers quickly.
Step 5: Make It Accessible
Store the style guide where everyone can access it. Consider a shared drive, company wiki, or dedicated web page. Update the document regularly as the brand evolves.
Step 6: Train Your Team
A style guide only works if people use it. Host training sessions for new hires. Send updates when significant changes occur.
Start simple. A basic style guide beats no guide at all. Teams can expand the document over time based on questions that arise.
