Styleguide

A style guide (or German style guide ) describes, is to make as certain elements of a print product or a website. These guidelines are a uniform appearance of different communication means an institution or firm, such as advertising and information, business letters or websites ensure and enable the formation of a corporate identity. In addition, style guides are used generally for the software creation or products; also here is the goal: Products are to be perceived as belonging together and possibly also associated with the associated brand.

Objectives

With the guidelines of a style guide can be controlled:

  • The language; to be used with the aim of uniform labels, formulations and speech styles
  • Page formatting; Layout and design of texts and means of communication, with the goal of a single overall impression regarding such as font, outline, date formats and use of paints
  • Technical and visual aspects for the creation of source code for the program, websites, etc.

Design elements for printed communication means

With a style guide for printed communication means are defined as:

  • Paper
  • Paper size
  • Printing inks
  • Printing techniques and finishes (eg embossing, stamping, painting )
  • Type area
  • Fonts
  • Font size
  • Line spacing
  • Type of structure
  • Imagery
  • Use of design elements

Design tool for digital communications

In digital media, especially in web design, style guides in the design process gain in importance. This is due to the increasing relevance of responsive design in which the individual loses, pixel-perfect layout in importance. Controlled global design principles that can be defined in terms of a style guide and will be implemented only in the second step into concrete user interfaces in his place. Are typical in digital style guides Information on:

  • Colors used
  • Fonts and typographic settings for various applications, eg for headings and body text
  • Imagery
  • The type and severity used animations

Depending on the severity, the Style Guide also contain finished user interface elements, such as:

  • Buttons different functions
  • Typographic design elements such as quotes
  • Modal windows

In some cases, more general information on the branding as tone of voice, using logos and slogans are included in the style guide.

Examples

Style guides online by

  • Dt. Federal government, the armed forces and BMELV
  • EU Interinstitutional style guide
  • Style Guide Online Configurator for trade fairs
  • The Economist Style Guide for Journalists ( English)

Design guidelines online by

Outline (list)
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