Get Started: Brand Guidelines Client Intake Form

Please remove this client intake form insights section before publishing.

This Client Intake Form is designed to gather comprehensive information about a business’s branding needs, ensuring the final Brand Guidelines & Style Guide aligns perfectly with its identity, goals, and audience. Below is a breakdown of each section and its strategic importance.

1. Client & Business Information

Purpose:

• Establishes basic contact details and business context.
• Helps in understanding the company’s industry, maturity, and digital presence.

Key Insights:

• Industry/Sector → Influences design choices (e.g., a law firm vs. a tech startup).
• Years in Business → Indicates whether the brand needs a refresh or a full identity creation.
• Website → Helps assess current branding consistency.

2. Project Overview & Objectives

A. Branding Needs Assessment (Checklist)

Purpose:

• Identifies specific services required (e.g., logo design, rebranding, digital assets).
• Prevents scope creep by clarifying deliverables upfront.

Key Insights:

• A new brand identity suggests foundational work, while a rebrand may require auditing existing assets.
• Brand Collateral vs. Digital Branding → Determines if the focus is on print, digital, or both.

B. Project Goals (Open-Ended Questions)

Purpose:

• Aligns branding strategy with business objectives.

Key Insights:

• Target audience → Dictates visual and verbal tone (e.g., Gen Z vs. corporate clients).
• Key message → Guides brand voice and imagery (e.g., "trustworthy" vs. "innovative").

3. Existing Brand Assessment

Purpose:

• Evaluates current brand equity to retain or evolve elements.

Key Insights:

• If the client has a style guide, it reveals their branding maturity.
• Dislikes about current branding → Highlights pain points (e.g., outdated logo, inconsistent colors).
• Legal restrictions → Critical for regulated industries (e.g., healthcare, finance).

4. Visual Identity Preferences

A. Logo & Brand Marks

Purpose:

• Defines aesthetic direction for logo design.

Key Insights:

• Logo style preferences → Minimalist vs. illustrative logos convey different brand personalities.
• Icon usage → Important for brands needing symbolic recognition (e.g., Apple’s apple).

B. Color Palette

Purpose:

• Ensures colors align with brand psychology (e.g., blue for trust, red for energy).

Key Insights:

• Existing colors → Can be refined or replaced.
• Colors to avoid → Prevents clashes with competitors or cultural associations.

C. Typography

Purpose:

• Establishes hierarchy and readability in branding materials.

Key Insights:

• Serif fonts → Traditional/authoritative (e.g., Times New Roman for law firms).
• Sans-serif fonts → Modern/approachable (e.g., Helvetica for tech brands).

D. Imagery & Graphics

Purpose:

• Sets the tone for visual content (photography, illustrations, etc.).

Key Insights:

• Lifestyle vs. product photography → B2C brands often use people, while B2B may prefer abstract graphics.
• Custom illustrations → Differentiates brands in crowded markets (e.g., Slack’s vibrant doodles).

5. Brand Voice & Messaging

Purpose:

• Defines how the brand communicates (formal, playful, etc.).

Key Insights:

• Brand personality → A "friendly" brand may use casual language, while a "luxury" brand stays refined.
• Admired brands → Reveals aspirational benchmarks (e.g., "We want Apple’s simplicity but Nike’s energy").

6. Deliverables & Timeline

A. Expected Deliverables

Purpose:

• Clarifies output formats (print, digital, editable files).

Key Insights:

• Social media templates → Needed for brands with heavy digital engagement.
• Pantone colors → Essential for print accuracy.

B. Project Timeline

Purpose:

• Manages expectations and prioritizes urgency.

Key Insights:

• A tight deadline may require phased deliverables (e.g., logo first, guidelines later).

7. Budget & Approval Process

Purpose:

• Aligns expectations with financial constraints.

Key Insights:

• Budget range → Determines project scope (e.g., basic logo vs. full brand system).
• Stakeholders → Identifies decision-makers to avoid delays.

8. Additional Notes

Purpose:

• Captures unique requests or inspirations.

Key Insights:

• Competitor differentiation → Guides unique selling proposition (USP) in design.
• Inspirational references → Mood boards or links help visualize preferences.

Strategic Value of This Form:

1. Prevents Misalignment → Ensures the final brand guide reflects the client’s vision.
2. Streamlines Workflow → Reduces back-and-forth with structured questions.
3. Enhances Suitability → Tailors services to the client’s industry, audience, and goals.

Ideal for:

• Design agencies, freelancers, and in-house teams creating brand guidelines.
• Startups, rebranding initiatives, and enterprises scaling their identity.

Please remove this mandatory questions recommendation section before publishing.

Here are the mandatory questions from your Brand Guidelines & Style Guide Client Intake Form, essential for gathering critical information to create an effective brand identity:

1. Client & Business Information (Core Details)

Company Name (Identifies the brand)
Contact Person & Email (Primary communication channel)
Industry/Sector (Guides design/style choices)
Brief Business Description (Understands brand purpose)

2. Project Goals (Strategic Direction)

Primary Objectives (e.g., rebranding, consistency, audience expansion)
Target Audience (Demographics, preferences, behaviors)
Key Brand Message (Core value proposition)

3. Existing Brand Assessment (If Applicable)

Do you have an existing brand style guide/logo? (Yes/No)
What do you like/dislike about your current branding? (Identifies pain points)

4. Visual Identity Preferences (Design Must-Haves)

Logo Style Preferences (Minimalist, modern, classic, etc.)
Color Palette Preferences (Existing colors or desired scheme)
Typography Preferences (Serif, sans-serif, script, etc.)

5. Brand Voice & Messaging (Tone & Personality)

Brand Personality (Professional, friendly, innovative, etc.)
Brand Tone (Formal, conversational, humorous, etc.)

6. Deliverables & Timeline (Logistics)

Desired Deliverables (Logo files, style guide PDF, etc.)
Project Deadline (Ensures alignment on timeline)

7. Budget & Approval Process

Estimated Budget Range (Avoids scope mismatches)
Key Decision-Makers (Who approves the final work?)

Why These Are Mandatory:

1. Avoids Miscommunication – Ensures the brand aligns with the client’s vision.
2. Saves Time – Prevents endless revisions by clarifying needs upfront.
3. Legal/Compliance – Identifies restrictions (e.g., trademarked colors, fonts).

Optional but Recommended:

• Competitor references
• Inspirational brand examples
• Preferred imagery styles

Would you like adjustments for a specific industry (e.g., startups vs. corporations)?