21 Inspiring Brand Style Guide Examples for Ecommerce Success

As an ecommerce expert, I understand the importance of creating a consistent and memorable brand. One tool that can help you achieve this is a brand style guide. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refresh your branding, a style guide can guide your design decisions and ensure consistency across all platforms.

What are brand guidelines?

Brand guidelines, also known as a brand style guide, are a set of rules and standards that determine how your brand is presented visually and verbally. They help maintain consistency across all channels, from your website to your social media profiles to your marketing materials.

The Elements of a Brand Style Guide

While every brand style guide is unique, there are a few elements that are typically included:

Mission Statement

Your mission statement should capture the essence of your brand and its purpose. It should be clear and concise, and provide a framework for all your branding decisions.

Buyer Persona

A buyer persona is a fictional representation of your ideal customer. Understanding your target audience can help guide your design decisions, messaging, and tone of voice.

Color Palette

Your brand's color palette should be consistent across all channels. A good rule of thumb is to stick to 2-3 primary colors and 2-3 accent colors. Your style guide should include both hex codes and RGB values for each color.

Editorial Style Guide

Your editorial style guide should outline the tone of voice and language you use to communicate with your audience. Consistency in writing style can help establish your brand's personality and build trust with your audience.

Typography

Your brand's typography should be consistent across all channels. Your style guide should include all of the typefaces you use, along with guidelines for font size, weight, and spacing.

Style Guide Examples

Looking for visual inspiration for your brand style guide? Check out these 21 brand style guide examples:

1. Medium

Medium's brand style guide is clean and minimalist, with a focus on typography and whitespace. Their color palette is simple, with a bold emphasis on their signature green.

2. Walmart

Walmart's style guide is bold and colorful, with a focus on their iconic blue and yellow color scheme. They also include a comprehensive editorial style guide, with guidelines for tone of voice and language.

3. Asana

Asana's style guide is modern and clean, with a focus on simple geometric shapes and a bright, vibrant color palette. Their typography is clean and streamlined, with a focus on legibility.

4. Skype

Skype's style guide is simple and elegant, with a focus on their iconic blue and white color scheme. Their typography is streamlined and modern, with a focus on legibility and simplicity.

5. Barre & Soul

Barre & Soul's style guide is feminine and elegant, with a focus on soft pinks and whites. Their typography is stylish and modern, with a focus on legibility and personality.

6. Spotify

Spotify's style guide is bold and colorful, with a focus on their distinctive green color scheme. Their typography is modern and sleek, with a focus on legibility and personality.

7. Starbucks

Starbucks' style guide is warm and welcoming, with a focus on natural, earthy tones. Their typography is simple and streamlined, with a focus on legibility.

8. Paris 2024

Paris 2024's style guide is playful and modern, with a focus on bright, bold colors and geometric shapes. Their typography is clean and modern, with a focus on legibility and personality.

9. Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters' style guide is edgy and rebellious, with a focus on bold color schemes and urban-inspired typography. Their style guide also includes guidelines for photography and image style.

10. Love to Ride

Love to Ride's style guide is playful and fun, with a focus on bright, bold colors and playful typography. Their style guide also includes guidelines for photography and image style.

11. Barbican

Barbican's style guide is modern and sleek, with a focus on bold geometric shapes and bright, vibrant colors. Their typography is simple and streamlined, with a focus on legibility.

12. I Love New York

I Love New York's style guide is classic and timeless, with a focus on bold typography and a classic color scheme. Their style guide also includes guidelines for photography and image style.

13. TikTok

TikTok's style guide is modern and playful, with a focus on bright, bold colors and playful typography. Their style guide also includes guidelines for photography and video style.

14. University of the Arts Helsinki

University of the Arts Helsinki's style guide is modern and elegant, with a focus on geometric shapes and bold, vibrant colors. Their typography is streamlined and modern, with a focus on legibility and personality.

15. Ivy Lane Events

Ivy Lane Events' style guide is feminine and elegant, with a focus on soft pinks and golds and whimsical typography. Their style guide also includes guidelines for photography and image style.

16. Western Athletic Conference

Western Athletic Conference's style guide is classic and timeless, with a focus on bold typography and a simple color scheme. Their style guide also includes guidelines for photography and video style.

17. Discord

Discord's style guide is modern and playful, with a focus on vivid colors and playful typography. Their style guide also includes guidelines for iconography and illustration style.

18. Netflix

Netflix's style guide is sleek and minimalist, with a focus on black and white and a few select accent colors. Their typography is simple and streamlined, with a focus on legibility.

19. Scrimshaw Coffee

Scrimshaw Coffee's style guide is rustic and warm, with a focus on natural materials and warm, earthy tones. Their typography is classic and timeless, with a focus on legibility and personality.

20. NASA

NASA's style guide is sleek and modern, with a focus on bold, geometric shapes and a minimalist color scheme. Their typography is simple and streamlined, with a focus on legibility and personality.

21. New York City Transit Authority

New York City Transit Authority's style guide is classic and timeless, with a focus on bold type and a classic color scheme. Their style guide also includes guidelines for photography and image style.

Build a Memorable Style Guide of Your Own

With so many inspiring examples to draw from, it's easy to start building your own brand style guide. Remember to consider your target audience, your brand's essence, and your desired tone of voice when making design decisions. With a versatile and comprehensive style guide, your ecommerce brand can stand out and make a lasting impression.