There are a number of free templates available for InDesign that can help simplify the creation of guidelines, making the process much more efficient and accessible. And that is what we have for you here.

Each InDesign template has been designed to meet various branding needs, offering practical solutions for creating comprehensive, polished, and professional brand documentation.

You might also like our collection of branding mockup templates.

The post 15+ Free Branding Identity Templates for InDesign appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

Mockup templates come in various forms, including 3D, photorealistic, and digital scenarios. 3D mockups are ideal for showcasing logos on physical objects such as packaging, billboards, or merchandise. Photorealistic mockups are perfect for showcasing logos on digital platforms such as desktop computers, mobile devices, websites, or social media. Digital mockups are versatile and can be used for both physical and digital applications.

Mockup templates save you time and effort by providing a ready-made platform for displaying your logo design. They are also easy to customize, allowing you to tweak various design elements to suit your project’s preferences.

With a wide variety of free mockup templates available, you can choose the one that best suits your needs and ensures your logo or branding design is presented in the best possible way.

Simple Can be Iconic

Founded in 1976, the first Apple logo was Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree. Shortly thereafter, the first rainbow Apple logo was created. Ever since then, it’s had some slight changes, including changes in coloration, but mostly it has stayed the same and pretty much everyone knows who’s logo that is when they see it on a device or an ad.

The same is true for the Nike Swoosh, which hasn’t changed much since 1971. When you have a great logo, it can stand the test of time.

Repetition is Key

For years, you could instantly recognize an ad for the iconic Absolut vodka. They made their simply shaped bottle the hero of all of their ads, usually bathed in a white spotlight with a black vignette around it. Most notably, they used work games to play with their name. A bottle of their Absolut Citron made out of orange peels accompanied by the phrase “Absolut Appeal” is one example.

Another ad had a bottle with a halo above it and the copy “Absolut Perfection.” They were fun, short, and most importantly, memorable. Now they’ve changed their ad campaigns, but the copy is still short and sweet with the same font, making them easy to instantly identify.

Change Can be Traumatic

With such repetition, people get used to seeing certain symbols and colors associated with certain brands. People can become attached to these familiar icons, and when there can be backlash if there is a drastic change. In 2010, retailer Gap introduced a new logo and then quickly rolled it back a few days later after consumer backlash reached fever-pitch heights.

In reality, they should have known this was coming because they’re a “logo brand” – part of what encourages their customer base to buy is the status that the Gap logo provides them. The reversal of the colors in the new logo was probably part of why it was too big of a change.

Check the Temperature

Gap might have been able to avoid the drama if it would have properly tested its logo before actually rolling it out. Brands like to think they have control, but it’s been proven time and again that customers will speak up if they don’t like the changes a business makes.

In 2013, Yahoo had a brilliant idea for their redesign process. They introduced a new version of their logo every day for a month. This let people know that changes were coming, instead of abruptly remaking themselves out of the blue. Not only did it soften the blow when the changes were made, it let people warm up to the idea that Yahoo was going to look different soon.

Subtle Changes are Mostly Safe

In the 1980s and 1990s, America started really waking up to how unhealthy fast food could be, particularly foods cooked in oils. Needless to say, Kentucky Fried Chicken felt a bit like it was in the cross-hairs with a newly-demonized cooking method literally being their middle name.

But when they made the change to KFC, it barely made ripples. People had already been calling it KFC, and Kentucky fried chicken was still the primary product they sold. It did help, though, that the logo and imagery was still very similar to the original branding, with swooping fonts, red and white colors, and of course, Colonel Sanders face.

Concluding

These are just a few of the design lessons from the modern marketing era. If you’re a graphic designer, keep these tips in mind should you have to work on a rebranding project soon, as the advice could come in handy.

If you’re a marketing professional or small business owner, take the experiences of the brands listed above into account should you start your own branding or rebranding task.

The post Branding Lessons from the Modern Marketing Era appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.