Marketing & Brand Hub

Marketing & Brand Hub Marketing & Brand Hub Find the right brand resource, prepare a design request, or see how shared campaign work is planned. Northstar Services is the fictional example used throughout this hub. Start with the resource that matches your task; use approved files as supplied. Go straight to a task Choose a resource for what you need to do. Find brand assets See what to use for logos and other visual materials. Apply the brand Scan practical writing and design guidance. Choose a template Match a presentation or document to its purpose. Prepare a design request Build a brief with a clear audience, goal, and deliverable. Understand campaign planning See a sample shared campaign plan and its stages. Choose the right starting point Approved assets are supplied files to use as-is. Templates are structured starting points for common documents and presentations. A design request is for work that needs a new or substantially adapted creative deliverable. Example: For a customer briefing, start with the presentation template and approved logo files. If the briefing also needs a new campaign graphic, prepare a design brief for that specific work. A clear handoff gets work moving A useful design request gives the team enough context to make a good first draft. Worked handoff example An employee requests a one-page service overview for a customer briefing. The brief names the audience, explains the purpose, provides approved source text, and describes when the material will be used. Audience: customers attending an introductory service briefing. Purpose: explain the service and the next step for learning more. Provided: approved service description and the relevant presentation template. Needed: a one-page overview that can be shared after the meeting. Example Brand Assets Use supplied brand files as they are The Northstar Services examples described here are fictional. In a working hub, choose current files from the organization’s approved asset library. Do not redraw, recolor, stretch, or combine a logo with other marks; use the supplied version that fits the intended placement. Asset types by task Example categories for an approved asset library. Primary logo artwork Example resource: transparent artwork for a slide or other placement where the background remains visible. Logos Compact document mark Example resource: a smaller approved mark intended for a document header. Documents Presentation image collection Example resource: a curated set of images for use in presentation layouts. Presentations Choose a suitable file type Illustrative guidance; use the actual formats supplied in your approved asset library. Slide over a colored or photographic background Small document header Recolor or redraw the mark Place the mark clearly Give it clear space For a customer briefing slide, place the supplied transparent logo on a calm area with enough clear space around it to remain legible. Keep it undistorted Avoid busy imagery and do not stretch it to fill a space. Brand Guidelines Brand Guidelines For writing, color, and layout examples Brand Guidelines Northstar Services brand guidelines — quick reference Purpose: help people recognize Northstar Services and understand what to do next. Lead with the reader’s need, write plainly, use approved marks, and keep layouts uncluttered. These are fictional sample guidelines, not a verified standard for another organization. Everyday writing and design Scan the topic that applies to your work. Voice Lead with the reader Say what the reader needs to know or do. Prefer familiar words and specific next steps over broad claims. Keep the tone helpful Use direct, respectful language. Explain an unfamiliar term the first time it appears. Logo Use supplied artwork Choose the supplied logo version that suits the background and placement. Do not stretch, recolor, redraw, or add effects. Color Use color with purpose Use the approved palette for emphasis and navigation. Keep text readable against its background and do not use color as the only way to communicate meaning. Layout Make the page easy to scan Use descriptive headings, short paragraphs, and enough open space to separate distinct ideas. Keep related information together. Download the guidelines Brand guidelines Sample guidelines — replace them with your own. pdf A clearer message in one edit Example of replacing a vague promotional line with a specific reader benefit and action. Before “We deliver best-in-class solutions that transform the way you work.” The claim is broad and does not tell the reader what the service does. After “Northstar Services helps teams organize customer requests in one shared workflow. See the service overview to learn how it works.” The sentence names the service, explains its purpose, and gives a next step. Image Templates Start with a structure that fits the work Templates provide a consistent starting point for common work. Replace example copy with accurate content, keep approved layout elements intact, and check that the finished document suits its audience before sharing. Browse by deliverable Example categories for a maintained template library. Presentations Customer briefing Project update Documents One-page service overview Meeting summary Campaign materials Campaign brief Message outline Most-used templates Presentation template pptx Letterhead docx Event poster pdf Worked example: choose a starting point Fictional Northstar Services examples. Work to complete A suitable starting point What to adapt Customer service briefing Customer briefing presentation Audience details, service content, and meeting-specific examples Project progress update One-page project update Current progress, decisions needed, and next actions New campaign concept Campaign brief Audience, objective, key message, deliverables, and review needs Template types Customer briefing presentation A presentation structure for the customer's context, the proposed approach, and the next decision. One-page project update A concise document for the project's current state, open questions, and next steps. Campaign brief A brief that brings together the audience, purpose, message, deliverables, and review responsibilities. Design Requests Make a design request actionable A clear request explains who the work is for, what it needs to achieve, what needs to be made, and what source material is already available. A specific brief helps the marketing team understand the request before work begins. Prepare the handoff Gather these details before sending a brief through the organization’s configured request route. Name the audience and goal Describe who will use or see the material and what they should understand or do. Gather source material Include accurate source copy, approved assets, and any relevant existing examples. Specify the deliverable and use State the format, where it will appear, and any known review or publication timing. Share the brief through the request route Use the organization’s configured internal route and include the gathered context. Worked brief: service overview Fictional Northstar Services example. This is a sample brief, not a live request or promised delivery schedule. Brief details Create a one-page overview for the Northstar Services customer-support program. Audience: customers attending an introductory service briefing. Purpose: explain how the program organizes customer requests. Deliverable: a one-page overview suitable for sharing after the meeting. Source material: approved program description and current presentation template. Clarify before work starts Confirm details that affect the design and review. Which program details are approved for external audiences? Where will the overview be shared or displayed? Who reviews the wording and final layout? Is there a required publication date or event date? Send the brief Use the organization’s configured design-request route after it is available. Include the details from your brief Send these along with your request: Audience Goal Deliverable Source material Review details If you cannot find the route Ask your manager how to reach the current marketing request owner. Campaign Calendar Shared campaign planning This page demonstrates an authored shared campaign plan. It is not a personal calendar and does not show any reader’s individual upcoming events. In this fictional Northstar Services example, campaign stages and entries illustrate how a team can organize work. A campaign’s planning sequence Brief Agree on the audience, objective, key message, and intended deliverables. Planning stage Draft Prepare the initial copy and creative using approved source materials. Review Gather the required content and design reviews, then resolve feedback. Release Coordinate the planned publication across the selected channels. Follow up Record what was published and capture useful observations for future planning. Worked example: shared campaign plan Illustrative fictional entries, organized by planning stage rather than calendar date. Campaign Audience Purpose Owner role Planning stage Service overview launch Existing customers Introduce a revised service overview Marketing lead Draft Customer briefing series Prospective customers Explain the customer-support program Campaign coordinator Review Employee service explainer Employees Help teams describe the program consistently Internal communications partner Brief Keep the shared plan current Record each real entry For each real entry, record: Campaign Intended audience Purpose Owner role Current planning stage Update when work moves The campaign owner updates the shared plan when work moves stages or the plan changes. Keep it separate from personal calendars Keep this shared plan separate from personal calendar events.