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From brand guidelines to a working brand kit

A guideline PDF is for reading; a brand kit is for working. How to move a brand from its guideline into Studio and the Editor so every design starts on brand, whether the guideline was made here or arrived from an agency.

Beginner2 min readUpdated 27 September 2026Client brands, Brand kit

From an agency guideline, step by step

  1. Get the logo files (SVG or PNG with transparency, a version for light and for dark backgrounds). A logo cut from the PDF is a last resort.
  2. In Studio, press Client brands, New brand, and name it.
  3. Colours: add each one with its role (primary, secondary, accent, neutral, background, text) and the hex from the guideline. Six-digit hex only; if the guideline gives only CMYK or Pantone, ask for the screen values.
  4. Type: the Headlines and Text fonts, by their Google Fonts name. If the brand uses a commercial font, add it by file in each design (Character panel) or use the closest Google font.
  5. Logos: add each file and mark it On light or On dark. Set Smallest size (px on a 1080 px wide design) and Clear space (a share of the logo height, 0.5 is half).
  6. Voice: the voice words and the do and don't lists.
  7. Press Use as the Editor brand kit, and on each job choose the brand under Which brand is this for?

What each place holds

GuidelineClient brand (Studio)Editor brand kit
ForReading and agreeingChecking jobs againstStarting every design on brand
ColoursValues and usageValues with rolesSwatches
FontsNames and rulesHeadline and textNew text starts in the first
LogosVersions and rulesFiles, light or dark, sizesOne click from the Add menu

Can I import a brand guidelines PDF?

No. Enter the values the PDF states; it takes ten minutes and gives you something that checks designs, not just a document.

What if the guideline only has CMYK colours?

Ask the agency for the RGB or hex values. Converting CMYK to screen colours by formula is rarely what the brand intended.

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