An amendment typically covers reviewing the existing document, identifying the specific elements that need updating, making those changes and producing a revised version. The scope depends on how much has changed since the original was created.
If the core brand strategy and identity are still sound but specific elements — a logo update, new colours, an updated tone of voice — have changed, an amendment is usually the right approach. A full replacement is warranted when the brand itself has fundamentally changed.
Yes. Provided the source files are available, amendments can be made to guidelines created by any agency or designer. If source files aren’t available, the affected sections can be rebuilt to match the existing format.
Amendments can be scoped to a specific section — tone of voice, colour palette, digital usage guidelines — without necessarily revisiting the whole document. This keeps costs proportionate to the actual scope of change.
Minor amendments can often be turned around in one to two weeks. More extensive revisions involving multiple sections or a significant restructuring of the document will take longer.
Where source files are available, yes. The aim is always to produce a seamlessly updated document rather than one that looks like it has been patched. If the original design was poor, an amendment can also be an opportunity to improve the overall presentation.
Yes — an updated guidelines document only has value if the people who need it are using the latest version. Part of the handover process should include a plan for communicating the changes to relevant stakeholders and suppliers.
Yes. An online brand guidelines platform solves the version control problem by ensuring everyone always accesses the current version from a central source. This is particularly useful for businesses with large teams or many external partners.
That’s a common scenario and a straightforward amendment. The logo section would be updated with the new artwork, usage rules revised if needed, and all application examples updated to show the new logo in context.
Old versions should be archived rather than deleted, so there’s a record of how the brand evolved. All active versions in circulation should be replaced, and any online or shared locations where the old document was stored should be updated.