BRAND GUIDELINES / HANDOFF REVIEW

Brand guidelines checklist.
Ready to hand over?

Use these 24 checks to review a brandbook and its matching source files before someone else uses them. Cover the foundation, logos, color, typography, applications and final handoff. Record evidence or an action for every unresolved item.

By Brandfolia · Published October 20, 2026

Download the editable TXT checklist

Use the checkboxes below for a quick review, or save the TXT file for a record with notes. Page checkmarks are temporary and are not saved to an account. Use your browser’s Print command for a paper copy. This is a working handoff aid, not a certification or a substitute for legal or production review.

How to use the checklist

Review the actual PDF and files together. Mark an item only when you have checked its evidence; record a reason when it does not apply. Keep a separate list of changes and identify who can approve them. A completed template is still a draft until the responsible person has reviewed the project’s content.

For Brandfolia’s identity studio, review the 30-page guide alongside its four signature SVGs and 13 application SVGs. Existing 24-page fictional case books and the separate 12-section manual editor have different scopes.

1. Foundation and ownershipName the audience, offer and positioning in specific language; remove generic placeholder copy.Check business claims against source material and record anything still awaiting confirmation.Write the brand story, personality and voice; include a short example someone can follow.Record the document owner, revision date and approval status; separate drafts from approved files.

2. Logo and signaturesIdentify the primary, reversed, monochrome and compact marks, with a use case for each.Show clear space and minimum-size guidance; test the actual mark at the smallest intended size.Check logo proportions, backgrounds and contrast; show examples of misuse.Confirm rights to the name and artwork. A typeset wordmark is not trademark clearance.

3. Color, typography and design elementsAssign a role to each palette color and supply HEX or RGB values for digital work.Check real foreground/background pairs with the contrast checker and review small text in context.Name display and body fonts, set heading levels and spacing, and include their license notices.Define the graphic motif, image treatment and crop rules; retain original product images.

4. Applications across channelsCompare business cards, letterhead and envelope artwork for consistent hierarchy and correct contact details.Review packaging, tote and mug concepts against the supplier template, printable area and required copy.Test outdoor artwork at the intended viewing distance and ask the supplier for dimensions and safe areas.Review social, story, website, presentation and mobile artwork at realistic sizes; check crops and long text.

5. Files and production checksOpen every delivered file and compare it with the approved preview; check filenames and revision labels.Keep editable brand JSON with the SVGs. Outlined SVG lettering cannot be edited as ordinary text.Confirm physical dimensions, bleed, stock, color conversion and a proof before print production.Keep website and mobile concepts labeled as design artwork until implementation and accessibility testing are complete.

6. Handoff and maintenanceExport the current guide and source package together; check that both use the same identity settings.Download a full project backup when local product photos are used, and reopen it before moving devices.Give the next person a file map, contact for questions and a list of unresolved decisions.Agree who can approve future changes and archive old revisions so they are not reused accidentally.

What should stop the handoff?

Resolve incorrect contact details, unverified claims, missing rights, unreadable text and source files that disagree with the guide before presenting the work as approved. Production-specific items can remain open in a clearly labeled concept handoff, with an owner and next action; they must be settled before manufacturing or launch.

For example, a mug graphic may be ready for a supplier conversation while its printable area is still unknown. Label it as a concept and request a supplier template. Do not describe that file as ready for production.

Keep a usable review record

Example review record — illustrative, not a client result
Item	Evidence or issue	Next action
Contact details	Card still contains hello@example.com.	Replace it in the profile and regenerate the guide and SVGs.
Mobile concept	Long product name wraps poorly at phone size.	Adjust the message and test the implemented screen.
Print colors	Artwork is sRGB; the printer’s requirements are pending.	Request color specifications and approve a physical proof.

Need to write the rules first? Use the brand guidelines template. Need starter artwork? Download a brand kit template. When the project is ready, follow the brandbook export walkthrough.