Sphera Brand Guidelines
As stewards of innovation and excellence, we embark on a journey guided by a commitment to redefine industry standards. At Sphera, we recognize the power of a cohesive and impactful brand presence. This document serves as a compass, providing clear direction for expressing our identity consistently across all touchpoints.
Contents
Modern
Iconic
Optimistic
Sphera is a dynamic organization providing market-leading software, content and consulting services. We help companies take an integrated approach to applying sustainability to all their processes involving people, planet and productivity.
With offerings in the areas of Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability (EHS&S), Operational Risk Management (ORM), Product Stewardship and Supply Chain Transparency, we are deeply engaged in fulfilling our mission of creating a safer, more sustainable and productive world.
Logo
The Sphera logo embodies our visual principles of modern, iconic, and optimistic. The logo is an iconic representation of a globe forming the letter “S.” The lines of the Sphera globe icon come together to represent partnerships and have a forward movement toward the future. The wordmark “Sphera” is in lowercase to help us portray ourselves as modern and approachable—exactly the type of sustainability guide companies need.
Primary Logo Usage
The primary logo is comprised of the wordmark “Sphera” and the Sphera globe icon always to the left. Thespacing has been optimized between the wordmark and icon and should not be changed.
Incorrect Usage
The examples to the right are incorrect usages of the primary logo.
1. The wordmark should not be used on its own. It should always be paired with the icon.
2. The icon should always be positioned at the left of the wordmark, never stacked or displaced.
3. The ratio of the icon to the wordmark should not be altered.
4. The icon should not appear next to a non-wordmark version of “Sphera” or typeface reading “Sphera”
Logo Color Usage
Correct Usage
The logo can work on the varying colors of the Sphera brand, allowing flexibility and scale.
1. Primary usage - Sphera Imperial Blue on Salt used for all assets.
2. Primary usage - Salt on Sphera Imperical blue used for all assets.
3. Secondary usage - Cyan on Sphera Imperial Blue. Used primarily for marketing purposes when the brand needs to feel dynamic and vibrant.
Incorrect Usage
4. Cyan should not be used on Salt as it does not provide enough contrast for logo legibility.
Clear Space
When using the Sphera Logo and globe icon in isolation, the same clear space parameters of the full logo should be used.
Cloud Platform
Typography
Arial is the universal typeface all Sphera colleagues will use (except for the design team, who will utilize our primary typeface for design work, Graphik). The examples below that utilize Graphik also apply for using Arial.
Typesetting
Headline and Sub-header / Hero Copy Leading
Headline leading and sub-header / hero copy leading should be set to 110% - 125% to the font point size. Example: The headline to the right has a type size of 80pt and leading (line height) set at 90pt. The sub-header to the right has a type
size of 40pt and leading set at 50pt.
Body Copy Leading
At all sizes, body copy leading should be set to 125% - 130% of the font point size. This will allow for comfortable legibility, even at smaller font sizes. Example: The body copy
to the right has a type size of 20pt and leading set at 25pt.
Tracking
Tracking (letter spacing) for headlines, sub-headers, and
body copy should be set at 0.
Eyebrow & Headline Relationship
Eyebrows should be 30% - 35% of the headline point size. The example at the right shows an eyebrow set at 25pt and a headline set at 80pt. Leading between the eyebrow and headline should be between 120% - 130% of the eyebrow point size. The
eyebrow example at the right is set at 25pt with leading set at 30pt between the eyebrow and headline.
Subhead, Hero Copy & Body Copy Relationship
Sub-headers and hero body copy would be 175% - 200% the point size of body copy. The example at the right shows a sub-header and hero body copy set at 40pt with body copy set at 20pt. Leading between the subhead / hero copy and body copy should be between 120% - 130% of the subhead / hero copy point size. The subhead / hero body copy example at the right is set at 40pt with leading set at 50pt between the subhead / hero copy and body copy.
Typesetting
Incorrect Usage
These examples demonstrate improper usage of leading and tracking set at too tight or too open settings. Improper usage compromises legibility and disconnects the brand from Sphera’s visual principles.
1. Incorrect relationship of sizing between eyebrows and headline disrupts typographical hierarchy.
2. Incorrect leading creates copy that is difficult to read.
3. Incorrect weights disrupt typographical hierarchy and make copy difficult to read.
4. Incorrect tracking creates copy that is difficult to read.
Primary Color
Sphera brand colors set it apart from competitors. The following is the primary usage of each.
Sphera Imperial Blue
The primary color of the Sphera brand. It is the color the brand is known by - Sphera is Imperial Blue. Headlines and hero copy are set in Sphera Imperial Blue or Salt on Sphera Imperial Blue - it is the brand voice visually represented. Backdrops of Imperial Blue are used occasionally when the brand needs to draw more attention to itself in cases such as tradeshows or a section break in a Powerpoint.
Salt
The primary backdrop color field of the brand. It allows the brand to feel optimistic and bright.
Imperial Blue
Used primarily for body copy or as a secondary color.
Cyan
Cyan signals the vibrancy of data. It is used in patterns and calls to action.
IMPERIAL BLUE
SALT
CYAN
Secondary
Sphera product line colors have been created to reflect the same vibrancy seen throughout the Sphera visual identity color palette. Each product line has been assigned a specific color to be used within the brand system as identified in the following pages. These colors should only be used to represent product lines.
Secondary colors are used for the product pillars outlined below:
Fern Green Environmental, Heath, Safety & Sustainability
Sea Blue Product Stewardship
Salmon Supply Chain Transperency
Pomegranate Operational Risk Management
FERN GREEN
SEA BLUE
SALMON
POMEGRANATE
Icons
Unlock the power of consistency and visual harmony with our patterns and icons, a key element in shaping and maintaining our brand's identity.
Line Pattern
The Sphera Globe is further given dimension and scale, carried through in the form of linear patterns. They are symbolic of data, guiding paths, and connectivity. These patterns provide the backdrop for the Sphera brand. Patterns leverage brand colors and gradient fields to give them vibrancy and present “data coming alive.” Refer to the asset library for patterns and background plates.
Icons
Hero icons represent key Sphera capabilities drawn specifically for the Sphera Globe visual identity.
General icons are a selection of pre-existing icons to be used to represent general features or capabilities. The set includes a library of icons that are readily available for use.
Photography
Unlock the power of consistency and visual harmony with our photography, a key element in shaping and maintaining our brand's identity.
Architecture & Objects
Brand photography of physical spaces and objects should always present perspective. Perspective gives the space or object dimension and momentum, key aspects of Sphera’s visual principles. Unique perspectives, as shown, provide
an artistic quality to an industries that can often times be viewed as functional and mundane. So too does Sphera have a unique perspective on the world.
People
The people of Sphera and its partners are experts. Photography of people should represent them in their context, functioning in their expertise. The audience should feel present in their work, capturing them in the moment, in their real context, never posed. Brand photography also represents hands, where the human touch meets expertise - Sphera brings humanity to its work.
Sustainability
Photography of nature iconify it, in both macro settings, depicting it in its entirety or in micro settings, closing in on what makes it what it is. Human-made objects for sustainability should also be depicted in iconic fashion to relate back to Sphera’s visual principles. These photographs should depict nature in a bright and optimistic light.
Templates
Pre-made templates designed to meet specific standards or specs so they're consistent between users and mediums. Use pre-designed templates from template libraries below.
PowerPoint
Letterhead
Report
Email Signature
Zoom
Tone of voice
How we talk is how we are perceived.
For people to really listen, you have to have something to say. That is why we only communicate if we have interesting topics for people to know. When we speak, we speak clearly. We write in short sentences and with a plain, thoughtful language.
Questions + Requests
Any questions on usage or needs that are outside of these guidelines, please reach out Eric Anderson (eanderson@sphera.com).
Our brand is a story unfolding across all customer touchpoints it is the sum total of how customers perceives us. We are all responsible for shaping that perception.
PLEASE ADHERE TO GUIDELINES OR REACH OUT WITH QUESTIONS
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