Brand Guidelines — Edition 01

STORIΞS
ΞNGINΞ

Build. Measure. Accelerate.
The complete visual identity and brand system for a Growth Intelligence company.

Strategy Visual Identity Applications Governance
00 — Brand Essence

A category of one: Growth Intelligence.

STORIES ENGINE is not an agency. It is a growth partner that builds and operates the systems through which strategy, content, media and acquisition become measurable business outcomes. Every guideline in this book exists to protect that distinction.

Mission

Transform marketing into measurable business results.

Promise

Turn visibility into growth.

Tagline

Build. Measure. Accelerate.

Positioning

Most companies still separate brand and performance. We believe sustainable growth comes from aligning strategy, content, media and acquisition. STORIES ENGINE builds and operates Growth Engines that transform visibility into demand, opportunities and measurable growth.

Brand Values
Performance Measurement Pragmatism Alignment Impact Clarity Responsibility Excellence
Part 01 — Brand Strategy

Where STORIES ENGINE sits — and where it never will.

The single biggest risk to this brand is being mistaken for an agency. Every strategic decision in this book — tone, color, imagery, format — is calibrated to position STORIES ENGINE as a growth intelligence partner operating in the territory of McKinsey Digital, Bain Digital, Reforge, Linear, Stripe and HubSpot, and nowhere near social, creative, influencer or content agencies.

Positioning Map
Tactical / Execution-only Strategic / Systemic Performance-led Brand-led Strategy & Performance Consultancies Performance / Media Agencies Brand & Strategy Studios Social / Content / Influencer Agencies McKinsey Digital Bain Digital Reforge Stripe Linear HubSpot STORIES ENGINE Social media agencies Influencer agencies Creative / content studios Vanity-metric reporting NEVER THIS TERRITORY
Fig. 01.1 — Brand territory map: strategic, systemic, performance-aligned. Far from social/creative/influencer agencies.

What we are

  • A growth partner that builds and operates Growth Engines
  • A consultancy with execution capability — strategy that ships
  • A measurement-first organization — every recommendation is tied to a number
  • A collective of senior experts trusted by C-levels

What we are not

  • A social media agency
  • A content production studio
  • An advertising / media-buying shop
  • An influencer marketing agency
The STORIES ENGINE Framework™

Every engagement — from a Growth Assessment™ to a full Growth Partner™ retainer — is structured around five pillars. The Framework is the proprietary backbone of the brand: it should appear, in full or in part, across decks, reports, the website and keynote talks.

01 Fuel Content · Visibility · Demand 02 Ignition Media Activation 03 Transmission Conversion · Revenue 04 Control Measurement · Tracking 05 Acceleration Org · Execution · Speed
Fig. 01.2 — STORIES ENGINE Framework™: Fuel → Ignition → Transmission → Control → Acceleration

Audiences

CMOs, Marketing Directors, Communication Directors, Brand Directors, Media Directors, Acquisition Directors, CEOs and Managing Directors — primarily at automotive, mobility, industrial, B2B and premium brands across Europe.

Tone of Voice

Speak business. Speak results. Speak growth. Use visibility, demand, opportunity, value, performance, measurement and alignment. Avoid social-media jargon, buzzwords, vanity metrics and "growth hacks."

Do
  • Lead with outcomes: demand, pipeline, revenue, share of voice
  • Reference the Framework™ to structure any narrative
  • Write like a senior strategy partner addressing a peer
Don't
  • Use words like "viral," "engagement hacks," "content calendar"
  • Position any deliverable as a "campaign" in isolation
  • Adopt a casual, exclamation-heavy social tone
Part 02 — Visual Identity

A mark built like a system, not a logo.

The identity is engineered, not decorated. The "SΞ" monogram reads as a control unit — a node in a larger system — while the wordmark replaces the letter E with Ξ (Xi), a quiet nod to engineering notation and the idea of a variable that compounds. Both elements are precise, geometric and restrained.

Primary Logo & Wordmark
SΞ
Fig. 02.1 — Primary symbol: the SΞ Unit
Download SVG PNG JPEG
STORIΞS ΞNGINΞ
Fig. 02.2 — Primary wordmark, single-line setting
Download SVG PNG JPEG
Construction & Clear Space
SΞ
Fig. 02.3 — Construction grid: 4×4 module, corner radius = 22% of unit
SΞ Clear space = X (height of "S") X
Fig. 02.4 — Minimum clear space on all sides
Color Variations
SΞ
On Engine White
SΞ
On Growth Black
SΞ
On Deep Indigo
SΞ
Monochrome / 1-color
Minimum Size
SΞ
Digital — 32px minimum
SΞ
Print — 10mm minimum
STORIΞS ΞNGINΞWordmark — single line, ≥ 120px
Wordmark minimum width
Misuse
SΞ
Don't stretch or distort
SΞ
Don't recolor outside palette
SΞ
Don't rotate or tilt
SΞ
Don't add shadows, gradients on busy backgrounds
Part 03 — Color System

A restrained palette built for credibility, not decoration.

Six colors. No more. Deep Indigo and Growth Black carry authority; Engine White creates space and clarity; Electric Violet signals intelligence and momentum; Signal Green is reserved exclusively for performance and measurement indicators; Signal Red is reserved exclusively for failure, warning and risk indicators. The palette must always read as "consulting," never as "campaign."

Core Palette
Deep Indigo
#35317A · RGB 53,49,122
Primary
Growth Black
#0F1115 · RGB 15,17,21
Secondary
Engine White
#F7F8FC · RGB 247,248,252
Light / Base
Electric Violet
#675CFF · RGB 103,92,255
Accent
Signal Green
#15C97E · RGB 21,201,126
Success / Metric
Signal Red
#D14545 · RGB 209,69,69
Failure / Warning / Danger
Usage Ratio
60% Neutral 30% Indigo 10% Engine White / Growth Black for layout and text Deep Indigo for structure, headers, key surfaces Electric Violet + Signal Green for emphasis & data only
Fig. 03.1 — 60 / 30 / 10 distribution across any layout

Application logic

Engine White and Growth Black form the base of every layout — pages should feel spacious, never cluttered. Deep Indigo carries structure: navigation, section dividers, key cards, the logo unit. Electric Violet is the "intelligence" signal — used for links, active states, data highlights and the Ξ glyph. Signal Green appears only when communicating a positive metric, KPI or completed state — never decoratively.

Gradients (Indigo → Violet) are permitted only in large-format dark surfaces — covers, section dividers, presentation title slides — at low opacity, never on text-bearing UI elements. Signal Red follows the same rule as Signal Green: it appears only inside data, status badges or alerts — never as decoration, and never paired with Signal Green in the same chart unless representing a true pass/fail state.

Accessible Text Combinations
BackgroundText ColorContrastUsage
Growth BlackEngine White #F7F8FC18.1 : 1 — AAADark sections, covers, decks
Engine WhiteGrowth Black #0F111518.1 : 1 — AAABody copy, documents, web
Deep IndigoEngine White #F7F8FC9.7 : 1 — AAAHeaders, cards, CTAs
Engine WhiteElectric Violet #675CFF4.6 : 1 — AALinks, eyebrows, active nav
Growth BlackSignal Green #15C97E8.9 : 1 — AAAPositive KPIs / metrics only
Growth BlackSignal Red #D145454.2 : 1 — AA LargeNegative KPIs, alerts, error states only
Do
  • Keep at least 60% of any layout in Engine White or Growth Black
  • Use Electric Violet sparingly, as a signal of intelligence/action
  • Reserve Signal Green strictly for verified positive results
  • Reserve Signal Red strictly for failure, risk or warning states
Don't
  • Introduce secondary brand colors (orange, pink, yellow, etc.)
  • Use Signal Green or Signal Red decoratively or for non-status UI
  • Apply heavy gradients across body copy or tables
Part 04 — Typography System

Engineered headlines, readable everything else.

Space Grotesk gives the brand its technical, slightly geometric edge — close in spirit to Linear and Stripe's display faces. Inter carries every paragraph, table, label and UI element with maximum legibility across languages and screen sizes. The pairing must always feel calm: one display face, one text face, nothing else.

Typefaces

Space Grotesk

Headlines, section titles, eyebrows, the wordmark, key numbers and pull quotes. Weights: 500 (Medium), 600 (SemiBold), 700 (Bold).

ABCDEFGHIJKLM abcdefghijklm 0123456789

Inter

Body copy, captions, navigation, tables, forms, legal text. Weights: 400 (Regular), 500 (Medium), 600 (SemiBold), 700 (Bold).

ABCDEFGHIJKLM abcdefghijklm 0123456789
Type Scale
Aa — Display / 56px
Aa — H1 / 40px
Aa — H2 / 28px
Aa — H3 / 20px
Aa — Body / 17px — Inter Regular for all running copy and reports.
Aa — Eyebrow / Label / 13px, uppercase, +8% tracking

Pairing rules

  • Never use Space Grotesk for paragraphs longer than one line
  • Never use Inter for primary headlines on covers or section openers
  • Numbers and metrics in dashboards/reports always set in Space Grotesk for a "data terminal" feel
  • Line length for body copy: 60–80 characters

Fallback stack

Where Space Grotesk and Inter are unavailable (e.g. plain-text email, some CRM templates), fall back to: Helvetica Neue / Arial for headings and Helvetica / Arial for body — both set with the same tracking and weight rules above.

Do
  • Use tight letter-spacing (-1 to -2%) on large display text
  • Set eyebrows in Space Grotesk or Inter SemiBold, uppercase, wide tracking
  • Keep a strict left-aligned grid for body copy
Don't
  • Center-align long paragraphs
  • Use italics for emphasis — use weight or color instead
  • Mix in script, condensed or rounded display fonts
Part 05 — Graphic System

A visual grammar borrowed from systems, not from social.

The graphic system is built from the same vocabulary as the product itself: grids, nodes, connectors, signal lines, and data. Every supporting graphic — icon, chart, divider, background texture — should look like it could appear inside a measurement dashboard.

Layout Grid
12-column grid · 84px columns · 16px gutter · 40px margin (web, 1200px container)
Fig. 05.1 — Base layout grid for web, decks and documents
Iconography

Icons are line-based, 2px stroke, 24×24px base grid, rounded joins matching the logo's corner radius ratio. No filled icons, no duotone illustrations, no emoji-style icons.

Fig. 05.2 — Icon set sample: target, performance, control gauge, network, growth, layers, system, activation
Data Visualization
Pipeline value generated, by month — Signal Green = above target
Fig. 05.3 — Bar chart on dark surface (reports, decks)
Share of voice — STORIES ENGINE (indigo) vs. category benchmark (grey)
Fig. 05.4 — Line chart on light surface (web, reports)
System Texture

A subtle node-and-line texture — derived from the Framework diagram — can be used as a low-opacity background on dark covers and dividers. It should never compete with text and must sit at 8–15% opacity.

Fig. 05.5 — System texture, used at low opacity on dark backgrounds only
Do
  • Build every chart, diagram and divider on the 12-column grid
  • Keep iconography strictly line-based and monochrome
  • Use the node/line texture as a quiet, low-opacity backdrop
Don't
  • Use 3D charts, pie charts with many segments, or "fun" infographics
  • Use filled, colorful or playful icon packs
  • Let textures or patterns reduce text contrast
Part 06 — Photography Direction

Systems, speed and people who run them — never stock.

Photography exists to reinforce one idea: real businesses, run by serious people, are accelerating because of a system. Subjects are senior operators (CMOs, founders, plant directors), real environments (control rooms, production floors, mobility infrastructure, trading-floor-style war rooms) and abstracted data — never staged "teamwork" clichés.

Treatment
Indigo / Black duotone
Fig. 06.1 — Duotone overlay: Deep Indigo → Growth Black, 60–80% opacity

Treatment specs

  • High contrast, slightly desaturated base image
  • Duotone overlay using Deep Indigo and Growth Black (never Violet alone — too "tech startup")
  • Electric Violet reserved for a single graphic accent layered on top (a line, a data point, a UI overlay)
  • No warm tones, no golden hour, no lens flares
Subject Matter
Executives & decision-makers, in context
Control rooms, dashboards, command centers
Motion, speed, infrastructure (automotive / mobility)
Production floors & industrial environments
Do
  • Photograph real operators in real working environments
  • Frame subjects off-center, leaving negative space for overlays/copy
  • Apply the indigo/black duotone consistently across a campaign
Don't
  • Use generic handshake, whiteboard-brainstorm or "laughing at laptop" stock photography
  • Use bright, colorful, lifestyle-agency imagery
  • Photograph influencer-style content creation (ring lights, phones-on-tripods, etc.)
Part 07 — Illustration Style

Diagrams that explain the system, not decorate the page.

STORIES ENGINE has no mascots, no characters, no flat-design metaphors. Illustration is strictly diagrammatic: systems, flows, layers and signals — built with the same line weight, grid and palette as the iconography. If a concept can be explained with a diagram, it should never become an illustration.

The Growth Engine Diagram
Strategy Content Media Acquisition GROWTH ENGINE Demand Opportunities Measurable Growth
Fig. 07.1 — The Growth Engine: inputs → system → measurable outputs
Shadow Reach™ Visualization

The Mondial Visibility Benchmark™'s core concept — visibility generated even when a brand is not tagged or mentioned — is illustrated as concentric reach rings, with the "Shadow Reach" ring rendered in a dotted outline to signal "real but untracked."

Tagged Mentioned, untagged Shadow Reach™ — visible, unmeasured by default
Fig. 07.2 — Shadow Reach™: concentric reach model
Do
  • Use diagrams to explain frameworks, methodologies and proprietary concepts
  • Keep stroke widths, corner radii and palette consistent with iconography
  • Label every diagram clearly in Inter
Don't
  • Use flat-design "people" illustrations or characters
  • Add unnecessary decorative shapes, blobs or sparkles
  • Mix illustration styles within a single document
Part 08 — Presentation System

Decks that read like a McKinsey deliverable, not a pitch.

Every Growth Assessment™, QBR and proposal is a flagship brand touchpoint. Slides are dense with insight, light on decoration: one idea per slide, generous margins, data presented in the chart styles defined in Part 05.

Title Slide
SΞ Growth Assessment™ Prepared for [Client Name] STORIES ENGINE — Confidential — June 2026
Fig. 08.1 — Title slide: Growth Black, system grid, single accent block
Pipeline impact by channel +38% qualified pipeline vs. prior quarter 02 — Growth Engine: Transmission & Control
Fig. 08.2 — Content slide: insight + chart + headline metric
The STORIES ENGINE Framework™ Fuel Ignition Transmission Control Acceleration 03 — Methodology
Fig. 08.3 — Framework slide: methodology recap
Additional Slide Templates — Pitch Deck Library

A consistent kit covering every slide type needed for a Growth Assessment™ readout, QBR or new-business pitch — so any team member can assemble a deck without breaking the system.

Agenda 01 02 03 04 05 Context & objectives Growth Assessment™ findings The STORIES ENGINE Framework™ Recommended roadmap Investment & next steps 5 min 15 min 10 min 15 min 10 min 00 — Agenda
Fig. 08.4 — Agenda slide: numbered modules with timing
02 SECTION 02 Growth Engine: Transmission & Control How visibility converts into pipeline — and how we measure it. 02 — Section Divider
Fig. 08.5 — Section divider: full-bleed dark, oversized number
Implementation roadmap 1 2 3 4 Discovery & Audit Strategy & Framework Build & Activate Measure & Scale Weeks 1–2 Weeks 3–4 Weeks 5–8 Ongoing 04 — Roadmap
Fig. 08.6 — Process / roadmap slide: horizontal milestone timeline
Where you are vs. where you're going Metric Current state Target — 90 days Share of voice vs. category 8% 22% Qualified pipeline / quarter €420K €580K CAC payback period 14 months 9 months Content production velocity 4 assets / month 24 assets / month Tracked revenue attribution Not measured 100% tracked 01 — Growth Assessment™ Findings
Fig. 08.7 — Data / comparison table slide
Your growth team AL A. Laurent Growth Partner Lead MC M. Chen Media & Acquisition Director SO S. Okafor Content & Brand Strategy JD J. Dubois Measurement & Analytics Lead 05 — The Team
Fig. 08.8 — Team slide: avatar cards with name and role
" Within two quarters, STORIES ENGINE gave us one growth engine instead of five disconnected vendors. Chief Marketing Officer Premium Mobility Group · Client since 2025 06 — Client Testimonial
Fig. 08.9 — Quote / testimonial slide: indigo field, oversized quotation mark
Next steps 1 2 3 Validate findings & align on priorities Confirm scope, team and timeline Kick off Growth Accelerator™ — Week 1 Your contact A. Laurent — Growth Partner Lead a.laurent@storiesengine.com · +33 1 23 45 67 89 Schedule Growth Assessment™ 07 — Next Steps & Contact
Fig. 08.10 — Contact / next steps slide: action items + CTA
Engagement options Growth Assessment™ Strategic audit across the 6 growth pillars — Full Framework™ diagnostic — Stakeholder interviews — Prioritized roadmap — Executive readout 2–4 weeks RECOMMENDED Growth Accelerator™ Hands-on execution across content, media & CRM — Dedicated growth pod — Fuel, Ignition & Transmission live — Monthly Control reporting — Quarterly roadmap reviews 3–12 month engagement Growth Partner™ Embedded strategic partnership — Full Acceleration layer — Org & tooling design — Continuous Framework™ ops — Board-level reporting Ongoing retainer 07 — Investment & Engagement Options
Fig. 08.11 — Engagement options slide: three-tier offer comparison
ElementSpecification
Aspect ratio16:9 (1280×720pt base)
Margins80px all sides
TitleSpace Grotesk SemiBold/Bold, 34–56px
Body / labelsInter Regular/Medium, 14–18px
BackgroundsEngine White or Growth Black only — alternate by section, never per-slide randomly
FooterSection number + slide context, Inter 13px, grey
Do
  • One idea, one headline metric per slide
  • Use the Framework diagram to anchor section dividers
  • Keep charts in the styles defined in Part 05
Don't
  • Stack more than 5 bullet points on a slide
  • Use stock "teamwork" photography on title slides
  • Animate text with bounce, fly-in or playful transitions
Part 09 — Website Design System

A site that feels like a product, not a brochure.

The website borrows its interaction language from Linear, Stripe and Notion: generous whitespace, restrained motion, dark hero with a light product/content area below, and a component library that could plausibly belong to a SaaS platform — because STORIES ENGINE operates one.

Homepage — Hero & Trust Bar
STORIΞS ΞNGINΞ MethodOffersInsightsCompany Book an Audit Visibility isn't growth. We turn it into pipeline. Growth Engines that align strategy, content, media and acquisition into measurable, board-level results. Start a Growth Assessment™ See the Framework +38% Share of voice vs. category €580K Qualified pipeline / quarter 9 mo CAC payback period TRUSTED BY GROWTH TEAMS IN AUTOMOTIVE, MOBILITY & PREMIUM B2B +12 more
Fig. 09.1 — Homepage hero: positioning statement, inline proof metrics, trust bar
Homepage — System, Proof & Results
The STORIES ENGINE Framework™ One connected system — not five separate workstreams. 01 02 03 04 05 Fuel Ignition Transmission Control Acceleration Content & visibility Media activation Conversion & revenue Measurement & tracking Org & execution speed SHADOW REACH™ — LIVE 4.2M untagged impressions detected this month Visibility you didn't know you had. Shadow Reach™ measures every mention, tag and repost — even when your brand isn't credited. See your Shadow Reach™ score → Results, by sector. AUTOMOTIVE +38% Share of voice in 90 days Read the case study → MOBILITY €580K Qualified pipeline / quarter Read the case study → PREMIUM B2B 9 mo CAC payback — down from 14 mo Read the case study → Backed by senior expertise. AL A. Laurent Growth Partner Lead MC M. Chen Media & Acquisition Director SO S. Okafor Content & Brand Strategy
Fig. 09.2 — Homepage below the fold: connected Framework diagram, Shadow Reach™ proof, sector results, senior team
Start a Growth Assessment™ See the Framework Learn more → Disabled Overview Framework Pricing Manual reporting Auto-tracking enabled WORK EMAIL name@company.com SEARCH Search the Framework™ INDUSTRY Automotive & Mobility
Fig. 09.3 — Buttons, segmented controls, toggles & inputs
QUALIFIED PIPELINE €580K +38% CAC PAYBACK 9 mo -36% SHARE OF VOICE AL MC SO +12 Your growth pod On track At risk Framework Case Study CHANNEL PIPELINE STATUS
Fig. 09.4 — Stat cards, avatar groups, status badges & table header
Lead Magnet Component
GROWTH ASSESSMENT™ 24-page report Benchmarked against 50+ B2B growth engines FREE DOWNLOAD Where does your growth engine rank? Get the Growth Assessment™ benchmark report — scored across Fuel, Ignition, Transmission, Control and Acceleration. Work email Get the report No spam. One email with the report — unsubscribe anytime.
Fig. 09.5 — Lead magnet: gated Growth Assessment™ report, split dark/light layout
Do
  • Use a dark hero, light product sections — alternate sparingly
  • Keep CTAs tied to offers (Growth Assessment™, Framework, Case Studies)
  • Use real metrics in UI components (status, KPIs, benchmarks)
  • Gate only high-value assets — benchmark reports, frameworks, audits
Don't
  • Use carousel sliders, autoplay video backgrounds or pop-ups
  • Add testimonial photos with generic headshots and 5-star icons
  • Use rounded "bubble" shapes or playful illustrations
  • Use generic "Subscribe to our newsletter" lead magnets
Part 10 — LinkedIn & Social Media System

Executive thought leadership, formatted like research.

Social presence exists almost exclusively to distribute Executive Thought Leadership™ and Growth Engine results. Templates favor a single insight, a single chart or a single quote — formatted so they could be lifted straight into a McKinsey Insights feed.

SΞ "Brand and performance are not two strategies — they're one engine." Marc Lefèvre Founder, STORIES ENGINE
Fig. 10.1 — Thought leadership quote post (1:1)
GROWTH BENCHMARK +38% Qualified pipeline growth in 90 days — automotive sector 01 — Fuel · 02 — Ignition
Fig. 10.2 — Data / benchmark post (1:1)
CASE STUDY · 01/06 Mondial Visibility Benchmark™ How a premium mobility brand measured Shadow Reach™ at scale Swipe →
Fig. 10.3 — Carousel cover slide (1:1)
Company Page Banner
Build. Measure. Accelerate. Growth Engines for ambitious European brands.
Fig. 10.4 — LinkedIn company banner (1584×396)
Do
  • Anchor every post to one number, one quote or one framework reference
  • Use Growth Black or Engine White backgrounds, Violet for one accent only
  • Credit the named expert (Founder, Partner) — STORIES ENGINE is built on senior expertise
Don't
  • Use meme formats, trending audio references, or emoji-heavy captions
  • Post "behind the scenes" team/office content as primary brand content
  • Use bright multi-color templates or sticker-style badges
Part 11 — Email Signatures

A signature that signals the system, quietly.

The email signature is minimal: name, role, one line of contact information, the wordmark, and a single CTA link to the current flagship offer. No quotes, no social icon rows, no banner images.

Camille Dubreuil Growth Partner — STORIES ENGINE camille@storiesengine.com · +33 6 00 00 00 00 storiesengine.com SΞ STORIΞS ΞNGINΞ Book a Growth Assessment™
Fig. 11.1 — Standard email signature
ElementSpecification
NameSpace Grotesk Bold, 16px, Growth Black
Role / companyInter Regular, 13px, grey #6B6E80
Divider3px Electric Violet rule, 40px wide
Contact lineInter Regular, 12px — email, phone, separated by "·"
Wordmark lockupSΞ mark (18px) + "STORIΞS ΞNGINΞ" in Inter 11px
CTAOne pill button, Indigo-tint background, links to current flagship offer
Do
  • Keep the signature to 5 lines maximum
  • Use the SΞ mark at native size (18–22px), never stretched
Don't
  • Add banner images, holiday graphics, or social media icon rows
  • Include personal quotes, mottos or pronouns blocks styled with color
Part 12 — Events & Conferences

A presence that looks like a measurement lab, not a booth.

At industry events — most notably the Mondial de l'Auto — STORIES ENGINE's physical presence should resemble a "control room": dark surfaces, live data, a single accent color, and clear signage referencing the Framework and the Mondial Visibility Benchmark™.

SΞ STORIΞS ΞNGINΞ Live Shadow Reach™ tracker Build. Measure. Accelerate. Mondial Visibility Benchmark™ — live counter at the booth
Fig. 12.1 — Booth concept: dark "control room" aesthetic, live data screens
SΞ Growth Engine Talks Executive Thought Leadership™ Stage — Hall 3
Fig. 12.2 — Roll-up banner / signage (85×200cm)
Badge & Lanyard
SΞ STORIΞS ΞNGINΞ Stéphane B. Growth Partner QR — digital profile
Fig. 12.3 — Event badge

Event checklist

  • Logo always on Growth Black or Deep Indigo at events
  • One live data visual per booth zone, never decorative screens
  • Signage references at least one named offer (Growth Assessment™, Mondial Visibility Benchmark™, etc.)
  • No balloons, branded giveaway walls, or photo-booth backdrops
Part 14 — Motion Design

Motion that signals precision, not personality.

Animation is functional: it reveals data, draws connections, or transitions between framework steps. Movement is linear-to-ease-out, fast (200–400ms for UI, up to 1.2s for diagram builds), and never bounces, overshoots or spins.

Logo Reveal — Storyboard
Frame 1 — node appears Frame 2 — connections draw SΞ Frame 3 — mark resolves SΞ STORIΞS ΞNGINΞ Frame 4 — wordmark expands
Fig. 14.1 — Logo reveal: node → connection → mark → wordmark (1.2s, ease-out)
ParameterSpecification
UI transitions200–300ms, ease-out
Diagram / chart builds600–1200ms, staggered by 80–120ms per element
Easingcubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1) — "Linear-style" deceleration
Looping background motionSlow (15–30s loops), node/line texture only, ≤15% opacity
ForbiddenBounce, elastic, spin, confetti, particle bursts
Part 15 — Brand Governance

How the system stays a system.

A premium brand erodes one inconsistent slide at a time. Governance exists to keep every touchpoint — from a one-off LinkedIn post to a client-facing audit — recognizably part of the same Growth Engine.

Asset Library Structure

/00-Brand-Book
/01-Logo (SVG, PNG, EPS — all variations)
/02-Typography (font files, license info)
/03-Color (palette files: ASE, Figma tokens)
/04-Templates (Slides, Docs, One-pagers)
/05-Social (LinkedIn templates, banners)
/06-Web (component library, design tokens)
/07-Photography (approved library, treated)
/08-Icons-Illustrations
/09-Merch-Events

File Naming Convention

SE_[Asset]_[Variant]_[Color]_[Size].ext

Example: SE_Logo_Primary_Indigo_RGB.svg

Versioned files use a trailing _v01, _v02 — never "final," "final2," "use-this-one."

Approval Workflow
Draft Brand Review Brand Director Approval Published
Fig. 15.1 — Every external asset passes through Brand Review before publication

Roles & Responsibilities

RoleResponsibility
Brand DirectorFinal approval on identity, tone, new applications
Design LeadMaintains template library, reviews execution quality
Marketing / ContentApplies guidelines to campaigns, social, decks
Partners / FoundersSource & sign off on Executive Thought Leadership™

Pre-Publication Checklist

  • Logo used at correct size, color and clear space
  • Only approved palette and typography used
  • Tone of voice avoids social/agency language (Part 01)
  • Charts and data follow Part 05 styles
  • File named and stored per governance convention

STORIES ENGINE — Build. Measure. Accelerate.

End of Brand Guidelines, Edition 01.