Company style management with the Aia company style checklist

It’s no surprise that with ITP it is possible to arrange all documents according to the company style of our customers. Defining and establishing the company style is a permanent part of the design phase when implementing ITP. From the extensive feedback from our consultants we have created: the Aia company style checklist. This checklist can be filled out by our customer’s communications departments. Alternatively Aia consultants can populate the checklist, with corporate identity guidelines and by reviewing example documentation.

Even though many organizations create identity guidelines, quite often they have over four versions of the company style in circulation.  In some cases almost 20 different versions of one document are being used. At that point our expertise is taken to the next level: we can also give advice in order to actually unite the company style. When all questions on the checklist are answered, a start can be made in building the framework in which all documents are going to function. The company style is defined within a Word document and saved within the MDK Repository in a pre-defined folder named “Style”.

When a different logo has to be used or in case the corporate colors and fonts change, the customer’s IT manager or Aia can make the adjustments in the style sheet. The company style is changed in a central location and all templates affected can be compiled at once.  End users can then continue working with all existing letters and documents in the new corporate style.  Also this part of ITP insures that changes in the business can be implemented quickly. For example if an organization has merged i.e. three company styles need to be migrated to one joint name, this could be seamlessly achieved with ITP.