Find the existing spacing rule
Look in the approved logo guide and ask the person responsible for the brand. Check which mark the rule covers. A symbol, wordmark and stacked version may have separate instructions.
- Find the approved artwork for this placement.
- Look for a diagram or written rule about surrounding space.
- Note which feature the rule uses for measurement.
- Check whether it names any exceptions.
- If the rule is unclear, ask before replacing it with a guess.
A little blank space inside a file is not automatically an approved clear space rule. The final layout still needs to leave the agreed room around the visible mark.
Choose a clear reference for a proposal
Mailchimp asks for space around its own logo. That is a brand specific rule.
Sources for this point: Mailchimp logo usage guide.
For your proposal, choose a feature that another person can measure. You might use the full logo height or a clearly named part of its artwork. Call that unit x and describe exactly what x means.
Here is an invented example: x is 8 millimeters, the mark is 30 millimeters wide, and the proposed room is x on each side. The total reserved width is 30 + 8 + 8 = 46 millimeters. Neither the unit nor that margin is a universal rule.
| Field | Example to replace with your facts |
|---|---|
| Reference | A clearly named artwork feature. |
| Unit x | 8 millimeters in this example. |
| Mark width | 30 millimeters in this example. |
| Proposed side room | One x on each side. |
| Reserved width | 46 millimeters in this example. |
| Status | Proposed until actually decided. |
Keep nearby items outside the reserved area
| Nearby item | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Text | The nearest letter edge and the reserved boundary. |
| Page trim | The final cut edge, not only the page preview. |
| Another logo | Its closest visible part. |
| Photo subject | The visual area competing with the mark. |
Measure from the complete visible artwork, including intended dots and strokes. Empty file edges can be much farther away than the actual mark. Make it clear which boundary your proposal uses.
Check the proposal in real placements
Try the proposed room in the places where the logo will go. Use the intended size in a website header, card or package. Look at whether the name still has enough room to read.
If adding room makes the mark too small, reconsider the space or an approved arrangement. Do not stretch it or cut off a tagline to fit your proposal.
Choose an approved arrangement for the space
Keep notes about each placement. A proposal that works in one large example may still need a clear exception for another use.
Record the rule that was actually decided
- Name the reference feature and unit.
- State the room required on each side.
- List which approved versions it covers.
- Record the actual decision maker and date when known.
- Keep undecided cases marked proposed.
The rule is useful when someone else can repeat it in a real layout without guessing. Keep the final decision with the approved files. Until that decision exists, present the worksheet as a proposal rather than established brand guidance.
Sources
These sources support the points linked above. Each date shows when we checked that source.
- Mailchimp logo usage guide
Mailchimp sets spacing for its own logo Checked .