BIS

Bank for International Settlements

Corporate Design Guidelines

First Edition

www.bis.org
email@bis.org

Corporate Design Guidelines

We need a clear and simple look

to effectively communicate our
unique personality.
Only in this way can we create
an image of visible trust.

May 2016
2

Content

Responsibility 6
Talking Amongst Ourselves

Reflect And Preserve The Brand Idea

Strengthen Our Communication Tools

The Physical Working Environment

10

Our Family Of Brands

11

Logo

12

Colour Specifications

16

Typography 18
Photography 20
Publications 22
PowerPoint Presentations

24

Charts

26

Online Communication

28

The Public Good

30

Modifications 31

Responsibility

Talking Amongst Ourselves

We are all responsible for bringing our brand

idea to life by ensuring that it is reflected in
everything we say and do during the working
day. We all have a part to play.

The first thing is to make sure we in the bis

community all have a good understanding
of what the brand is about and are speaking
with one voice. Our tone of voice is formal,
moderate and frank. The fact is that the words
we use reflect the way we are and how we
think and act. For BIS, every word counts
and every word speaks volumes about us:
it conveys everything we are.

Here are a few ideas on what we can all do to

get started and some things the brand team is
getting involved in to make a difference.

Reflect The Brand Idea And Preserve The Brand

Values In Everything We Do

Strengthen Our Communication Tools

Supporting global monetary and financial

stability is a tough challenge to live up to.
It implies that we all have a responsibility
to maintain the highest levels of quality,
reliability, trust and security, whilst at the
same time maintaining the creativity,
innovation, risk appetite and agility that
has made bis what it is. This applies to
everyone, whether they are underwriting
or managing claims. Innovation doesnt
have to be a big leap: it can be about constantly finding new and better ways of
doing things, something we all do all the
time.

Having defined a clear brand idea, our

core brand values and our desired brand
personality, its important that all this is
reflected in the look and feel of our communications. So weve spent some time
evolving a new look and feel and a new
tone of voice. This has to be implemented
across the entire range of our communications including our website, intranet,
publications, newsletters, stationery,
business cards, PowerPoint presentations,
events and media relations. Clear brand
guidelines are available for anyone
who is involved in working with any of
the media we use.

Bring The Physical Working Environment Up To Scratch

Our Family Of Brands

While the famous bis tower is still an icon of

architecture, the inside of the building has
begun to lose its shine and is not the most
productive working environment. So we are
doing some work to assess what is possible,
without budget limitations, to improve the
internal workings of the current and all future
buildings the rooms, receptions and new
public areas. Were also looking at the standard
of our international offices, with a view to
making them more consistent and more representative of bis at its best.

In our family of brands, trust is the basis for

everything we say and do. While members of
our family have their own unique personalities
and identities, we share the same design
framework that makes us recognizable as a
group of reliable partners.

10

11

Logo Basic Form

Logo Negative Version

BIS Bank for International Settlements

BIS

BIS

BIS Bank for International Settlements

BIS

Logo With Company Name

Notes
We do not violate the clear space around the logo.
The minimum required clear space around the logo is defined by the
measurement x, which derives from the red square.

BIS Bank for International Settlements

The size of the logo is defined by the height of the red square.
It must be no smaller than 5 mm.

BIS Bank for International Settlements

12

13

Logo With Committee Name

The Committees

BIS
Committee

BIS

BIS

Basel Committee
on Banking Supervision

Irving Fisher Committee

on Central Bank Statistics

BIS

BIS

Committee on the
Global Financial System

Committee on Payments
and Market Infrastructures

BIS

BIS

Financial Stability
Institute

Markets Committee

Notes
We do not violate the clear space around the logo.
The minimum required clear space around the logo is defined by the
measurement x, which derives from the red square.

14

15

Colour Specifications | Primary Colours

100%

80%

Colour Specifications | Secondary Colours

60%

40%

BIS Red
Pantone Brigth Red U
CMYK 0 79 70 0
RGB 255 84 63
HEX #ff543f

Blue 1
Pantone Process Blue U
CMYK 82 40 0 0
RGB 27 112 188
HEX #1b70bc

Blue 2
Pantone 277 U
CMYK 31 4 1 0
RGB 195 220 244
HEX #c3dcf4

Blue 3
Pantone Reflex Blue U
CMYK 100 76 10 0
RGB 7 65 137
HEX #074189

Blue 4
Pantone 305 U
CMYK 62 0 3 0
RGB 62 187 233
HEX #3ebbe9

Snow White
Pantone White C
CMYK 0 0 0 0
RGB 255 255 255
HEX #ffffff

Green 1
Pantone 3292 U
CMYK 79 42 51 17
RGB 48 92 92
HEX #305c5c

Green 2
Pantone 565 U
CMYK 48 0 27 0
RGB 117 197 184
HEX #75c5b8

Green 3
Pantone 3278 U
CMYK 81 13 56 0
RGB 31 147 120
HEX #1f9378

Green 4
Pantone 374 U
CMYK 44 0 76 0
RGB 140 195 84
HEX #8cc354

Yellow 1
Pantone Yellow U
CMYK 4 2 90 0
RGB 249 228 14
HEX #f9e40e

Yellow 2
Pantone 614 U
CMYK 15 11 44 0
RGB 210 202 38
HEX #d2ca26

Yellow 3
Pantone 109 U
CMYK 0 24 92 0
RGB 251 183 17
HEX #fbb711

Yellow 4
Pantone Yellow 0131 U
CMYK 4 0 49 0
RGB 246 240 133
HEX #f6f085

100%

80%

60%

40%

Dark Black
Pantone Black C
CMYK 0 0 0 100
RGB 0 0 0
HEX #000000

Notes
BIS Red is the identity colour of the bank. It must be dominant in all materials.
It is the intention that the colour will be highly recognisable through persistent
use on all platforms. With time the colour will be woven into the identity of
the bank, so that colour and bank will be hard to separate. It is therefore imperative
that customers always see the BIS red when they meet any of the BIS platforms:
Online sites, newsletters, publications, stationery etc.

16

17

Typography | Identity Font Family

Typography | Alternative Font Family

Amsi Pro Narw

Regular

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Arial
Regular

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Amsi Pro Narw

Italic

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Arial
Italic

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Amsi Pro Narw

Bold

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Arial
Bold

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Amsi Pro Narw

Bold Italic

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Arial
Bold Italic

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Minion Pro
Regular

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Times New Roman

Regular

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Minion Pro
Italic

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Times New Roman

Italic

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Minion Pro
Bold

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Times New Roman

Bold

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Minion Pro
Bold Italic

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Times New Roman

Bold Italic

Abc12

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789,.:;+#&=$!(?)

Notes
Choosing a typeface is more than just readability. It sets the visual atmosphere and
character, much like the way our voice can set the character of our spoken words.
We use the Identity Font Family in all communications. If the BIS Identity Font Family
is not available, we may use the Alternative Font Family.

18

19

Photography

Notes
The styling of casting, location and props, can be tailored to make images feel
more or less accessible or elite.
The content of BIS photography must be carefully considered and tailored to
each audience. It must reflect key themes or ideas related to the specific piece of
communication.

accessible

20

Elite

21

BIS Publications | Consistency

BIS Publications | Readability

Introduction
This document, together with the document Basel III: International
framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring, presents the Basel Committees1 reforms to strengthen global capital and liquidity
rules with the goal of promoting a more resilient banking sector. The objective
of the reforms is to improve the banking sectors ability to absorb shocks arising from financial and economic stress, whatever the source, thus reducing the
risk of spillover from the financial sector to the real economy. This document
sets out the rules text and timelines to implement the Basel III framework.
1.

The Committees comprehensive reform package addresses the lessons

of the financial crisis. Through its reform package, the Committee also aims
to improve risk management and governance as well as strengthen banks
transparency and disclosures.2 Moreover, the reform package includes the
Committees efforts to strengthen the resolution of systemically significant
cross-border banks.3
2.

Systemically significant
cross-border banks

3.
A strong and resilient banking system is the foundation for sustainable
economic growth, as banks are at the centre of the credit intermediation process between savers and investors. Moreover, banks provide critical services
to consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises, large corporate firms and
governments who rely on them to conduct their daily business, both at a domestic and international level.
4.
One of the main reasons the economic and financial crisis, which began
in 2007, became so severe was that the banking sectors of many countries had
built up excessive onand off-balance sheet leverage. This was accompanied by
a gradual erosion of the level and quality of the capital base. At the same time,
many banks were holding insufficient liquidity buffers. The banking system

insufficient liquidity buffers

1 The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision consists of senior representatives of

bank supervisory authorities and central banks from Argentina, Australia, Belgium,
Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Italy,
Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the
United States. It usually meets at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in Basel,
Switzerland, where its permanent Secretariat is located.
2 In July 2009, the Committee introduced a package of measures to strengthen the
1996 rules governing trading book capital and to enhance the three pillars of the Basel II framework. See Enhancements to the Basel II framework (July 2009), available
at www.bis.org/publ/bcbs157.htm.
3 These efforts include the Basel Committees recommendations to strengthen national resolution powers and their cross-border implementation. The Basel Committee
mandated its Cross-border Bank Resolution Group to report on the lessons from
the crisis, on recent changes and adaptations of national frameworks for crossborder
resolutions, the most effective elements of current national frameworks and those
features of current national frameworks that may hamper optimal responses to crises. See Report and recommendations of the Cross-border Bank Resolution Group
(March 2010), available at www.bis.org/publ/bcbs169.htm.

Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems

Notes

Notes

Consistency is the adherence to the uniform use of fonts, colors, alignment, and other
design elements throughout a page layout or document.
While there may be valid reasons to forego some incidences of consistency, it should
be for a specific purpose and not just because someone forgot or wants to be different.
Further instructions are given within the specific templates.

Having the right amount of characters on each line is key to the readability of
our texts. If a line of text is too long the readers eyes will have a hard time
focusing on the text. Therefore we always keep our text within the range of
50 75 characters per line.
Further instructions are given within the specific templates.

22

23

PowerPoint Presentations

PowerPoint Presentations | Example Slides

Toward a joined-up research agenda

for central banks
Hyun Song Shin*
Bank for International Settlements
One Bank Research Agenda launch conference
Bank of England, 25 February 2015
* Views expressed here are mine, not necessarily those of the BIS

BIS Bank for International Settlements

The punished one

In 1947, a novice bell ringer died in an accident when he tried
to move one of the bells while standing under it
The offending bell was punished by having its clapper
removed and then tied down, sentenced to remain so for 50
years. It was renamed La Castigada (the punished one)
Sentence was commuted in the Jubilee of 2000. The bell is now
allowed to ring again, though it is still known as La Castigada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A32Yt4vFOA

Notes
PowerPoint presentations are very important tools for us. There are different
templates to choose from for different purposes and target groups.
For presentations in collaboration with people outside the BIS network we use the
Alternative Font Family, since the BIS Identity Font Family might not be supported
outside the BIS network.

BIS Bank for International Settlements

Further instructions are given within the specific templates.

24

25

Charts

Charts | Colour Specifications

1.

Bis authors reviewed by gender

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Development Chart

8.

100

80

9.

60

40

10.

20

2012

female

2013

male

2014

2015

Blue 1

2016

BIS Red

Grey 60

Green 1

Blue 2

Green 4

Yellow 2

Blue 3

Yellow 4

Green 2

Source: waybackmachine.org

Pie Chart

Highlight Colours
1.
Yellow 1

2.
Blue 4
female

male

Notes

Notes

Without visualization, data is just an account of the facts, but with it, data has the
ability to inspire and transform the way we see the world around us.
Charts must always be simple and easy to decode.
Here we can see examples where the colours are BIS Primary scale.

This demonstrates which combinations to use according to number of variants in the

chart. For example, in a bar chart with three bars, the colours will be Blue 1, BIS Red and
Grey 60. We highlight a section or bar with highlight colours.

26

27

Online Communication | External Website

Online Communication | External Website

Notes

Notes

BISs external website is the most important communication platform of our

organisation. It is important that all photos, pictures and other elements are immaculate,
simple and subtle.

Body text: Minion Pro web font

Headline: Amsi Pro bold web font
Menu: Amsi Pro Regular web font
Red colour: HEx #ff543f, RGB 255 84 63
Header: Logo with name and search bar.
Menu: Amsi Pro Regular, red and underlined if title is selected.
Top-news only on the homepage.
We use icons to describe the content.

We read the chapter on photo style before uploading pictures to the site.

28

29

The Public Good

Established in 1930, we are the worlds

oldest international financial organisation.
We have 60 member central banks, representing countries from around the world that
together make up about 95% of world GDP.
Monetary and financial stability is a precondition for sustained economic growth
and prosperity. Reflecting the public good
character of this goal, we make our work
available free of charge to the wider public.

30

Modifications

While continuity and uniformity are

important factors of corporate identity,
it is also clear that corporate identity
and visual communications are dynamic
and therefore subject to changes in
corporate culture and strategy.
Managing corporate identity means
flexibility to respond to new strategies
while at the same time preserving the
institutions permanent values.
Any modification should be carefully
analyzed and planned.

31

Head office
Centralbahnplatz 2 and Aeschenplatz 1
CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland
T +41 61 280 8080
F +41 61 280 9100
Representative Office for Asia and the Pacific
78th floor, Two International Finance Centre
8 Finance Street, Central
Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region of the Peoples
Republic of China
T +852 2982 7100
F +852 2982 7123
Representative Office for the Americas
Torre Chapultepec
Rubn Daro 281 - 17th floor
Col. Bosque de Chapultepec
Del. Miguel Hidalgo
11580 Mxico, D.F.
Mxico
T +52 55 91380290
F +52 55 91380299