Clearspace
Example: A Brooklyn pizzeria's style guide sets clearspace at one cap-height of the wordmark around the logo, so when a printer wants to cram a phone number right against the mark on a flyer, the rule says to keep that zone empty.
the empty zone around a logo
The minimum empty area that must surround a logo, usually measured in multiples of the mark's x-height or in a defined unit like "one cap-height of the wordmark." Nothing else — text, other logos, photos, borders — is allowed inside that zone.
Why it matters
The first rule in every competent style guide. Clearspace protects the mark from visual noise and is the single rule most often violated by a well-meaning printer cramming "one more thing" next to the logo on a flyer.
Frequently asked
What is clearspace?
Clearspace is the minimum empty area that must surround a logo, usually measured in multiples of the mark's x-height or in a defined unit like "one cap-height of the wordmark." Nothing else — text, other logos, photos, borders — is allowed inside that zone.
Why does clearspace matter for a restaurant?
The first rule in every competent style guide. Clearspace protects the mark from visual noise and is the single rule most often violated by a well-meaning printer cramming "one more thing" next to the logo on a flyer.
- Brand identity — the full visible system around your logo
- Logo lockup — mark + wordmark + optional tagline, as one unit
- Color palette — the curated set of colors that belong to your brand
- WCAG AA contrast — accessible color contrast
- Favicon — the small icon in the browser tab
- Typography pairing — display + body typefaces that work together
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