The Dos and Don’ts of Designing Corporate Letterheads and Envelopes
Projecting Professionalism in Print
Corporate stationery—the letterhead and matching envelope—is crucial for formal communication, legal contracts, and conveying professionalism. It should be cohesive, minimalist, and easy to read.
The Dos
- **Do** use high-quality, writable paper (minimum 100gsm) for letterheads. The paper must be compatible with standard office inkjet and laser printers.
- **Do** place your full legal company name, registration number (if applicable), and physical address clearly in the header or footer.
- **Do** ensure the color of your logo on the letterhead is an exact match to your official brand colors (use the correct CMYK values).
- **Do** match the envelope stock and logo placement to the letterhead for continuity.
The Don’ts
- **Don’t** clutter the design. Keep vast open space (whitespace) for the body of the letter.
- **Don’t** use a busy background pattern or watermark that makes the text difficult to read.
- **Don’t** forget essential contact details like the main phone number and email address.
A professional letterhead reinforces the legality and credibility of your communication.