1. KEEP IT SIMPLE

One of the most important principles behind a successful letterhead is to keep the design as simple as possible.

Keep in mind that a letterhead is a delivery mechanism. It's essential that your letterhead looks and feels great in hand, but the design should clear the way for the letter's content that's printed over it.

Use your design to showcase the content, but it shouldn't distract the reader's attention. It's helpful to ask yourself whether you're competing with the content: when in doubt, simplify your letterhead design.

2. USE HIERARCHY IN YOUR DESIGN 

Letterhead graphic designs are about communicating important information effectively.

Usually, the most critical piece of information you need to communicate is who's writing the letter. A return address, telephone number, and email address are all needed but are not as important as the company name.

Decide on the important pieces of information your letterhead should convey and design it based on this hierarchy.

Essential information should be positioned obviously and accessibly, while less important information can be reduced in size and placed in a less prominent area.

3. CHOOSE THE RIGHT DETAILS

It's not necessary to include every last detail on a letterhead.

Who will be using the stationery? If it's specifically the primary contact, and will always be used just by them, perhaps it makes sense to include their direct number.

For a more general stock that will be used for many different applications, go for a general number instead.

If necessary, include specific legal requirements for information, such as licensing numbers, accreditation associations, etc.

4. DESIGN FOR THE MEDIUM

It used to be that letterheads were only designed for print; they were professionally printed and then printed over in the office.

Yet, in the digital era, paper is becoming a precious commodity. Many companies print letterhead designs directly using a Word template or similar software.

You need to understand how you will use your letterhead design because there's little point in designing a full-page bleed when the office printer doesn't print to the edge of the paper.

If you're designing for self-print, use generous margins at the edge of the page and avoid extremely light shades that might not reproduce well on an office printer.

5. REPRESENT THE BRAND

Make sure you carefully represent your company's branding when designing your letterhead.

This means not only the logo but also the color choice, fonts, and imagery.

Equally important is to use the correct font. It should match other company marketing materials.

6. USE COLOR SPARINGLY

This rule applies to any company design but is worth repeating.

Color is a great way to draw attention to your design and specific areas within your letterhead.

Not only can it highlight a section, but it can also communicate specific ideas and emotions, create associations, and reinforce branding.

Color is a potent tool that can make or break your letterhead design. Use color sparingly and make the most of the impact it brings to your letterhead design.