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Style Guide for Messaging Apps

See the Rebellion Broadcast or Movement Broadcast Telegram channels for examples of well-formatted messages

And seeSee the Design Programme for fonts, logos, colours, images, icons etc.

Accessibility

See Accessible documents & outreach materials  for advice on making your communication accessible, including for considering colour blindness and dyslexia.

Banner Images (for online posts and messages)

  • Use Fucxed Caps (the main XR font)
  • Colour scheme: use colours from the XR Design Programme (this can include different shades of one colour).
  • Limit the words in a visual banner. Put a short title only into the image. Text in images is not fully accessible. Keep the design clean and readable.
  • Use one font size for the banner design (or two max). Keep it simple and clear.
  • Centralise the text in the image
  • Use a consistent margin around the edge of the image for breathing space, so that the text or logo doesn’t sit on the edge of design.
  • Check the image and text is in focus. Do not use it otherwise!
  • Avoid too many overlays of images or text as it can be overwhelming.
  • We advise using black or white text on a background colour for contrast and clarity. Make it clear.
  • Consider dimensions (see below).

Content

  • Keep messages short. Link out to further information.
  • Be consistent in the name and image used for the event/action across all platforms.
  • Consider accessibility: It is key in reaching as many people as possible and growing our movement. Mention where people can find out more about physical accessibility.
  • Don’t assume knowledge, for example make clear what abbreviations stand for.
  • Seek permission before sharing private numbers or email (and don’t share them as a rule otherwise).
  • Slow down & check. Your message will land better if the info is accurate.

Images

  • Don’t use an image unless it’s a good one, clear & dynamic with high contrast.
  • The dimensions for using an image on Telegram are 1920 x 1005 (the same proportions as a Facebook event header)
  • Keep it simple. One image is advised for the best effect - landscape. If you don’t have a strong image then no need to add one.
  • Attach an image to the message, rather than posting it before on its own. It will otherwise get lost when messages are forwarded.
  • In Telegram, if you have multiple images you can attach them straight to the message and they will automatically form a grid.
  • For collages, max 5 images per collage (as a general rule of thumb), otherwise it risks being cluttered. A single image can sometimes be more striking
  • Aim for clear images (remember most people will view on their phones)

Example images

Example broadcast header image 1.jpg

Example broadcast header image 2.jpg

Bold and Italics

  • Use CAPS in bold for the title of the message (caps and bold because bold doesn't always work when messaged are shared-on to other platforms)
  • Dont use italics. Dyslexia style guide and colour blindness info can be found here.

Lists

  • Precede lists with a colon
  • If lists need to be displayed (ie items on separate lines), consider using a bullet, asterisk or emoji before each item.
  • If each item is in complete sentences, end with a full-stop. Otherwise, no punctuation at end of item except for a full stop at the end of the last one
  • For in-line lists, separate items by commas; avoid Oxford commas (comma after penultimate item, preceding an ‘and’).

Using Emojis

  • Limit the use of emojis. Less is more! Be inclusive in your message format. The visual is as important as the content.
  • Don’t frame a message title with emojis or use emojis at the end of a line. The emojis often jump lines when the message is shared to different devices or platforms (Android or iPhone, Signal or Telegram, phone or computer) and can end up looking messy.
  • Just use one emoji at the start of the title, if you’re going to use them, and try to colour-coordinate with the header image
  • Use one space between image and emoji.
  • Consider inclusivity when using emoji skin colours for hands etc. If you want to find more Telegram emojis including additional skin tones check out emojipedia

Accessibility

Dyslexia style guide and colour blindness info can be found here.

Spellings

  • Citizens’ Assembly; plural - Citizens’ Assemblies
  • People’s Assembly; plural - People’s Assemblies
  • De-escalation
  • Nonviolence, nonviolent
  • Wellbeing
  • Campsite
  • Any more (with a space)
  • X-year-old
  • XRUK (the hive and its subcircles, as opposed to "XR in the UK", which includes all the nations, regions, local groups, community groups, and so on)

Time

  • Use a 24h clock or specify am/pm or AM/PM
  • Include a colon, e.g. 17:00 or 05:00pm
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