This article describes various points to consider when designing letterheads and stationery as part of a complete business identity package.

It is important when you design your letterhead that you make sure that the design does not interfere with the letterhead's purpose. For instance, if a dark design falls in the middle of the letterhead it will interfere with the readability. Also make sure that there is adequate writing space between the header and footer. We suggest the following information on your letterhead: telephone number, fax number, email address, website address, mailing address, name and title if appropriate, brief product listing or company summary, slogan and logo. You can imagine that including more information will create an overly cluttered letterhead leaving less space for you to write your letters!

Your letterhead's design, paper stock and ink colours should compliment your envelope, business card and other printed materials. This is best achieved by the design work all coming from the same designer and the printing all being completed by the same printer.

If you are a trading as a UK Limited company some information must be displayed on your letterhead by law. Your full corporate company name, company registration number and registered address mu

st be clearly displayed. If you name one director on the letterhead, you must include all of the director's names.

When trading as a sole trader or partnership and you are trading under a name other than that of the owner(s), you must display the names of the owner(s) and an address, for each, at which documents can be served.

For more information on the regulatory requirements relating to business stationery in the UK, read: Setting up in Business, A Guide to Regulatory Requirements (URN 99/833), this can be ordered from the DTI Website: http://www.dti.gov.uk.

Finally! Remember to double check your design for accuracy before it gets printed. Nothing looks more unprofessional than spelling mistakes in your company information. Your printer cannot be held responsible for type errors in the design.

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