| name | graphic-quality |
| description | Quality standards for every graphic, visual asset, or design produced by BCA — for BC brand accounts and for clients. Use when reviewing a design, creating a Canva graphic, briefing a graphic, checking if something is on-brand, or asking "does this look right", "review this graphic", "is this good enough to post", "design brief", or any task involving visual design output. Also use when Courtney or the intern creates a graphic and it needs a quality check before publishing.
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| metadata | {"version":"1.0.0"} |
Graphic Quality Standards — Better Collective Agency
Every graphic that leaves BC — whether for a client or for BC's own accounts —
must pass this standard. One weak graphic reflects on the whole agency.
Before Creating Any Graphic
Confirm:
- Who is this for? BC brand, Abbie May, or a specific client?
- What platform? Instagram post, Story, carousel, Reel cover, thumbnail?
- What is the graphic trying to do? Hook, educate, promote, prove?
- What brand assets apply? For BC: use BC brand guidelines. For clients: use their assets.
Never start designing without knowing the answers to all four.
Platform Specifications
| Format | Dimensions | Notes |
|---|
| Instagram Post (square) | 1080 x 1080px | Standard feed post |
| Instagram Post (portrait) | 1080 x 1350px | Better reach — preferred for feed |
| Instagram Story / Reel cover | 1080 x 1920px | 9:16 ratio |
| Instagram Carousel slide | 1080 x 1080px or 1080 x 1350px | All slides must match |
| LinkedIn post | 1200 x 628px | Landscape |
| TikTok cover | 1080 x 1920px | Same as Story |
Never post a graphic at the wrong dimensions — it will look unprofessional and get cropped.
The 7 Graphic Quality Checks
Run every graphic through these before it is published or sent for approval.
1. Hierarchy — Is it instantly clear what to look at first?
- There should be ONE dominant element — usually the headline
- The eye should flow naturally from most important to least important
- If everything is fighting for attention, nothing wins
2. Readability — Can it be read in 2 seconds on a phone screen?
- Text must be legible at mobile size — zoom out and test it
- Minimum contrast ratio: dark text on light background or light text on dark
- No small body text under 14px for social graphics
- No white text on light photos without a dark overlay
3. Whitespace — Is there enough breathing room?
- Crowded designs look amateurish — give elements room
- Margins on all sides (minimum 60px on Instagram graphics)
- Don't fill every corner — emptiness creates focus
4. Consistency — Does it match the brand?
- For BC: colours, fonts, and aesthetic match BC brand guidelines
- For clients: matches their palette, fonts, and visual identity
- Font combinations are intentional — not random
- Colour usage follows the 80/20 rule (neutral dominant, accent selective)
5. Photography and Imagery Quality
- Images are sharp and high resolution — never blurry or pixelated
- No stock photos that look generic
- No watermarked images
- If using real client photos: check they are high enough quality to publish
- Colour grading is consistent if multiple images are used
6. Text — Is the copy tight and purposeful?
- Headline is short, punchy, specific
- No paragraph-length text on a graphic — if it needs that much copy, it's not a graphic
- No typos — proofread every word
- No corporate language or filler phrases
7. Does it look like something worth posting?
- Would it stop someone scrolling?
- Does it look like a professional agency made it?
- Would Abbie be comfortable with this representing BC or a client?
- If any doubt — do not publish. Fix it first.
Common Mistakes to Fix Before Publishing
Text too small: If you have to squint, it's too small. Triple the font size.
Too many fonts: Maximum two font families per graphic. One heading font + one body font.
Too many colours: Stick to the brand palette. Adding random colours breaks consistency.
Logo too small or missing: On BC graphics, the logo or handle should always be present and legible.
Busy background under text: Always add a colour block, overlay, or solid area behind text placed on photography.
Mismatched slides in a carousel: All slides must feel like they belong to the same set — same margins, fonts, colours, style.
Centred body text: Left-align body text. Centre only for short headlines.
Gradient overuse: A gradient is a design choice — not a background default. Use flat colour unless a gradient is intentional.
Canva Usage for BC
BC Canva Brand Kit ID: kAGYgTJJDIo
Always start from the BC Brand Kit in Canva. It contains:
- Correct colour palette
- Correct fonts (Bebas Neue, Biro Script, Barlow)
- Logo files
Never start a BC graphic from a generic Canva template. Always build from the Brand Kit or from an existing approved BC template.
For client graphics: use the client's Canva Brand Kit or folder if available. If not, manually input their brand assets — do not use BC's palette for a client's content.
Graphic Approval Process
Who approves what:
- Client graphics → Courtney or Abbie reviews before scheduling in Trello
- BC brand graphics → Abbie approves before posting
- Intern graphics → Courtney reviews before anything goes to Abbie
Quality check responsibility:
- Whoever creates the graphic runs the 7-point check before submitting
- Do not submit a graphic for review expecting someone else to catch basic errors
- If you are unsure whether something passes quality — ask before submitting
Briefing a Graphic (when asking Claude or briefing the intern)
When requesting a graphic be created, always provide:
PLATFORM: [Instagram post / Story / Carousel / etc.]
DIMENSIONS: [1080x1080 / 1080x1350 / 1080x1920]
CLIENT / BRAND: [BC / Abbie May / Client name]
PURPOSE: [What this graphic needs to do]
HEADLINE TEXT: [Exact words to appear on the graphic]
BODY TEXT: [If any — keep it short]
VISUAL DIRECTION: [What should it look like — dark/light, photo/text only, style reference]
REFERENCE: [Link to an example if helpful]
CANVA TEMPLATE: [Which template or Brand Kit to start from]
A brief without these details will produce a graphic that needs to be redone.
