A coherent visual identity is important for several reasons. For example, it’s reassuring, signals reliable information from Scania, and it allows the recipient to focus on the message. Using clear and structured design and layouts also help the recipient to find relevant information more easily, without decoding different graphic expressions or colours. 

To visualise or highlight different topics or sections, we can use various graphic elements, e.g. images (photos), pictograms, and colours. The graphic elements can be used for different purposes, e.g. creating attention, reinforcing a message, establishing a feeling or explaining complex content. Irrespective of which graphic element is used, it's important to always use Scania's brand assets, following the Scania look and feel and other guidelines.

Images
Images are often the preferred graphic assets, since they have a great effect creating attention, recognition or evoking a feeling. Images can also make the content feel more real and relevant. Read more about Scania images in the Imagery guidelines and download Scania images in the Media Library.

Pictograms
Pictograms can be used to structure or explain complex content or when many visualising graphic assets are needed, and using different images risks creating a cluttered impression. Pictograms can also be useful when a suitable image is not available or when a sensitive topic is to be visualised. Read more about and download Scania pictograms on the Pictograms page.

Colours
Colours can, for example, be used for backgrounds, to group information, to divide sections or to highlight a specific text section. For an uncluttered and professional impression, stick to a minimum of colours, preferably only the primary colours (blue and white), complemented by the supporting colours (in grey) if needed. Also make sure that there is enough contrast when using text on coloured backgrounds to ensure legibility. Read more about the Scania colours on the Colours page.

Images, text, pictograms and other graphics can also be combined to create informative Infographics. Read more on the Infographics page.

Below are examples of how images, pictograms or coloured backgrounds can be used to visualise and structure the content (click to enlarge the images).

When selecting and using images for your communication, it is strongly recommended that you only use images available in the Media Library in the Scania Media Portal. This way, we can ensure that the images are professional, relevant, authentic and unique for Scania – and that we have the correct user rights. Using real Scania images is important from a recipient's point of view, since it signals that it's trustworthy and professional Scania communication that it is real and relevant for the target group. 

In internal communication other kinds of images are often needed, unlike external communication, where we often communicate about our marketed products and solutions. Please note that besides many good product images (e.g. of trucks), the Scania Media Portal also contains a lot of other useful images, such as images of different environments, our operations, equipment and people. 

Below are some examples of images (click to enlarge) from Scania Media Portal that can be useful in internal communication.

Click the sections below to learn more about searching for and finding useful images in the Scania Media Portal, access levels and the use of other images.

Divide your text into sections and chapters with separate headlines to make it easy to read and follow. Use different headline sizes to create clear hierarchies, but stick to a maximum of three.

Headlines are set in bold, and body text is regular. Any preambles are set in a slightly bigger size than the body text.

A small amount of text could be highlighted using italics or bold (if one or a few words) or adding a grey background to the text section. Avoid mixing different formatting (e.g. don't mix bold, italic and underlined text). Read more about text on the Typography page.

When using a template (e.g. the Scania PowerPoint template) or application, always use the pre-defined settings for text, i.e. size for headlines and body text.

When creating presentations and documents in PowerPoint, always use the Scania template and the pre-defined settings for headlines and text. The template includes some basic layouts, such as title slides, chapter dividers, content slides, and the last slide with the Scania logotype. Images, pictograms, and different backgrounds and shapes can be added to create more variation and to visualise the content. Use the gridlines and guide to create alignment and structure. 

If you have the Scania template (with the specific Scania menu) installed, you can easily use the built-in image bank to quickly insert Scania images in your presentation. You can also use the button for Scania pictograms as a direct link to download the pictograms from the brand portal.

Below are some examples of how different graphics can be used in a PowerPoint presentation (click to enlarge images).

More examples and inspiration are available in the file “Inspiration” which may be downloaded below, together with the file “Instruction” which provides more information about the PowerPoint template.

When working in an application, always follow the guidelines for the application, e.g. when it comes to grid and text settings.

As always, it is essential to select images that support the message and contribute to clear and professional communication, also when selecting images for digital applications (e.g. Reflex and Sharepoint). Try to find images or graphic elements that are relevant and uniform. Keep the number of different formats, different kinds of images, graphic elements and colours to a minimum to avoid a cluttered impression. Also make sure to structure the content in a good way to make it easy for the user to understand the content and follow the information.

For pages containing a lot of information, different graphic elements can be used to help create a clear hierarchy and structure. For example, a large image can be used at the top to visualise the overall topic of the page and to convey a certain feeling. For sub-topics, link cards, and similar, small uniform images or pictograms can be used to visualise the topic. If possible, avoid mixing pictograms with illustrations or images for information on the same level.

Pictograms can be used to structure content, but also to create recognition for a certain type of information that might be communicated regularly in internal applications. The pictograms can either be used with a transparent background (then the pictogram is normally blue) or with a coloured background, e.g. a white pictogram on a Scania Blue background. When several pictograms are used together, the background colour should preferably be the same.

Below are some commonly used pictograms with a Scania Blue background in 16:9 format available for download. 

Below are some useful links for further guidance and support.

Tegel Design System – for all digital applications at Scania
Scania design – for design inspiration
Reflex content guidelines – writing tips for Reflex 
Reflex design guidelines – design and layout tips for Reflex

Scania pursues a single brand strategy and the Scania brand is always the same, regardless of geographical market or product segment. In practice we don't create different logotypes or graphic expressions for different products, departments, applications or other initiatives – but we all use the same graphic profile, independent of what we communicate about. We are all part of Scania, which should also be reflected in our communication and visual expressions.

From a recipient perspective it's also reassuring when you easily recognise that it is trustworthy communication from Scania. Focus could be kept on the actual message and content instead of decoding a different visual appearance. It's also important from a brand perspective, and that we all contribute to developing our brand by filling it with all the good initiatives that we work with and, by doing that, also creating pride among our employees.

By using the available assets in the brand identity toolbox, you can also focus on the actual content, making sure it's clear and professional in every way, helping you to achieve your communication objectives.

With the single brand strategy in mind, there could still be a need to create recognition for a certain topic. For example, when communicating about a certain initiative or project on a regular basis. To achieve this while still conforming to our single brand strategy, you can choose a "hero image", that is relevant to your topic and reinforces the message. You can use it repeatedly in your communication as a clear "identifier" for your topic. For example, you can use it on the title slide of a presentation, as a top banner in emails, as a thumbnail or image in Reflex News, etc.

Below are examples of how recognition is created by using the same image in different contexts.