When designing templates, I prioritize form and function equally. Design to meet not only a quality brand persona, but also to meet a company's flexible needs, is extremely important.
I start by determining which color pallet will represent a brand best and what the main purpose of the document is. Is it customer facing? Internal? Is there an international audience, or is it for manufacturers and vendors to reference?
Sometimes, when there is a lot of text-based content, simple and legible is best. While I love intricate designs and patterns, it is always important to have your content shine while being fully accessible.
