Internal Use Only

Brand Guide

Complete brand identity guidelines for "To Lose A Dog" – Colors, typography, voice, and messaging standards.

Book Descriptions

Short (Social Media / One-liner)

A memoir about loving an English Bulldog named Franki for 1,855 days—and surviving the preventable tragedy that ended it all.

Medium (Website / Email)

On Valentine's Day 2020, an English Bulldog entered Isaac's life and rewrote the rules of love. For 1,855 days, they built something rare—a bond so deep it transcended species, so public it healed millions, so profound it changed everything. Then lightning struck. This is the unflinching story of extraordinary love, preventable tragedy, and grief that proves some connections never truly end.

Long (Press / Full Description)

"To Lose A Dog" is a 45,000-word memoir about the five-year journey of Isaac French and his English Bulldog, Franki—a relationship that captivated over 1 million Instagram followers and became a case study in interspecies love.

The book chronicles their extraordinary bond from February 14, 2020, when Franki was born during emergency C-section surgery, through 1,855 days of morning massage rituals, meal countdown ceremonies, and a level of devotion that redefined what it means to love a dog. But this isn't just a feel-good dog story.

On March 28, 2025, Franki died suddenly from preventable negligence—a tragedy that didn't have to happen. What follows is Isaac's raw, unfiltered account of grief so profound it breaks you open, neuroscience that validates why pet loss can hurt more than losing a person, and practical guidance for anyone who has ever loved and lost a dog.

Part memoir, part survival manual, part love letter—To Lose A Dog is for dog parents preparing for the inevitable, for grievers who need permission to hurt this much, and for anyone who wants to understand why some bonds transcend species and time.

Twelve chapters. No sugarcoating. Forever tongue out, forever loved.

Tone of Voice

We Are:

  • Raw & Unflinching: No sugarcoating. We tell the truth even when it hurts.
  • Emotionally Intelligent: We validate grief and give permission to feel deeply.
  • Practical & Helpful: Every story includes actionable guidance.
  • Intimate & Personal: First-person storytelling that feels like a friend sharing over coffee.
  • Scientifically Grounded: We back emotional truths with neuroscience and research.
  • Respectful of the Bond: We honor the sacred connection between humans and dogs.

We Are Not:

  • Not Sentimental: We don't use rainbow bridge metaphors or cheesy clichés.
  • Not Dismissive: We never minimize grief with "it's just a dog."
  • Not Preachy: We share experience, not instructions.
  • Not Exploitative: Franki's story is sacred, not clickbait.
  • Not Corporate: This is personal, not polished marketing speak.
  • Not Without Hope: Even in darkness, we show a path forward.

Voice Characteristics

Sentence Structure:

Short, punchy. Occasional fragments for emphasis. Rhythm matters.

Word Choice:

Precise, visceral, emotional but never manipulative. Avoid jargon.

Perspective:

First-person from Isaac's POV. Vulnerable. Honest. No hero narrative.

Color Palette

All colors use HSL format for consistency. The palette combines regal purples (representing love and grief) with warm earth tones (representing comfort and memory).

Light Mode

Primary

HSL: 280 50% 45%

HEX: #7c4db0

Main brand color, CTAs, links

Primary Glow

HSL: 280 60% 60%

HEX: #a773d4

Hover states, gradients

Accent

HSL: 40 80% 60%

HEX: #e6b84d

Highlights, emphasis

Background

HSL: 35 30% 97%

HEX: #f8f6f4

Page background

Foreground

HSL: 280 20% 15%

HEX: #2d2438

Primary text

Secondary

HSL: 35 40% 92%

HEX: #f2ede8

Secondary backgrounds

Muted

HSL: 35 25% 90%

HEX: #ebe6e0

Subtle backgrounds

Muted Foreground

HSL: 280 15% 45%

HEX: #6b6078

Secondary text

Dark Mode

Primary

HSL: 280 60% 60%

HEX: #a773d4

Main brand color, CTAs, links

Primary Glow

HSL: 280 70% 70%

HEX: #bf95e0

Hover states, gradients

Accent

HSL: 40 75% 55%

HEX: #e0ab42

Highlights, emphasis

Background

HSL: 280 30% 8%

HEX: #1a141f

Page background

Foreground

HSL: 35 30% 95%

HEX: #f5f2ef

Primary text

Secondary

HSL: 280 20% 18%

HEX: #2d2632

Secondary backgrounds

Muted

HSL: 280 15% 20%

HEX: #332e3d

Subtle backgrounds

Muted Foreground

HSL: 35 20% 65%

HEX: #b3a89e

Secondary text

Gradients

Hero Gradient (Light)

linear-gradient(135deg, hsl(280 50% 45%) 0%, hsl(280 60% 60%) 100%)

Hero Gradient (Dark)

linear-gradient(135deg, hsl(280 60% 50%) 0%, hsl(280 70% 65%) 100%)

Subtle Gradient (Light)

linear-gradient(180deg, hsl(35 30% 97%) 0%, hsl(35 40% 95%) 100%)

Subtle Gradient (Dark)

linear-gradient(180deg, hsl(280 30% 8%) 0%, hsl(280 25% 12%) 100%)

Shadows

Soft Shadow (Light)

0 10px 40px -10px hsl(280 40% 30% / 0.15)

Elegant Shadow (Light)

0 20px 60px -15px hsl(280 50% 40% / 0.25)

Soft Shadow (Dark)

0 10px 40px -10px hsl(280 60% 10% / 0.4)

Elegant Shadow (Dark)

0 20px 60px -15px hsl(280 60% 15% / 0.6)

Typography

Playfair Display

Headlines, chapter titles, dramatic emphasis

Family: 'Playfair Display', Georgia, serif

Weights: 400, 700

The Quick Brown Fox
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789

Inter

Body text, UI elements, navigation

Family: 'Inter', system-ui, sans-serif

Weights: 400, 500, 600, 700

The Quick Brown Fox
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789

Typography Guidelines

Hierarchy:

  • • H1-H3: Playfair Display Bold (serif)
  • • H4-H6: Inter Bold (sans-serif)
  • • Body: Inter Regular (sans-serif)
  • • Emphasis: Inter Medium/Semi-bold

Spacing:

  • • Line height: 1.6-1.8 for body text
  • • Line height: 1.2-1.4 for headlines
  • • Letter spacing: Default for body
  • • Letter spacing: Slightly tighter for large headlines

Design Principles

Elegance in Simplicity

Clean layouts, generous white space, focus on content. Let the story breathe.

Emotional Resonance

Subtle purple gradients evoke memory and love. Warm neutrals provide comfort.

Respectful Restraint

No excessive animations or gimmicks. The content is powerful enough.

This brand guide is for internal reference only. All brand elements are proprietary.

Last updated: October 2025