Tween Learning Brand Guide

Teaching Tech the African Way

Our Mission: Empowering Through Education

Building a bridge between world-class technical knowledge and the brilliant, ambitious minds of Africa and the global community. Education is the most powerful tool for economic and social empowerment.

Context is King

Move beyond abstract theory to practical application rooted in African reality

Solving Local Problems

Equip learners to become problem-solvers in their communities

African Innovation

Showcase startups, tech hubs, and innovators leading the charge

Global Standards

Deliver premium, world-class production quality

Our Strategic Foundation

The "Why" Behind Tween Learning

"Disruptive Enhancement" Philosophy

We are enhancers, not just disruptors. Technology is a tool for enhancement of careers, businesses, and communities—not a replacement for traditional wisdom.

Our Four Core Brand Pillars

  • Empowerment Through Technology: Focus on tangible value creation and economic opportunity
  • Bridging Traditional & Modern: Show how technology enhances existing practices
  • Community-Centric Growth: Connect individual success to community benefit
  • Global Impact Mindset: Position learners as global problem-solvers

Market Position

Africa's Premium Global Tech Education Platform - differentiating through cultural integration and career transformation

Your Role

Educator & Brand Ambassador

The Master Educator

Subject-matter expert who breaks down complex topics into digestible, engaging, and actionable lessons. You are a guide, mentor, and catalyst for "aha!" moments.

The Brand Ambassador

The human face of Tween Learning. Your presentation style, tone, and video quality directly shape learners' perception and trust in our platform.

CLARITY

Structured, purposeful lessons free of unnecessary jargon

AUTHENTICITY

Confident, human voice with genuine enthusiasm

CULTURAL RELEVANCE

Examples and stories that resonate with learners in Lagos, Nairobi, or Accra

INTEGRITY

Original, accurate, and ethically sound content

PROFESSIONALISM

Production quality that matches teaching quality

Career Transformation Framework

End-to-End Learning Methodology

Our Career Success Promise

Job Placement Rate

85%

Average Salary Increase

200%+

4-Phase Learning Framework

  • Foundation & Assessment: Set clear career goals and build learning mindset
  • Core Skill Development: Hands-on, project-based learning with industry tools
  • Real-World Application: Capstone project producing portfolio pieces
  • Career Launch & Support: Resume, interview, and negotiation coaching

Mandatory: Portfolio-First Design

Every course must produce 3-5 portfolio-ready projects that serve as professional-quality proof of skill

Knowing Your Audience

Tailor Your Message

Ambitious Student

Age: 16-24

Focus on career launch and first-job skills

Career Transformer

Age: 25-32

Focus on transition pathways and risk mitigation

Skill Advancer

Age: 28-35

Focus on leadership and global opportunities

Core Personality Traits

  • Authentic: Be yourself. Your unique perspective is your greatest asset
  • Empowering: Make the complex feel achievable
  • Innovative: Carry the energy of a pioneer exploring new frontiers
  • Inclusive: Create a welcoming space for all backgrounds
  • Culturally Grounded: Proudly rooted in African heritage

Voice & Tone

Confident, Conversational, Clear

❌ Avoid
✓ Adopt
Arrogant: "This is the only correct way to structure your code."
Confident: "Let's look at a clean, effective way to structure this."
Overly Formal: "One must subsequently initialize the aforementioned variable."
Conversational: "Next, we'll set up this variable."
Abstract: "We are learning Python loops because they are fundamental."
Practical: "Loops let you send 100 messages with 3 lines of code. That's the power you're unlocking."

Keywords for Your Delivery

Vibrant • Practical • Human-Centered • African Innovation

Our Color Palette

Modern, Bold, and Trustworthy

Prussian Blue

#042E4D

Foundation - Depth, stability, knowledge. Use for primary backgrounds and key text.

Picton Blue

#0082D4

Innovation - Clarity and forward-thinking. Use for highlights, buttons, and links.

Terracotta

#E35336

Energy - Warm accent. Use sparingly for warnings, key takeaways, and CTAs.

Accent White

#EFEFEF

Clean warmth - Use for text on dark backgrounds and light-mode aesthetics.

Typography: Archivo Only

Archivo Bold: Use for ALL headlines, titles, and emphasized text

Archivo Regular: Use for ALL body text, paragraphs, and captions

Never use any other fonts. Consistency is non-negotiable.

Visual Production Standards

Framing, Lighting & Background

Camera Setup

  • Eye-Level: Position camera at eye level for direct connection
  • Mid-Shot Framing: Frame from mid-chest up with small space above head
  • Stable Setup: Always use a tripod for shake-free shots

Lighting

Goal: Soft, even light on face

Affordable: Window light (not direct sun)

Professional: Ring light or softbox

Background

Ideal: Clean, neutral wall or tidy bookshelf

Colors: Grey, beige, or Prussian Blue

Avoid: Clutter, busy patterns, high-traffic areas

Logo Placement

Place "twn." logo in bottom-right corner as semi-transparent watermark. Maintain clear space equal to the height of the "t".

Audio Standards

Non-Negotiable Quality

Audio Quality is Non-Negotiable

Poor audio tells learners their time is not valued. Your audio must be pristine, clear, and professionally polished.

Microphone Requirements

  • Minimum: External lavalier or USB mic (Samson Q2U, Fifine K669)
  • Professional: XLR setup (Rode Procaster, Shure SM7B)
  • Placement: 15-20cm from mouth with pop filter
  • Prohibited: Built-in laptop/phone/camera microphones
Target Loudness

-16 LUFS (integrated) industry standard

Peak Level

Never exceed -3dB to prevent distortion

Background Noise

Zero tolerance - no hum, clicks, or echo

Background Music

-28dB to -30dB below voice (barely audible)

On-Camera Presence

Building Trust Through Connection

Dress Code

Smart Casual: Collared shirts, blouses, smart polos

Cultural Expression: Traditional jewelry or African print accents

Avoid: Logos, tight patterns, noisy jewelry

Eye Contact

Look at the lens, not your screen

Place a sticker next to camera and speak to it

This creates direct connection with learners

Body Language & Expression

  • Posture: Sit upright, lean slightly forward for energy
  • Gestures: Natural, purposeful, within frame of torso
  • Facial Expressions: Smile, nod, show enthusiasm
  • Energy: Online learning requires more vocal energy than classroom

Storytelling & Context

Use local stories and examples. Connect M-Pesa to APIs, Twiga Foods to data logistics. Be vulnerable about your own learning struggles.

Technical Specifications

Video Production Standards

Resolution

Minimum: 1920x1080 (Full HD)

Recommended: 2560x1440 or 4K

Frame Rate

Standard: 25 or 30 fps

Screen Recording: 24 fps acceptable

Aspect Ratio

Required: 16:9 widescreen

Export Format

Container: MP4

Codec: H.264 / AAC 192kbps

Essential Software (Free/Low-Cost)

  • Recording: OBS Studio, Loom
  • Editing: CapCut, DaVinci Resolve
  • Audio/Workflow: Descript
  • Graphics: Canva

File Naming Convention

[CourseID]_[Module#]_[Lesson#]_[Short-Title].mp4

Example: DS101_M02_L05_Pandas-DataFrames.mp4

Professional Development Environment

Production-Ready Code Standards

The "Production-Ready" Mandate

Every line of code must meet the quality standard of a professional code review at a top tech firm. We're preparing learners for immediate job readiness.

Mandatory IDE & Tools

  • Primary IDE: Visual Studio Code (Prettier, ESLint, GitLens)
  • Fonts: Fira Code or JetBrains Mono
  • Version Control: Git/GitHub with professional workflows
  • Cloud Tools: Docker, AWS/Azure consoles

Git Workflow

Use Git Flow or Trunk-Based Development

Clear commit messages (imperative mood)

Demonstrate PR creation and review

Live Coding

Type at 40-60 WPM, explain as you go

Use mistakes as teaching moments

High-contrast themes, 80-120 char lines

Brand Consistency

Uniform Experience Across All Videos

Required Branded Elements

  • Intro Bumper (5-8s): Logo animation with audio sting
  • Lower-Third: Name and title, Prussian Blue bar, 5-8 seconds
  • Outro Slate (10-15s): Logo, thank you, tweenlearning.com
  • Logo Watermark: Bottom-right corner throughout video

Video Structure Template

Hook (0-30s): Compelling question or problem

Agenda (30-60s): Learning objectives

Main Content (6-8min): Core lesson with examples

Recap (60s): Key takeaway summary

CTA (30s): Direct to next step

Transitions

Use: Simple cuts or crossfades only

Avoid: Gimmicky transitions (spins, whirls, page curls)

Our Cultural Compass

Authenticity & Ethics

The Ubuntu Philosophy

"I Am Because We Are" - Frame success as a collective victory. Use "we" and "us" often. Highlight how skills create community opportunities.

Representing Modern Africa

  • Do: Showcase tech hubs, innovation labs, modern professionals
  • Do: Use urban and digital life analogies (mobile money, fintech)
  • Don't: Rely solely on wildlife, rural villages, or poverty narratives
  • Don't: Perpetuate a single story without counter-narrative of innovation
🚫 Forbidden Phrases
✓ Mandatory Reframing
"Africa needs to catch up with the rest of the world"
"We are leveraging our unique context to leapfrog and innovate"
"Traditional methods are outdated/backward"
"Let's enhance this time-tested practice with digital tools"

Cultural Competitive Advantage

Africa as Innovation Leader

Resource Optimization

Building with constraint fosters unparalleled creativity and efficiency

Community-Centric Models

Create more resilient and widely adopted technologies

Mobile-First Experience

Native skill, not a learned adaptation

Leapfrog Innovation

Skip legacy systems and build cutting-edge solutions

Position Africa as Leader, Not Follower

Don't just use African examples—use them to demonstrate leadership. Frame it as: "The world is learning from systems like M-Pesa" or "African blockchain solutions are pioneering new models for digital identity."

Accessibility & Inclusivity

Learning for All

Captions Are Non-Negotiable

Every single video must have accurate, synchronized captions for accessibility, comprehension, and searchability.

Caption Requirements

  • Accuracy: Match spoken word exactly
  • Synchronization: Text appears in sync with audio
  • Formatting: Max 2 lines, logical breaks
  • Sound ID: Include [music], [notification] in brackets

Visual Accessibility

Contrast: 4.5:1 ratio minimum

Font Size: Body text 24pt+

Color: Never use color alone to convey meaning

Inclusive Communication

Speak clearly at moderate pace

Use diverse names across Africa

Person-first, empowering language

AI-Enhanced Teaching

AI as Teaching Co-pilot

Our AI Philosophy

AI is not a replacement for your expertise; it's a powerful tool to amplify your impact, enhance personalization, and provide deeper learner support.

Mandatory AI Integration in Courses

  • Practical Modules: Teach GitHub Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT, AI design tools
  • Ethical Use: Prompt engineering, bias awareness, privacy considerations
  • Workflow Integration: Show AI in professional development process

AI for Efficiency

Content ideation and structuring

Script drafts and storyboards

Assessment creation and transcription

Prepare for AI Workforce

Focus on critical thinking and strategy

Teach AI-assisted project work

Emphasize human advantage: ethics, context, emotion

Pre-Production Checklist

Setup & Test Before Recording

A. Content & Preparation

  • Lesson structured: Hook → Agenda → Core → Recap → CTA
  • Slides use brand fonts/colors and are error-free
  • Examples and analogies are locally relevant
  • Script or talking points prepared

B. Technical Setup

  • Camera at eye level, mid-shot framing
  • Lighting: Soft, even light on face
  • Background: Clean and professional
  • External microphone connected with pop filter
  • All notifications turned OFF

C. Final Test

  • 30-second test recording completed
  • Listened back with headphones for audio quality
  • Video framing and lighting verified
  • Ready to record with energy and confidence

Post-Production Checklist

Polish Before Publishing

D. Editing & Branding

  • Intro bumper added (5-8s with logo animation)
  • Lower-third with name/title (appears 5s in, 8s total)
  • Logo watermark in bottom-right corner
  • Outro slate added (10-15s with tweenlearning.com)
  • Mistakes, long pauses, filler words removed
  • B-roll added where helpful

E. Audio & Visual Polish

  • Audio: -16 LUFS loudness, no background noise
  • Background music: -28dB (barely audible)
  • Color correction: Natural, consistent tones
  • Accurate captions synchronized throughout
  • High contrast text (4.5:1 ratio)

F. Final Delivery

  • Exported: 1080p+, 25/30fps, MP4 H.264
  • File named: [CourseID]_[M#]_[L#]_[Title].mp4
  • Thumbnail created with brand template
  • Watched entire video start-to-finish for errors

The Tween Learning Instructor Promise

Your Commitment to Excellence

"I am a guide, a mentor, and a builder of potential. In every lesson, I pledge to bridge the gap between world-class knowledge and the brilliant minds of our learners. I will teach with clarity, lead with authenticity, and empower with relevance. My videos will not just inform; they will inspire, connect, and open doors. I am proud to represent Tween Learning, and I am committed to shaping the future of digital education, one lesson at a time."

Our Standard

World-Class

Indistinguishable from Netflix or MasterClass

Our Mission

CACIP

Clarity • Authenticity • Cultural Relevance • Integrity • Professionalism

Teaching Tech the African Way