Naming & Branding Guidelines

1. Purpose

These guidelines establish a consistent naming and brand architecture for technologies, architectures, products, projects, and communities developed around the Hyper Layering concept.

As the Hyper Layering ecosystem expands, it is important to distinguish between the terminology used in full descriptive names and the naming convention used for the overall brand family.

This guideline therefore defines two fundamental principles:

Naming Rule: Use Hyper Layering and Hyper Layered according to their intended meaning in full names.

Brand Rule: Use HL as the common brand identifier for technologies, products, and projects belonging to the Hyper Layering family.

Separating these two rules allows us to maintain both linguistic clarity and brand consistency.

2. Core Concept: Hyper Layering

Hyper Layering is the core concept underlying the overall project and brand.

Hyper Layering describes an approach in which distributed information and data on the Web can be connected, overlaid, and combined as layers without requiring them to be centralized in a single system.

Hyper Layering = Concept / Approach / Process

Hyper Layering is not limited to a specific map or application. It represents a broader technical and conceptual approach for connecting distributed information and combining it dynamically when needed.

3. Naming Rule: “Layering” vs. “Layered”

In full names, Layering and Layered should be used according to their respective meanings.

Layering

Layering refers to the concept, approach, process, or act of connecting, combining, and overlaying layers.

• Hyper Layering
• Hyper Layering Architecture
• Hyper Layering Community

Layered

Layered describes a product, system, state, or outcome created through the Hyper Layering approach.

• Hyper Layered Map
• Hyper Layered Knowledge Network
• Hyper Layered Digital Twin

Hyper Layering → Concept / Approach / Process

Hyper Layered → Product / System / Outcome

This distinction serves as the Naming Rule for full descriptive names.

4. Brand Rule: HL as a Common Brand Identifier

HL is used as the common brand identifier for technologies, products, and projects based on the Hyper Layering concept.

In full names, Hyper Layering and Hyper Layered are used according to their semantic and grammatical meaning. However, HL as a brand identifier does not represent this grammatical distinction.

Layering / Layered → Define the meaning of the full descriptive name.

HL → Identifies membership in the Hyper Layering brand family.

For example: HLMap — Hyper Layered Map. In this case, Hyper Layered Map is the full descriptive name, while HLMap is the brand name.

HL should therefore not be interpreted as a grammatical abbreviation of Hyper Layered. Instead, it functions as a brand identifier indicating that the product belongs to the Hyper Layering family.

This principle allows future products and projects to follow a consistent brand structure: HL + [Name].

5. Brand Architecture

An important principle is that brand names do not need to be mechanically derived from the initials of their full descriptive names. The full name should accurately describe meaning and function, while HL serves as the common brand identifier across the family.

6. HLMap

The new name for SVGMap is: HLMap — Hyper Layered Map.

Hyper Layered Map describes a map-based product or system in which distributed information layers on the Web can be overlaid, combined, and used together.

The term Layered is used in the full name because the product represents a map or system in which multiple information layers can be combined through the Hyper Layering approach. At the brand level, the common HL identifier is used, resulting in HLMap.

Full Name: Hyper Layered Map

Brand Name: HLMap

7. Transition from SVGMap to HLMap

Because SVGMap has been used for many years and has established recognition among existing users and stakeholders, the previous name should remain visible during a transition period.

• Formal: HLMap (formerly SVGMap)
• Japanese materials: HLMap（旧称：SVGMap）
• Exhibitions and diagrams: HLMap (SVGMap)

After the transition period, the name should generally be simplified to HLMap.

8. Hyper Layering Community

The community name is: Hyper Layering Community.

The community is not limited to a specific product. It represents people and organizations researching, developing, implementing, and promoting the broader Hyper Layering concept, technology, and approach. For this reason, Layering, rather than Layered, is used in the full name.

Example of external presentation: WebDINO Japan × Hyper Layering Community

9. Future Naming Principles

Naming Rule

Hyper Layering → Concept / Approach / Process

Hyper Layered → Product / System / Outcome

Brand Rule

HL = Common Brand Identifier for the Hyper Layering Family

As a general principle, future products and projects may follow the structure: HL + [Name].

By separating the Naming Rule from the Brand Rule, we can preserve the semantic accuracy of English terminology while maintaining a consistent and recognizable brand family across technologies and products.

10. Status of This Guideline

This document is designated as Draft 0.1 and is intended to serve as the initial baseline for discussion within the Hyper Layering Community.

This draft establishes two initial principles: the Naming Rule, defining the semantic distinction between Layering and Layered; and the Brand Rule, defining HL as the common brand identifier for the Hyper Layering family.

These principles should be reviewed and refined through discussion within the community. Future revisions may expand the guidelines to include logo usage, typography, color, terminology, project naming, and applications across websites, exhibitions, presentations, and other communication materials.

The long-term goal is to develop a comprehensive brand guideline that can be applied consistently across the broader Hyper Layering ecosystem.