Fall Semester Brand Reminders

With Fall semester underway, here are some quick brand reminders that are common topics for this time of year:

• Ensure proper buffer space around University marks to help avoid elements looking combined with University trademarks. What does that mean? Generally more is better than less; but we recommend taking a look at the guidelines for more specific details.
• Be aware of minimum size requirements for University marks, especially with regard to social media. For example, the entire mark “University of Minnesota” must be no smaller than 220 pixels wide on desktop screens and 170 pixels wide on mobile screens.
• Ensure brand colors, maroon and gold, are prominent in all UMN materials and licensed products. This helps audiences quickly recognize that the message, product, or presence is related to the University of Minnesota. When you want to include a secondary color, apply the 80/20 rule. 80% of the design should look like the University -- be maroon and gold -- and 20% can utilize the secondary colors. This applies as well to when you are selecting apparel color. The primary colors should be the first choice when purchasing merchandise; if those colors are already being used for the branding application, then the secondary colors, such as white, black or gray, should be used. Avoid color combinations that might be confused with another university (such as black and gold, blue and gold, etc.).
  • Note: Adobe recently announced they are phasing out Pantone Color Libraries from their software. Product vendors do still need to use the Pantone colors for their process. Watch for a future blog post about how the Adobe decision may affect brand color application.
• When ordering licensed products, be sure to use a licensed vendor. Contact Greg Berkowitz (berko056@umn.edu) for a list of licensed vendors.
• Get to know your campus/college/unit brand leader. Your campus/college/unit marketing communications leader is an important point of contact for you as you think about aligning your communications with brand standards. University Relations collaborates closely with the marketing communications leaders in our shared work as brand advocates.

Visit the Resources Section for all brand standards, assets, and related information. As always, if you have any questions about the brand guidelines illustrated above or any of the guidelines posted on our website, please reach out to University Relations.