RSS
Feeds Guidelines Provided for Visual Identity of Ashland University
As Ashland University competes for students and donations, the strength of its marketing communications is increasingly important. One
of the basic components of a strong institutional marketing communications effort is a unified visual identity. The University’s printed materials and websites were once chaotically diverse, with different logos, colors and fonts for each department and program. As we enter the University’s first true marketing campaign, it is critical that the University present a clear and consistent image to its diverse publics – an image that will embody the university’s mission, values and vision.
At the urging of President Fred Finks, a subcommittee of the marketing team has established visual identity guidelines that pertain to all
official communications designed for external audiences, including publications, advertisements, flyers, stationery, plaques and websites. The guidelines pertain to the use of the AU name plate, also known as the block Ashland; the eagle logo; and the university seal.
- The AU name plate, or block Ashland, will continue to be used as the main graphic for all promotional materials. The
nameplate is expected to be on all printed materials (advertisements, flyers, brochures and publications) intended for
external audiences.
(contact the Public Relations office for permission to use the AU Name Plate and obtain a high resolution version for your publication)
- The eagle logo, which has a number of variations, is used primarily by the athletic department but is also used on AU merchandise. The eagle logo is being used in conjunction with the AU name plate in the latest marketing campaign. This is being done because the use of the eagle head in the eagle logo is more easily identifiable for merchandise and AU banners installed in high school gymnasiums and stadiums.
(contact the Public Relations office for permission to use the Athletic Logos and obtain a high resolution versions for your publication)
- The AU seal will continue to represent the more formal look for the institution and will be used on business cards and
letterhead stationery.
(contact the Public Relations office for permission to use the AU Seal and obtain a high resolution version for your publication)
In the near future, these visual identity guidelines will be incorporated into a visual identity manual that will be located on the public
relations website.
Also, please note that a campus publications policy remains in effect. The publications policy states “that any Ashland University publication distributed off campus to alumni and/or other Ashland constituencies must be approved by the public relations office prior to printing. This policy applies to publications that are printed on campus or off campus. This policy excludes AU’s student newspaper, literary magazine and yearbook; mass mailings of student correspondences; on-campus posters/flyers advertising events; and other publications distributed only on campus.”
The public relations office works with graphic design services as well as printing services to make sure this policy is upheld. Design and/or printing jobs that go through graphic design services will be automatically forwarded to the public relations office for approval.
– Steve Hannan, Director of Public Relations