Carolina Athletics

📋 1 Guidelines

🔗 Connections

Sector

Sports University

Region

Usa

Guideline Year

2015

Language

English

Tags

Sport

Official Websites

Brand Guidelines

2015

Brand Summary

Mission
  • To ensure that the Carolina Athletics brand identity is consistent across all applications and captures new audiences in an authentic and meaningful way, reinforcing the mission to educate and inspire through athletics [^1].
Core Values
  • athletic
  • competitive
  • disciplined
  • excellent
  • innovative
  • leading
  • proud
  • responsible
  • service-driven
  • team-oriented
  • tradition-driven [^2]
Target Audience
  • A global audience including University of North Carolina staff, partners, suppliers, and new audiences interested in collegiate athletics [^3].
Personality Traits
  • athletic
  • competitive
  • disciplined
  • excellent
  • innovative
  • leading
  • proud
  • responsible
  • service-driven
  • team-oriented
  • tradition-driven [^2]
Visual Identity Overview
  • The visual identity is built on a unified system of visual assets including logo, color, typography, and extended expressions such as treatments and textures. It honors UNC tradition while bringing a contemporary edge, with flexible elements for creativity and innovation across all media. Key visual elements include the interlocking NC logo, Carolina Blue color palette, custom typography, and iconic patterns like argyle [^5].

Categories

Brand Imagery
  • The protected area around the logo ensures that no other graphic elements interfere with its clarity and integrity. The depth of the protected area is equivalent to the height of the “X”: X = 1/4 HEIGHT OF INTERLOCKING NC LOGO
  • NOTE: Use good judgment to ensure legibility. A mark that is too small doesn’t serve any communicative function. There may be cases where it is difficult to allow the full-recommended clear space (e.g., a very small display ad), and your best judgment should prevail. It is very important that designers or desktop publishers do not attempt to construct the logo themselves. Do not reproduce the logo by scanning a previously printed version. Such “second-generation” art will degrade the quality of the image and may alter the scale of the various elements.
  • The logo can be used in the color variations shown below.
Color Palette
  • When it comes to communicating the Carolina Athletics brand, color is quintessential. The following color configurations show how Carolina’s primary and secondary colors can be expanded analogously to build harmonious color palettes and complementary pairings.
  • Use of Carolina Blue at UNC dates from 1795, when the Dialectic (blue) and Philanthropic (white) debating societies of the university chose their representative colors. When football became a popular sport in the 1880s, the Carolina football team adopted Carolina Blue and white as the school’s colors.
  • Navy blue, black and metallic silver have been included as part of the secondary color palette. The secondary colors complement the primary palette. These colors may be used to provide variety and visual interest.
  • Navy blue is a very dark shade of the color blue. Navy is authoritative and powerful. It suggests loyalty and integrity. The color black is authoritative and powerful. Pitch is black in color and the origin of the phrase “pitch-black.” Pitch created from the vast pine forests of the region was once one of North Carolina’s most important exports early in the state’s history. Silver is sleek, modern and distinguished.
  • At times, an opportunity arises to utilize an expanded color palette or colors outside of the primary palette. This is typically seen in the occasional use of a unique uniform. Though acceptable for special occasions, colors outside of the primary color palette are not intended for long-term use.
  • Beyond the field of play, color plays a critical role in the retail environment. Retail brand expressions should have seasonal core palette flexibility and when used correctly, will complement the primary color palette utilized on the field of play.
  • CAROLINA BLUE Pantone 542C CMYK: 60/19/1/4 RGB: 123/175/212 HTML: #7BAFD4 FORMULA: Trans. Wt. 75.00/ Ref. Blue 21.90/Yellow 3.10 TCX - 15-4225 MADEIRA RAYON: 1175 ROBISON-ANTON: NO MATCH
  • WHITE No Ink (Or Use Opaque White) CMYK: 0/0/0/0 RGB: 255/255/255 HTML: #FFFFFF MADEIRA: 1002 ROBISON-ANTON: 2297
  • NAVY BLUE Pantone 2767C CMYK: 100/90/10/77 RGB: 19/41/75 HTML: #13294B FORMULA: Blue 072 72.70 / Black 27.30 TCX - 19-3933 MADEIRA RAYON: 1043 ROBISON-ANTON: 2303
  • PITCH BLACK Pantone Process Black C CMYK: 0/0/0/100 RGB: 44/42/41 HTML: #2C2A29 MADEIRA RAYON: 1000 ROBISON-ANTON: 2296
  • SILVER* Pantone 877 C Metallic CMYK: 23/16/13/46 RGB: 141/144/146 HTML: #8D9092 FORMULA: BASE TCX - 17-5102 MADEIRA METALLIC: 5011
  • FLAT GREY* Pantone 429 C CMYK: 21/11/9/23 RGB: 162/170/173 HTML: #A2AAAD FORMULA: Ref. Blue 2.30 / Black 3.90/Trans. Wt. 93.80 TCX - 15-4101 MADEIRA RAYON: 1319 ROBISON-ANTON: 2585
  • Silver Pantone 877 C Metallic is preferred. Limited use only. Prior approval is required from Trademarks & Licensing.
  • NOTE: In lieu of the colors listed on this page, you may use the PANTONE® colors cited, the standards for which can be found in the current edition of the PANTONE formula guide. The colors and CMYK values shown on this page have not been evaluated by Pantone, Inc., for accuracy and may not match the PANTONE Color Standards. For accurate PANTONE Color Standards refer to the current edition of the PANTONE formula guide. PANTONE® is the property of Pantone, Inc.
  • Identity elements should not be used in any other color combinations other than those specifically called out in this manual. Some color variations are acceptable for consumer products. Contact TMs & Licensing for approval.
  • Do not invert the colors of the primary logo.
Typography
  • Strong typography is a critical component of the Carolina Athletics identity, and speaks to the hardworking and determined nature of North Carolina’s athletes, coaches and fans.
  • Our custom font, named “Carolina Bold,” fuses modern foundational forms with universal functionality that is unmistakably the University of North Carolina.
  • The typeface and numerals can be used in the color variations shown below.
  • The sans serif typeface Champion was selected to complement the primary typeface and directly tie back to the Carolina Athletics brand identity. Champion will serve as a secondary typeface used primarily for brand expressions including sport lock-up marks, headlines and environmental graphics. American woodtypes of the late nineteenth century served as the inspiration for Champion, in both form and philosophy. Originally developed for Sports Illustrated, the Champion series was created to help designers deal with headlines of different lengths.
  • Franklin Gothic is a realist sans serif typeface. In typography, a sans serif typeface is one that does not have the small projecting features called “serifs” at the end of strokes. The term realist to describe a group of typefaces created in the early 19th century to early 20th century. Franklin is part of a family that offers an exceptionally wide range of weights, thus providing great versatility and legibility. Franklin Gothic is currently used by both UNC Athletics and Academics as an official typeface.
Logo Usage
  • The protected area around the logo ensures that no other graphic elements interfere with its clarity and integrity. The depth of the protected area is equivalent to the height of the “X”: X = 1/4 HEIGHT OF INTERLOCKING NC LOGO
  • NOTE: Use good judgment to ensure legibility. A mark that is too small doesn’t serve any communicative function. There may be cases where it is difficult to allow the full-recommended clear space (e.g., a very small display ad), and your best judgment should prevail. It is very important that designers or desktop publishers do not attempt to construct the logo themselves. Do not reproduce the logo by scanning a previously printed version. Such “second-generation” art will degrade the quality of the image and may alter the scale of the various elements.
  • The logo can be used in the color variations shown below.
Tone And Messaging
  • Vibrant, exciting and forward-thinking, our visual system is flexible enough to build communications that are fun and dynamic, or create messaging that is clean, simple and elegant.
  • The Carolina Athletics Brand Identity System is designed to support a range of creative expression, from the calm to the dynamic. Now any expression can be infused with precisely the right tone to support the right marketing message for your audience. No matter what expression is chosen — your communication will be supported by a foundation built on design integrity and quality.
Brand Values
  • Brand attributes are a set of characteristics that represent the essence of the Carolina brand. These attributes identify personality traits and serve as a filter for all of the components of the identity system. These are the characteristics associated with Carolina Athletics: ATHLETIC COMPETITIVE DISCIPLINED EXCELLENT INNOVATIVE LEADING PROUD RESPONSIBLE SERVICE-DRIVEN TEAM-ORIENTED TRADITION-DRIVEN
  • The updated Carolina Brand Identity System honors UNC tradition while bringing a contemporary edge to the brand, making it timeless and distinct. It is designed to serve as an evolution of an already iconic identity and position the brand for the future.
  • To continue to lead in the landscape of collegiate athletics, the Carolina Athletics brand must evolve to keep pace with our needs. The updated identity system is designed to do just that. Vibrant, exciting and forward-thinking, our visual system is flexible enough to build communications that are fun and dynamic, or create messaging that is clean, simple and elegant.
  • When implemented consistently, this unified system is an expression of the values of the Carolina experience.
Visual Style
  • The protected area around the logo ensures that no other graphic elements interfere with its clarity and integrity. The depth of the protected area is equivalent to the height of the “X”: X = 1/4 HEIGHT OF INTERLOCKING NC LOGO NOTE: Use good judgment to ensure legibility. A mark that is too small doesn’t serve any communicative function. There may be cases where it is difficult to allow the full-recommended clear space (e.g., a very small display ad), and your best judgment should prevail. It is very important that designers or desktop publishers do not attempt to construct the logo themselves. Do not reproduce the logo by scanning a previously printed version. Such “second-generation” art will degrade the quality of the image and may alter the scale of the various elements.
  • The logo can be used in the color variations shown below.
Layout And Composition
  • The protected area around the logo ensures that no other graphic elements interfere with its clarity and integrity. The depth of the protected area is equivalent to the height of the “X”: X = 1/4 HEIGHT OF INTERLOCKING NC LOGO
  • NOTE: Use good judgment to ensure legibility. A mark that is too small doesn’t serve any communicative function. There may be cases where it is difficult to allow the full-recommended clear space (e.g., a very small display ad), and your best judgment should prevail. It is very important that designers or desktop publishers do not attempt to construct the logo themselves. Do not reproduce the logo by scanning a previously printed version. Such “second-generation” art will degrade the quality of the image and may alter the scale of the various elements.
🐛 Report