Commonwealth foundation

Official Websites

• https://commonwealthfoundation.com
• https://thecommonwealth.org/about/commonwealth-foundation
• http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com

Brand Guidelines

2018

Brand Summary

Mission

• To support civic voices to share their stories, learn and act together and influence the institutions that shape people’s lives [^1].

Core Values

• Diversity
• Collaboration
• Integrity
• Ingenuity

Target Audience

• Civil society organisations, stakeholders in participatory governance, and individuals interested in democratic development within the Commonwealth [^2].

Personality Traits

• Approachable
• Inclusive
• Authoritative
• Confident
• Professional

Visual Identity Overview

• The visual identity is based on bold, colorful geometric patterns that symbolize collaboration and partnership. The logo features a multicolored geometric ‘C’ symbol and a clean wordmark. The palette, patterns, and typefaces are designed to reflect diversity, clarity, and modernity, with strong guidelines for consistent application across all materials [^3].

Categories

Brand Voice

• We write and speak with clarity and authority to ensure a consistent, professional approach that is easily understood by all audiences.
• We use gender inclusive language.
• We avoid any jargon, phrases or unexplained abbreviations that may exclude our readers.
• We keep acronyms to a minimum and always include a key or restate their meaning for their first use within text: – …civil society organisations (CSOs)… and thereafter …CSOs.
• We aim for succinct phrasing rather than unnecessarily complicated structure: – ‘because’ rather than ‘due to the fact that’ We should remove any words that add nothing to a sentence: – The application that was received from – We are currently in the process of preparing a response
• We should not turn verbs into noun phrases: – ‘we intend to’ rather than ‘it is our intention to’ – ‘please arrange’ rather than ‘please make arrangements for’
• Shorter sentences are easier to understand so we aim for a sentence length of no more than 15-20 words. Large passages of text can be daunting so we break up long passages into shorter paragraphs. We also use tools to give pace and emphasis to any publication, including subheadings, lists, charts and tables.
• We are the representatives of an internationally respected organisation.There are therefore times when we must be authoritative; we must give clear opinion, direction and instruction.
• We need to show authority without being over-authoritative.To achieve this balance we: – do not use dense or complex language but do not shy away from complex issues – are enthusiastic about accomplishments and express praise for good work but do not use excessive adjectives – use language that is familiar to our audience (who may not always work in international development)
• If we express a personal opinion we make clear that we are not speaking on behalf of the Foundation.

Brand Imagery

• Good imagery helps to reinforce our values as a collaborative organisation with an international remit.
• Any photography needs to be professional in its approach and engaging in its content.
• We use a range of subject matter to reflect the breadth of our organisation and our ambitions.
• We avoid: - pictures of buildings or inanimate objects unless they are relevant to the supporting text
• We select images that have: -a narrative quality and enhance the messages of the corresponding text -a strong point of focus that engages the viewer
• We always provide a short caption to explain an image.
• We always take steps to properly credit any images that we use, ensuringthatwe have permission to use them and crediting their originator where possible.
• Cropping can turn an average image into an engaging and unusual one. We seek to find the most interesting way of cropping and framing all images, whilst maintaining the integrity of the original source.
• Cropping close into the key subject makes for a more engaging image and better illustrates the story we wish to tell.
• We often use imagery that we generate ourselves. We have an office camera that we can take with us to events and when travelling.
• Images are catalogued and stored by the Online Strategy Officer.
• We occasionally pay to use stock images if we do not have a relevant, good quality image of our own. If budgets are not available, no suitable image image exists on creative commons archives and we do not have a suitable image in-house, then we do not use an image at all.
• We recognise that in order to properly reflect the values of our brand, we need to capture the best possible quality images.
• To produce the best quality picture, the camera should be used at the highest possible resolution and image size. Once a photo is taken, the data can be subsequently reduced but it cannot be increased. It is therefore always best to take images at the maximum resolution and then reduce that resolution on a computer, as required.
• The default settings on digital cameras are not always sufficient to use for our printed materials. Even at the highest setting on a 10Megapixel camera, each photograph is only usable up to A4 in size.

Color Palette

• We have a defined palette of colours, drawn directly from those within our logo.
• By limiting ourselves to these defined colours, it is easy to ensure that any publication will complement our suite of visual communications.
• We have a primary palette used for most text-based publications (such as this one) and a secondary palette that can be used to enhance illustrations and charts.
• For certain media and sub-brands we permit varioations on our pallete using gradients. Gradients must always be defined by at least one of the primary or ehanced pallete colours.
• CF Mid Blue C.58 M.34 Y.1 K.0 R.110 G.144 B.205 #6e90cd
• CF Mid Red C.3 M.95 Y.70 K.0 R.231 G.46 B.72 #e72e48
• CF Dark Grey C.0 M.0 Y.0 K.90 R.65 G.64 B.65 #414041
• CF Yellow C.6 M.26 Y.91 K.0 R.240 G.188 B.55 #f0bc37
• CF Olive Green C.31 M.23 Y.92 K.1 R.169 G.159 B.42 #a99f2a
• CF Mid Green C.76 M.14 Y.44 K.11 R.42 G.133 B.122 #2a857a
• CF Dark Green C.81 M.42 Y.57 K.23 R.50 G.102 B.98 #326662
• CF Dark Red C.16 M.92 Y.68 K.4 R.198 G.56 B.75 #C63846
• CF Pink C.1 M.47 Y.18 K.0 R.244 G.158 B.170 #F49eaa
• CF Mauve C.60 M.42 Y.4 K.0 R.110 G.137 B.191 #6e896f
• CF Light Green C.56 M.0 Y.60 K.0 R.114 G.199 B.141 #72c78d
• CF Light Grey C.0 M.0 Y.0 K.20 R.209 G.211 B.212 #d1d3d4
• Technical information: colour matching systems
• The numbering systems, shown in the swatches of colour above, are the values required by different colour matching systems to ‘mix’ that colour.
• CMYK Known as process colours, there are four standard printing inks – Cyan (C), Magenta (M),Yellow (Y) and Black (K) – that are mixed together.The colour mixes are defined in terms of percentage tints of each process colour. Examples of use: brochures, leaflets, and anything produced on inkjet printers.
• RGB Computers and any other light-emitting displays use a spectrum mixed from three colours – Red (R), Green (G) and Blue (B). Nb. Because different screens emit different qualities of light, colours vary from screen to screen. Examples of use: PowerPoint, email and websites.
• Hexadecimal Some programs represent colour using a hexadecimal code (shown with a # before the code) combining letters and numbers. It can be useful to have this reference for ‘mixing’ colours on screen as it is increasingly being adopted for internet-based programs. Examples of use: social media and websites.

Typography

• Our choice of typeface is an important element of our visual identity.
• Our primary typeface is called PMN Caecelia.
• We use this typeface on all professionally designed publications and communications.
• This typeface combines traditional serifs with a variation of weighting that gives it a charm and modern personality.
• It comes in a variety of weights and is specifically designed to be legible at small sizes.
• PMN Caecilia – CE 85 Heavy ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 1234567890
• PMN Caecilia – CE 75 Bold ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 1234567890
• PMN Caecilia – CE 86 Heavy Italic ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 1234567890
• PMN Caecilia – CE 76 Bold Italic ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 1234567890
• PMN Caecilia – CE 55 Roman ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 1234567890
• PMN Caecilia – CE 45 Light ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 1234567890
• PMN Caecilia – CE 56 Italic ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 1234567890
• PMN Caecilia – CE 46 Light Italic ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 1234567890
• Our secondary typeface is Trebuchet.
• We use this typeface for in-house publications, presentations, letters and reports.
• More generally we use Trebuchet when PMN Caecelia is not available to use.
• We use this typeface because it shares many similar properties to our Primary typeface but is freely available to most of us via the Microsoft operating systems on our computers.
• Trebuchet MS – Bold ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 1234567890
• Trebuchet MS – Regular ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 1234567890
• Trebuchet MS – Bold Italic ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 1234567890
• Trebuchet MS – Italic ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 1234567890
• When putting together a document such as a letter or report, we follow these simple guidelines: - The font is Trebuchet MS - The font size is 11pt, although larger sizes can be used for headings - The paragraph line spacing is set to ‘multiple 1.15’ - The header and footer are used on the first page only
• To aid accessibility, we follow this guidance: – We ensure that the text is in a contrasting colour with the background – We have chosen typefaces that are clear and legible at relatively small sizes – We do not use type that is less than 9pt for the main text of any document (except for photo captions and tables, where space is often an issue) – We do not use capitalised words as these are harder to read – We use italics sparingly – We space lines of text so that they are easy to read and don’t look too heavy on the page – For large areas of type, we always justify the text to the left with a hard margin – We do not justify text to the right-hand margin – We are careful when placing type over images to ensure maximum contrast and legibility – When binding documents we are careful not to crease or fold through type – We use matt or uncoated paper to avoid glare on the page – We distinguish highlighted information using techniques other than colour (such as using bold, or adding line breaks)

Logo Usage

• Our logo is comprised of two main elements: 1. An illustrative C symbol 2. The words ‘Commonwealth Foundation’ When used together, the relationship (physical space) between both elements is a key part of our visual identity.
• We have two versions of our logo; a horizontal and a vertical version.
• Discretion should be used when deciding which version should be utilised and at what size, on a particular piece of communication.
• To ensure maximum legibility, our logo should not be used below the minimum sizes indicated.
• The area that surrounds our logo is as much a part of our visual identity as any other element.
• Allowing adequate ‘breathing space’ around our logo maintains the integrity of our visual communication by avoiding visual clutter. We have defined a ‘safe’ area around our logo. No other visual elements should be positioned within this area. This safe area is twice the height of the capital letters of the word Commonwealth in both versions of our logo.
• In most circumstances we use our logo in full colour.
• However there are circumstances where this is not desirable (such as when this inhibits legibility) or when it is not possible (on single or limited colour publications and documents). For these circumstances, we have developed a single colour version of our logo that can be used in black, and a white version which can be used on any dark coloured background.
• If we are working with a professional design supplier we also have the option to use the single colour version of our logo in any colour to suit media using a limited colour palette.
• It is important that our logo appears consistently in all uses. The consistent use of our logo reinforces every communication.
• Shown here are examples of incorrect usage of the logo.
• a. Using other fonts/typefaces
• b. Splitting or re-organising the elements into other configurations
• c. Resizing any of the elements
• d. Rotating elements
• e. Stretching or squashing the logo
• Although we will usually use our logo with both elements together (C symbol and words), we have the option to separate these and use them on their own.
• We may for instance choose to use our symbol as a large, impactful, illustrative element. Alternatively there may be occasions when we cannot use our full logo a tits minimum size, in which case we can use the type on its own.
• Whilst our primary colour palette and coloured logo are adequate for most uses, there will be occasions where we want to expand our palette or adjust our logo for a specific use (perhaps to represent a significant project or sub-brand).
• When working with professional design suppliers, we have a selection of coloured logos that can be used. If a specific colour application is required, we have the original files that can be adapted.
• If we are working with a professional design supplier then we have the option to allow them to create bespoke colour versions of our logo. Using the design program Adobe Illustrator, the adjust ‘Recolorcolours Artwork’ to any combination. tool can be used to Our logo has been designed to allow this to happen without fundamentally altering the character of the visual elements. For this reason, only this method should be used for adjusting colours.

Tone And Messaging

• As a respected, international organisation it is important that any communication from us is conveyed in a consistent tone of voice.
• Every communication should express the brand of our organisation.
• These pages document our brand. They outline the particular personality traits of our organisation so we can all communicate consistently and effectively.
• We have created a set of tools and guidelines that can be followed, copied and implemented to create consistent visual designs and communication materials.
• Our brand delivery is overseen and managed by our communications team.
• We write and speak with clarity and authority to ensure a consistent, professional approach that is easily understood by all audiences.
• We use gender inclusive language.
• We avoid any jargon, phrases or unexplained abbreviations that may exclude our readers.
• We keep acronyms to a minimum and always include a key or restate their meaning for their first use within text: – …civil society organisations (CSOs)… and thereafter …CSOs.
• We aim for succinct phrasing rather than unnecessarily complicated structure: – ‘because’ rather than ‘due to the fact that’ We should remove any words that add nothing to a sentence: – The application that was received from – We are currently in the process of preparing a response
• We should not turn verbs into noun phrases: – ‘we intend to’ rather than ‘it is our intention to’ – ‘please arrange’ rather than ‘please make arrangements for’
• Shorter sentences are easier to understand so we aim for a sentence length of no more than 15-20 words. Large passages of text can be daunting so we break up long passages into shorter paragraphs. We also use tools to give pace and emphasis to any publication, including subheadings, lists, charts and tables.
• We are the representatives of an internationally respected organisation. There are therefore times when we must be authoritative; we must give clear opinion, direction and instruction.
• We need to show authority without being over-authoritative. To achieve this balance we: – do not use dense or complex language but do not shy away from complex issues – are enthusiastic about accomplishments and express praise for good work but do not use excessive adjectives – use language that is familiar to our audience (who may not always work in international development)
• If we express a personal opinion we make clear that we are not speaking on behalf of the Foundation.
• We use the words ‘we’,‘our’ and ‘us’ as much as possible when it is clear that we are talking about the Foundation as a whole. We do not use ‘they’ or ‘them’.
• We can use ‘the Foundation’ to avoid repetition of ‘we’ within a paragraph.
• ‘the Foundation’ can also be used when talking in an historical context, thus reinforcing the status of our corporate image and brand. For example,‘the Foundation organised the Commonwealth People’s Forum 2011 in Perth,Western Australia’.
• When talking about the Foundation, we always refer to it in the singular and not plural. For example,‘The Foundation is’ not ‘The Foundation are’.
• We use ‘you’ when talking to our audiences. For example,‘You (the grant recipient) should complete the online application form by 31 January 2013’.
• ‘I’ can be used in correspondence if a personal approach is needed or if ‘we’ is not appropriate. For example ‘I recommend that you contact your High Commission.’
• We only use the third person if conveying the views of others.

Brand Values

• Recognising that the plurality of people and natural environments of the Commonwealth lies at the heart of its strength, the Commonwealth Foundation will respect this diversity in fulfilling its mission. It is committed to the equality of opportunity for all, to respect for difference, and environmental sustainability
• Recognising that effective, responsive and accountable governance requires the inputs of all stakeholders, the Commonwealth Foundation will share the learning generated by the participation of civil society. It is committed to inspiring dialogue from the bottom up, promoting consultations, building consensus, facilitating convergence, forging partnerships and engaging diverse stakeholders in participatory governance.
• Recognising that intergovernmental organisations are publicly funded and answerable to their member states, the Commonwealth Foundation will act in a thoroughly transparent manner in all its undertakings. It is committed to demonstrating accountability to both governments and civil society. It pursues its mission with commitment, discipline and rigour.
• Recognising the scale and scope of the challenges facing Commonwealth people, their organisations and natural environments, the Commonwealth Foundation acknowledges the requirement to be innovative in its responses. It is committed to acting as a catalyst that brings stakeholders together to generate creative and innovative solutions and promote thoughtful analysis and learning.

Visual Style

• A visual identity is a palette of visual tools. It is the set of instructions that ensures that our visual output always reflects the values of our brand. It is the way that we apply our logo and it is all of the other elements (type, colours, shapes, sizes etc).
• The basis of our identity is a visual metaphor: the bold colourful patterns reveal the inherent strength of the collaborations and partnerships that we facilitate. Individual colours are brought together creating unique patterns and infinite possibilities; together, the weave is stronger than its individual elements.
• Viewed another way the pattern can also be seen as a series of left and right facing triangles; a direct reference to the two way conversations between governments and civil society that we broker.
• This underlying structure is not only used to construct our logo; we also use it to build patterns and design elements that add a visual dynamism to our communication materials.
• Our logo is comprised of two main elements: 1. An illustrative C symbol 2. The words ‘Commonwealth Foundation’ When used together, the relationship (physical space) between both elements is a key part of our visual identity.
• We have two versions of our logo; a horizontal and a vertical version.
• To ensure maximum legibility, our logo should not be used below the minimum sizes indicated.
• The area that surrounds our logo is as much a part of our visual identity as any other element. Allowing adequate ‘breathing space’ around our logo maintains the integrity of our visual communication by avoiding visual clutter. We have defined a ‘safe’ area around our logo. No other visual elements should be positioned within this area. This safe area is twice the height of the capital letters of the word Commonwealth in both versions of our logo.
• In most circumstances we use our logo in full colour.
• However there are circumstances where this is not desirable (such as when this inhibits legibility) or when it is not possible (on single or limited colour publications and documents). For these circumstances, we have developed a single colour version of our logo that can be used in black, and a white version which can be used on any dark coloured background.
• If we are working with a professional design supplier we also have the option to use the single colour version of our logo in any colour to suit media using a limited colour palette.
• It is important that our logo appears consistently in all uses. The consistent use of our logo reinforces every communication.
• Shown here are examples of incorrect usage of the logo.
• a. Using other fonts/typefaces b. Splitting or re-organising the elements into other configurations c. Resizing any of the elements d. Rotating elements e. Stretching or squashing the logo
• The underlying weave, used for our logo, is also used to create patterns of visual interest on our communication materials.
• Five patterns in various file formats are available to use for any in-house publications and documents or externally produced communications.
• These patterns can be resized, flipped and cropped but should not be rotated as the angles of the lines and triangles are a key part of our visual identity.
• If we are working with a professional design supplier then we have the option to allow them to create bespoke versions of the pattern from the raw files that we hold.
• Our choice of typeface is an important element of our visual identity.
• Our primary typeface is called PMN Caecelia.
• We use this typeface on all professionally designed publications and communications.
• This typeface combines traditional serifs with a variation of weighting that gives it a charm and modern personality.
• It comes in a variety of weights and is specifically designed to be legible at small sizes.
• Our secondary typeface is Trebuchet.
• We use this typeface for in-house publications, presentations, letters and reports.
• More generally we use Trebuchet when PMN Caecelia is not available to use.
• We use this typeface because it shares many similar properties to our Primary typeface but is freely available to most of us via the Microsoft operating systems on our computers.
• We have a defined palette of colours, drawn directly from those within our logo.
• By limiting ourselves to these defined colours, it is easy to ensure that any publication will complement our suite of visual communications.
• We have a primary palette used for most text-based publications (such as this one) and a secondary palette that can be used to enhance illustrations and charts.
• For certain media and sub-brands we permit varioations on our pallete using gradients. Gradients must always be defined by at least one of the primary or ehanced pallete colours.
• Technical information: colour matching systems The numbering systems, shown in the swatches of colour above, are the values required by different colour matching systems to ‘mix’ that colour.
• CMYK Known as process colours, there are four standard printing inks – Cyan (C), Magenta (M),Yellow (Y) and Black (K) – that are mixed together.The colour mixes are defined in terms of percentage tints of each process colour. Examples of use: brochures, leaflets, and anything produced on inkjet printers.
• RGB Computers and any other light-emitting displays use a spectrum mixed from three colours – Red (R), Green (G) and Blue (B). Nb. Because different screens emit different qualities of light, colours vary from screen to screen. Examples of use: PowerPoint, email and websites.
• Hexadecimal Some programs represent colour using a hexadecimal code (shown with a # before the code) combining letters and numbers. It can be useful to have this reference for ‘mixing’ colours on screen as it is increasingly being adopted for internet-based programs. Examples of use: social media and websites.

Layout And Composition

• When used together, the relationship (physical space) between both elements is a key part of our visual identity.
• We have two versions of our logo; a horizontal and a vertical version.
• Discretion should be used when deciding which version should be utilised and at what size, on a particular piece of communication.
• To ensure maximum legibility, our logo should not be used below the minimum sizes indicated.
• Min 55mm
• Min 25mm
• The area that surrounds our logo is as much a part of our visual identity as any other element.
• Allowing adequate ‘breathing space’ around our logo maintains the integrity of our visual communication by avoiding visual clutter. We have defined a ‘safe’ area around our logo. No other visual elements should be positioned within this area. This safe area is twice the height of the capital letters of the word Commonwealth in both versions of our logo.
• These patterns can be resized, flipped and cropped but should not be rotated as the angles of the lines and triangles are a key part of our visual identity.
• If we are working with a professional design supplier then we have the option to allow them to create bespoke versions of the pattern from the raw files that we hold.
• PowerPoint: our standard template is 4:3 which is the setting for most of the screens and projectors we have available to us. A 16:9 version is also available on request.
• When putting together a document such as a letter or report, we follow these simple guidelines: - The font is Trebuchet MS - The font size is 11pt, although larger sizes can be used for headings - The paragraph line spacing is set to ‘multiple 1.15’ - The header and footer are used on the first page only

Co Branding

• Where opportunities arise for the Commonwealth Foundation and Commonwealth Writers to be acknowledged on third-party materials, we have produced a logo lock-up that combines the two logos.
• Vertical and horizontal versions are available. We use the green version where possible and have mono versions available for single or limited colour use.
• Nb. These lock-ups use a specially adjusted version of each logo and it must not be adapted in any way. They should not be reproduced below the minimum sizes shown below.
• Min40mm
• Min24mm

Social Media Guidelines

• – Include the partner logo lock-up and link to www.commonwealthfoundation.com on social media outlets carrying partnership information.
• – We will reciprocate this arrangement by including the partner logo lock-up link to your URL and your standard text on social media related to the partnership.

Accessibility Guidelines

• It is important that all of our communications materials (both print and screen-based) are readily accessible to as wide an audience as is practically possible.
• To aid accessibility, we follow this guidance:
• – We ensure that the text is in a contrasting colour with the background
• – We have chosen typefaces that are clear and legible at relatively small sizes
• – We do not use type that is less than 9pt for the main text of any document (except for photo captions and tables, where space is often an issue)
• – We do not use capitalised words as these are harder to read
• – We use italics sparingly
• – We space lines of text so that they are easy to read and don’t look too heavy on the page
• – For large areas of type, we always justify the text to the left with a hard margin
• – We do not justify text to the right-hand margin
• – We are careful when placing type over images to ensure maximum contrast and legibility
• – When binding documents we are careful not to crease or fold through type
• – We use matt or uncoated paper to avoid glare on the page
• – We distinguish highlighted information using techniques other than colour (such as using bold, or adding line breaks)
• poor contrast makes accessibility difficult
• good contrast makes accessibility easier
• excellent contrast makes accessibility easiest

Digital Guidelines

• JPEG/.JPG and PNG/.PNG – For our in-house use – Low resolution (72dpi) – Screen colours (RGB)
• TIFF/.TIF – For professional use – High resolution (300dpi) – Print process colours (CMYK)
• Illustrator EPS /.EPS/.AI – For designers or printers only – Vector files – Print process colours (CMYK)
• These are for everyday use on documents that are generated and produced in-house. They are saved to be compatible with computer screens and in-house printers; they use the Red Green Blue (RGB) colour spectrum to generate their colours. These are low resolution files (72dpi), predominantly for use on computer screens. Do not supply these files to printers or design suppliers (who need high-resolution files). They are also appropriate for web and other digital uses.
• Use for leaflets and posters. Supply these files to printers and design suppliers. They are saved for use by print suppliers and designers.They use the process print colour spectrum (CMYK) Cyan, Magenta,Yellow, and Black. These are print resolution files (300dpi).They can be used in most contexts but are a large file size that is impractical for our day-to-day use.
• These are specialist (vector) files that are not resolution dependent. Use only for supplying to designers or printers.These are only compatible with certain software packages. Before supplying to a printer or design supplier ensure that they accept ‘Adobe Illustrator’ or ‘Illustrator EPS’ files.

Print Guidelines

• To ensure maximum legibility, our logo should not be used below the minimum sizes indicated.
• The horizontal version of our logo must be a minimum width of 55mm.
• The vertical version of our logo must be a minimum height of 25mm.
• We have a defined palette of colours, drawn directly from those within our logo.
• By limiting ourselves to these defined colours, it is easy to ensure that any publication will complement our suite of visual communications.
• We have a primary palette used for most text-based publications (such as this one) and a secondary palette that can be used to enhance illustrations and charts.
• For certain media and sub-brands we permit varioations on our pallete using gradients. Gradients must always be defined by at least one of the primary or ehanced pallete colours.
• Technical information: colour matching systems The numbering systems, shown in the swatches of colour above, are the values required by different colour matching systems to ‘mix’ that colour.
• CMYK Known as process colours, there are four standard printing inks – Cyan (C), Magenta (M),Yellow (Y) and Black (K) – that are mixed together.The colour mixes are defined in terms of percentage tints of each process colour. Examples of use: brochures, leaflets, and anything produced on inkjet printers.
• TIFF/.TIF – For professional use – High resolution (300dpi) – Print process colours (CMYK)
• Illustrator EPS /.EPS/.AI – For designers or printers only – Vector files – Print process colours (CMYK)
• Use for leaflets and posters. Supply these files to printers and design suppliers. They are saved for use by print suppliers and designers.They use the process print colour spectrum (CMYK) Cyan, Magenta,Yellow, and Black. These are print resolution files (300dpi).They can be used in most contexts but are a large file size that is impractical for our day-to-day use.
• These are specialist (vector) files that are not resolution dependent. Use only for supplying to designers or printers.These are only compatible with certain software packages. Before supplying to a printer or design supplier ensure that they accept ‘Adobe Illustrator’ or ‘Illustrator EPS’ files.
• We do not use type that is less than 9pt for the main text of any document (except for photo captions and tables, where space is often an issue)
• We use matt or uncoated paper to avoid glare on the page
• When binding documents we are careful not to crease or fold through type
• We ensure that the text is in a contrasting colour with the background
• We space lines of text so that they are easy to read and don’t look too heavy on the page
• For large areas of type, we always justify the text to the left with a hard margin
• We do not justify text to the right-hand margin

Naming Conventions

• We keep acronyms to a minimum and always include a key or restate their meaning for their first use within text: – …civil society organisations (CSOs)… and thereafter …CSOs.
• We use English for all of our official communication. Where possible, we use standard English phrases, rather than non-English alternatives: – ‘way of working’ rather than ‘modus operandi’ – ‘about’ rather than ‘circa’ Where a word or abbreviation has become naturalised into English we use it in the naturalised form, rather than trying to apply grammatical rules from its original language: – we do not use an accent for cafe – we use anglicised plurals for ‘forums’ and ‘syllabuses’ We follow English (UK) spelling conventions: – theatre (not theater) – colour (not color) – organisation (not organization) – programme (not program) We do not use ‘etc’.
• We write out the numbers zero to nine as words, and switch to numerals from 10 onwards: – ‘the players attended nine out of 10 sessions’ The exceptions to that rule are when numbers: – relate to a standard unit of measurement (£5, 2cm, 9pm, page 6) – are joined by a dash meaning ‘to’ (5-14, 6-12 years) – are in a table or figure (where we use numerals to make best use of space) – are referring to standard wording for proper nouns (in England’s education system, ‘Year 5’ and ‘Key Stage 1’) – start a sentence (‘Nineteen diplomats attended the session.’) We use commas in thousands or specific larger numbers but use decimals for generic larger numbers: 1,000, 2,800, 3,280,210, 7.5 million (not 7½ million). We write out ordinal numbers up to 20 and use numerals above; first, eleventh, 23rd. We write out simple fractions like ‘three-quarters’(with hyphens) but use numerals for complex fractions like ‘1/38’. We only use the percentage sign in tables or mathematical usage. In text we write 25 per cent, not 25%.
• Where appropriate, we use the 12-hour clock and use ‘am’ and ‘pm’, not ‘o’clock’. We use a full stop as a separator between hours and minutes (rather than a colon or dash). We leave out full stops, spaces or unnecessary zeros: – 9am (not 9.00am) – 9.30pm (not 9:30pm)
• Whenever possible, we use dates or specific time references rather than ambiguous phrases such as: – ‘in summer’ – ‘this year’ We use the following styling for dates: – on 21 December – Tuesday 21 December 1991 – 1990s, the 80s (no apostrophes) – the 21st century – 1991-2, 1983-91 (to show periods of time) – 1991/92 (to show a financial year)
• We always use numerals to express sums of money. We use symbols but not abbreviations to denote money and we leave out full stops, spaces or unnecessary zeros: – £ and p (not pounds and pence) – £3 (not £3.00) – £3.50 – 99p (not £0.99) – £2.5 million (not £2,500,000 or £2.5m) – £1,000 – we define 1 billion as one thousand million For non-sterling currencies we write out the name in full in text but use symbols in tables or captions: – ‘the fee was 150 yen’ We assume that any reference to dollars means US unless otherwise stated: – NZ$10
• There are two uses for apostrophes: for possession and for omission. To indicate possession For singular words we add an apostrophe and an ‘s’: – That was the writer’s opinion – It was published in the school’s name For names and proper nouns ending in ‘s’, our convention is to add clarity (and show that they are not plurals) by adding an additional ‘s’: – I was impressed by Mrs Jones’s application to the task (single person) For plurals that end in an ‘s’ we add the apostrophe after the ‘s’ as this clarifies meaning: – The writers’ collaboration was impressive (multiple writers) To indicate omission We use an apostrophe to show where a letter (or letters) have been missed out. For example: – I’ll be there (I will be there) – It’s great to see you (it is great to see you here) Nb. Use of contractions and omissions may be inappropriately informal for our more formal communications, such as reports. Exceptions to the rule In some specific Commonwealth usage there is no apostrophe: – Examples: Senior Officials Meeting, Finance Ministers Meeting
• We use as few capitals as possible.We only add a capital letter if it helps to provide meaning. For example we do not capitalise: – ‘civil society organisations’ – ‘strategic plan’ For titles and headings we only capitalise the first word, unless we are using the name of an organisation that is conventionally written with initial capitals throughout. We use capitals for full names of meetings and events: – Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting – Commonwealth People’s Forum Titles and ranks accompanying a personal name are capitalised: – Prime Minister – High Commissioner We capitalise acronyms and sets of initials throughout, eg. USAID, SKAT, except for those that have become words, such as Unicef, Oxfam.
• We spell out the ampersand (&) as ‘and’ in all cases except if it is the name of an organisation and they always use the ‘&’. We spell out the oblique (/) as ‘or’ or ‘and’, except in tables, in number or date formats or in website addresses. Instead of using ‘and/or’, we rephrase the sentence to say ‘x or y or both’. We write ‘page’ instead of using the abbreviation ‘pg’ or ‘p.’ unless in a table where space is tight. We have adopted the convention of removing all full stops in common abbreviation, unless they add additional meaning. For example: – PhD, BA, MSc – CD, DVD, VHS, TV – Mrs, Mr, Dr However when using latin abbreviations we use one full stop: – eg., ie., nb.
• Our main use of italics is to denote the title of a published work. If a title is written in full and then later mentioned in an abbreviated form, we do not continue with italics. – ‘the current issue of International Journal contains the full entry criteria. In the Journal we examine the criteria in-depth…’

Brand Partnerships

• The use of our brand by partner organisations is important to us. We acknowledge these guidelines in all partnership agreements.
• Partners should include the Commonwealth Foundation logo alongside their own logo in all print and screen-based materials related to the partnership. We will provide our logo on confirmation of the partnership agreement.
• The logos should sit side by side with the Commonwealth Foundation logo on the left. You may find it useful to add a vertical key-line between the logos to create a simple logo lock-up. The logos should be equal in size.
• In text-only materials where it is not possible to include the logo lock-up, include the line ‘This project is organised by the Commonwealth Foundation and (partner organisation)’.
• In web-based information, include a link from the Commonwealth Foundation logo to www.commonwealthfoundation.com.
• You may also like to include our standard text: The Commonwealth Foundation is a development organisation with an international remit and reach, uniquely situated at the interface between government and civil society. We develop the capacity of civil society to act together and learn from each other to engage with the institutions that shape people’s lives. We strive for more effective, responsive and accountable governance with civil society participation, which contributes to improved development outcomes.
• Nb. The horizontal version of our logo must be a minimum width of 55mm.
• Nb. The vertical version of our logo must be a minimum height of 25mm.
• Press releases shall be issued jointly and to an agreed schedule.
• Include the partner logo lock-up and standard text on all press releases (including call notices and briefings) related to the partnership.
• Share a proof of all press releases for approval by the Communications Manager at the Foundation in advance of distribution. We will reciprocate this arrangement.
• Where possible, print materials shall be produced jointly and to an agreed schedule.
• Include the partner logo lock-up and standard text on all print materials related to the partnership.
• Share a proof of all print materials for approval by the Communications Manager at the Foundation in advance of printing. We will reciprocate this arrangement.
• Include the partner logo lock-up, link to www.commonwealthfoundation.com and standard text on web pages or e-newsletters related to the partnership.
• We will reciprocate this arrangement by including the partner logo lock-up, link to your URL and your standard text on all web pages or e-newsletters related to the partnership.
• Include the partner logo lock-up and link to www.commonwealthfoundation.com on social media outlets carrying partnership information.
• We will reciprocate this arrangement by including the partner logo lock-up link to your URL and your standard text on social media related to the partnership.
• Share all images related to the partnership for use by the Foundation in publicity.
• We will reciprocate this arrangement by sharing images related to the partnership.
• Share all audio and video material (including podcasts) related to the partnership for use by the Foundation in publicity.
• We will reciprocate this arrangement by sharing audio and video material related to the partnership.

Additional Properties