NC State University

Official Websites

• https://www.ncsu.edu
• https://brand.ncsu.edu
• https://web.ncsu.edu/brand
• http://www.ncsu.edu
• https://ncsu.edu

Brand Guidelines

2009

Brand Summary

Mission

• With the launch of our new brand campaign, North Carolina State University is finally saying all the things we’ve wanted to say. We’re becoming known for how we’re changing the world. The brand aims to dismantle preconceived notions, build momentum, and push the perception of NC State forward [^1].

Core Values

• consistency
• clarity
• effectiveness
• equality of opportunity
• cultural diversity
• pluralism
• welcoming environment
• positive action
• excellence

Target Audience

• The target audience includes current and prospective students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, partners, and the broader community, as well as colleges, departments, and affiliated organizations of the university [^2].

Personality Traits

• eagerness
• impatience
• curiosity
• bold
• down to earth
• confident
• approachable
• dynamic
• motivated
• energetic

Visual Identity Overview

• The visual identity is unified by consistent use of the logo (the ‘brick’), a dominant red, white, and black color palette, modern and simple photography, and the Univers typeface. The brand emphasizes bold, active imagery, clear layouts, and cohesive stationery and templates for print, web, and digital communications [^3].

Categories

Brand Voice

• When everyone comes together and speaks as one, we’re able to communicate our message in an impactful way. We all have many individual voices, but it’s through speaking in the same way with a consistent voice that we’re more likely to be heard. Not only does the message break through the clutter-others begin to listen more thoughtfully to what’s being said. As a part of this university, we have the privilege and the honor to speak as one -for many.
• A brand isn’t a logo or a photograph or a color. It’s all of these things-and you. You’ve always made NC State stand out. And now you’ll bring us together.
• The tone of NC State is one of eagerness, impatience and curiosity. There’s a sense of urgency in those who are connected to North Carolina State University. We know what we want to accomplish and we go after it with vigor. We’re fueled by our collective talent, pride and search for excellence. We’re bold, yet down to earth. We’re confident, yet approachable. That feeling should come through our words – both spoken and written.
• Sentences should be short and efficient. No words are wasted in speeches or written materials for NC State. The structure and content of the language should mirror the brand and be just as powerful and dynamic. Passive voice is not preferred because everything about the NC State brand is active. Crisp, hard-hitting sentences drive home our points in a way that makes people stop and take notice. The words and phrases have an attitude and confidence that motivate and energize.
• Every form of communication offers an opportunity to reinforce NC State’s brand. Beyond following the visual and style guidelines, you can incorporate these short, powerful sentences into almost any form of communication.
• These brand phrases are not required elements, so don’t overuse them and don’t try to fit them in if they aren’t working. But in certain instances, they may offer quick sound bites for speeches, headers for PowerPoint slides or they could even be used on promotional materials such as T-shirts or bumper stickers.
• Do not use these brand phrases as taglines, sign-offs in advertising or locked-up with the logo. A tagline is one specific phrase that is associated with a brand.

Brand Imagery

• Photography offers an opportunity to make a powerful first impression. In a glance, an image can create a compelling connection and begin to tell the story of the brand. Each image that appears in any communication should be chosen as thoughtfully as the words-because they are all a reflection of NC State. It’s a snapshot of who we are -bold, bright, powerful and active. By maintaining high standards and carefully choosing photography that matches the brand, we’ll continue to stand out above the rest.
• Photography that appears in any NC State materials and Web communications should have a modern look, simple content and interesting composition. Color should be bright with adequate contrast (avoid dull or muted color with low contrast). Whenever possible, use active imagery with visual energy and flow (bold, simple images, active composition, diagonal lines, etc.).
• All photography that will be printed should be 300 dpi at the actual size it will be displayed. Increasing the scale of a photo reduces its resolution, so this should be avoided. For quality control, print the photo at actual size to make sure it is not pixelated.
• Professional photography should be used whenever possible, particularly for external communications such as Web sites, advertising and promotional materials. For internal communications, the best resources are our photo databases at ncsu.edu/photos or http://images.cals.ncsu.edu/gallery2/main.php. If that doesn’t have what you’re looking for, you may need to purchase stock photography. Or if you need to cover an event and professional photography is not an option, an amateur photo can be used. Stock and amateur photos should still follow the same style guidelines.
• Photography less than 300 dpi at actual printed size should not be used. Photography should be kept simple with a singular focus so as notto distract from the design. Images with low or bad lighting should not be used and photography should not be scaled disproportionately.
• Clip art should never be used.
• Color photography should be used whenever possible, but if color printing is not an option, black and white photography should be used. Proper lighting and simple composition are even more important to remember when choosing which photos work better in black and white. It’s particularly important that these photos have adequate contrast and do not look gray or muddy.
• Not all photos that look good in color are appropriate for black and white. If you are unable to find a black and white photo in our database that fits your needs, do not just print color photos in black and white. You must convert the photos to black and white first using photo editing software. This will allow you to adjust the contrast or levels until there is a distinction between the blacks and whites. Stay away from photos that are dark and don’t have varying values within them. These images will not reproduce well in black and white. Photos that are too bright or washed out also don’t work well.
• When choosing photography for PowerPoint presentations, follow the same style guidelines detailed in the photography section. The photos should have active imagery with visual energy and flow. Unless the PowerPoint will be printed, the resolution of the photography can be Web quality (72 dpi) at the actuaI size it will be displayed. All photos should be sized or cropped to fit within the dimensions found in the PowerPoint templates online.

Color Palette

• PMS 186 CMYK: 0, 100, 81, 4 WHITE CMYK: 0, 0, 0, 0 BLACK CMYK: 0, 0, 0, 100 PMS 7503 CMYK: 0, 12, 35, 25 PMS 7401 CMYK: 0, 4, 18, 0 PMS 4545 CMYK:0,3, 19,6 WARM GREYl CMYK: 0, 2, 3, 6 PMS 405 CMYK: 0, 10, 33, 72 PMS 575 CMYK: 48, 0, 100, 53 PMS 5275 CMYK: 60, 47, 0, 30 PMS 653 PMS 723 CMYK: 100, 62, 0, 20 CMYK: 0, 43, 97, 17 PMS 5625 CMYK: 28, 0, 29, 48 PMS 7492 CMYK: 12, 0, 50, 7
• Red, white and black comprise the primary color palette. They should be the dominant colors used when designing all print materials. Red should appear in every piece of communication that allows color. Red type, however, should not be used for long lists or lengthy copy blocks. The colors in the primary color palette should always cover more area or be used more than any other color that appears in the material. CMYK and PMS colors are provided to allow for exact matching.
• The secondary color palette includes a range of neutrals that complement the primary colors without overpowering them. In any given application, only two secondary colors should be used with the primary colors to keep the primary colors dominant. The use of too many secondary colors will dilute the power of the primary colors.
• The support color palette includes a range of colors that can add a deep, rich quality to the materials. One support color may be used with as many as two secondary colors and any or all of the primary colors. The support colors are almost like accent colors in that they should never overtake the design.
• #CC0000 #FFFFFF #000000 #383838 #666666 #666633 #CCCCCC #556677 #E1E1E1 #A20000 #5C5541 #A79574 #C5BD9D #E5E1D0 #778855 #99AA77 #CCDDAA
• These official university colors should be the most dominant colors on any of the NC State sites. They should anchor all Web site designs.
• These colors offer complementary options for navigational elements, promotional areas and other prominent design and content elements. As many as two secondary colors can be used with the primary color palette, but they should never be more dominant than the primary colors.
• These colors should be used for subtle accents (link styles, horizontal rules, etc.) and not for primary design elements. One support color can be used with the primary and secondary colors so as not to overpower the design.

Typography

• The primary typeface for NC State is Univers. This typeface is considered a versatile sans serif workhorse. The structure of the typeface is simple so it’s easy to read, but it maintains an elegantly modern feel that adds a level of sophistication to the design. It was designed as a full system of fonts with a range of weights for almost any typographical need.
• Univers Condensed is the preferred typeface and should be used whenever possible. Long form copy, however, may be harder to read in Univers Condensed. Univers may be a better option in these cases. Body copy can be set at 9 to 14 point, but 9 point is standard for long form copy. Headlines or headings should be at least 2 points larger than body copy.
• If circumstances require a serif for long form copy like an annual report or more formal communications like an invitation, you may consider using the complementary typeface, Minion Pro. This typeface was inspired by classical typefaces for an elegant and functional design. It should be used secondarily to Univers and not in headlines.
• Body copy can be set at 9 to 14 point, but 9 point is standard for long form copy.
• Univers should be used as the primary sans serif typeface, but if for some reason it can’t be obtained, the substitute typeface is Arial. Similar to Univers, Arial offers a contemporary feel with versatile function.
• If for some reason you are not able to get access to the complementary typeface Minion Pro, the substitute typeface, Times New Roman, should be used. Similar to Minion Pro, it has many classical characteristics but offers excellent legibility as well as a crisp and clean appearance.
• The copy is set at 8 point with 11 point leading in Univers Condensed light. The individual’s name appears in bold and all the copy aligns with the word UNIVERSITY.
• Recipient addresses should not be handwritten, but typed (10-12 point Univers or Arial), in no more than 4 lines. Address blocks should not intrude into the bottom 14" of the envelope.
• The university’s official Web banner typeface is Univers. Colleges and central administrative units are encouraged to create site banners using the Univers typeface to maintain a consistent Web presence.
• University Web sites should use Verdana, Arial and Georgia typefaces for all HTML text.
• HTML headlines and section headers can use any of the fonts approved for university Web sites.
• All designs must follow the type, color and photography guidelines outlined in this book, but these banners offer more creative freedom to explore design options within these guidelines.
• The heading should be red Univers Condensed Bold 32 point in all caps.
• The subheadings are black Univers Condensed Bold 28 point with title case capitalization.
• The bullets are black Univers Condensed 24 point with sentence style capitalization. Sub-bullets (not shown) are black Univers Condensed 20 point, and they decrease 4 points for each subsequent sublevel.
• If you aren’t able to get access to the Univers Condensed typeface, use the Arial typeface for your PowerPoint slides. The same design standards should be followed when using this typeface.

Logo Usage

• A logo is the face and signature of the brand. It connects the brand to all forms of communication. The more consistent a logo looks and is used -the more likely it will be remembered and make an impact.
• Each communication needs to be able to stand alone as a proper representation of the brand, but also gain strength as a cohesive and integrated collection of materials. These guidelines provide direction for how the NC State logo should be used to help unify materials and continue to build the brand.
• Visit ncsu.edu/brand to download the approved versions of the logo.
• This is the logo for use in all branding materials or communications from or about the university. Examples include letterhead, business cards, print ads, university collateral, admissions documents, direct mail, television commercials, videos, Web sites and more. Guidelines for how to use this version have been established to maintain consistency and are detailed in the following pages.
• Colleges, departments, units and organizations within the university should not create any new logos. If you have a question about your unit logo, contact University Communications.
• The x-height of the brick logo is based on the height of the N in NC STATE. No design elements, type or photos should come any closer to the logo than ½ x. The actual distance of x will change depending on how large the logo is scaled.
• The red rectangle and type should always be kept in proper proportion to maintain the integrity of the logo. Always use the approved logo files and use only vector files of the logo when printing. Never try to recreate the logos yourself, but if you need to scale the logo, always constrain proportions so the height and width are scaled together. To maintain the correct proportions of the brick logo, always hold down the shift key as you drag the corner to increase or decrease its size.
• The brick logo should not appear smaller than 13/8“ in any printed material, or 100 pixels wide on screen.
• There are two approved color options. One is red (PMS 186) and white. The other is a black and white version. The red and white version should be used whenever color is available. Use the primary brick logo with the red background whenever possible.
• Materials should be designed with the brick as the primary logo. It should work with most backgrounds, including solid colors and photographs. In certain cases, the type can be pulled out of the brick and used as red, white or black logotype, as indicated to the left.
• For all university communications, the logo should be placed in the upper-left corner 4" to %" from the edges of the page. The logo should never be placed against the edge of the page as a bleed because when the page is trimmed the logo is often cropped disproportionately violating the logo standards.
• The NC State logo should always appear on the cover of any piece of communication.
• Contact University Communications at 919.515.3865 for permission to place the brick in an alternate location. The top left location is sometimes problematic for video and print advertising purposes, but should pose no problems for general collateral creation.
• INCORRECT PLACEMENTS Do not place the logo anywhere other than the upper left corner. Do not bleed the logo off the edges of the page. Do not use a logo format that does not conform to the guidelines. In a color application, the red and white brick should always be used.
• INCORRECT USAGES 1. 2. NC STATE UNIVERSITY 1. Do not obstruct the logo with any graphic or image. 2. Do not add a drop shadow to the logo. 3. NC STATE UNIVERSITY 4. NC STATE UNIVERSITY 3, 4. Do not scale the logo disproportionately so it is wider, taller, thinner or thicker than the approved proportions. 5. Do not change the size or shape of the red rectangle in relation to the type. 5. NC STATE UNIVERSITY 6. NC STATE UNIVERSITY 6. Do not change the font or recreate the logo in any way. 7, 8. Do not make the type or the rectangle in the logo any color other than red, white or black. 7. NC STATE UNIVERSITY 8. NC STATE UNIVERSITY 9. Do not put the red logo on a red background; instead use the white logotype. 10. Do not put a white line around the logo. 9. NC STATE UNIVERSITY 10. NC STATE UNIVERSITY 11. Do not combine the logo with type to make a new logo. 12. Do not combine the logo with any other logos. 11. NC STATE UNIVERSITY 12. NC STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT GROUP

Tone And Messaging

• The tone of NC State is one of eagerness, impatience and curiosity. There’s a sense of urgency in those who are connected to North Carolina State University. We know what we want to accomplish and we go after it with vigor. We’re fueled by our collective talent, pride and search for excellence. We’re bold, yet down to earth. We’re confident, yet approachable. That feeling should come through our words – both spoken and written.
• Sentences should be short and efficient. No words are wasted in speeches or written materials for NC State. The structure and content of the language should mirror the brand and be just as powerful and dynamic. Passive voice is not preferred because everything about the NC State brand is active. Crisp, hard-hitting sentences drive home our points in a way that makes people stop and take notice. The words and phrases have an attitude and confidence that motivate and energize.
• When everyone comes together and speaks as one, we’re able to communicate our message in an impactful way. We all have many individual voices, but it’s through speaking in the same way with a consistent voice that we’re more likely to be heard. Not only does the message break through the clutter-others begin to listen more thoughtfully to what’s being said. As a part of this university, we have the privilege and the honor to speak as one -for many.
• Every form of communication offers an opportunity to reinforce NC State’s brand. Beyond following the visual and style guidelines, you can incorporate these short, powerful sentences into almost any form of communication.
• These brand phrases are not required elements, so don’t overuse them and don’t try to fit them in if they aren’t working. But in certain instances, they may offer quick sound bites for speeches, headers for PowerPoint slides or they could even be used on promotional materials such as T-shirts or bumper stickers.
• Do not use these brand phrases as taglines, sign-offs in advertising or locked-up with the logo. A tagline is one specific phrase that is associated with a brand.
• Passive voice is not preferred because everything about the NC State brand is active.

Visual Style

• The x-height of the brick logo is based on the height of the N in NC STATE. No design elements, type or photos should come any closer to the logo than ½ x. The actual distance of x will change depending on how large the logo is scaled.
• The red rectangle and type should always be kept in proper proportion to maintain the integrity of the logo. Always use the approved logo files and use only vector files of the logo when printing. Never try to recreate the logos yourself, but if you need to scale the logo, always constrain proportions so the height and width are scaled together. To maintain the correct proportions of the brick logo, always hold down the shift key as you drag the corner to increase or decrease its size.
• The brick logo should not appear smaller than 13/8“ in any printed material, or 100 pixels wide on screen.
• There are two approved color options. One is red (PMS 186) and white. The other is a black and white version. The red and white version should be used whenever color is available. Use the primary brick logo with the red background whenever possible.
• Materials should be designed with the brick as the primary logo. It should work with most backgrounds, including solid colors and photographs. In certain cases, the type can be pulled out of the brick and used as red, white or black logotype, as indicated to the left.
• For all university communications, the logo should be placed in the upper-left corner 4" to %" from the edges of the page. The logo should never be placed against the edge of the page as a bleed because when the page is trimmed the logo is often cropped disproportionately violating the logo standards.
• The NC State logo should always appear on the cover of any piece of communication.
• Do not place the logo anywhere other than the upper left corner. Do not bleed the logo off the edges of the page. Do not use a logo format that does not conform to the guidelines. In a color application, the red and white brick should always be used.
• Do not obstruct the logo with any graphic or image.
• Do not add a drop shadow to the logo.
• Do not scale the logo disproportionately so it is wider, taller, thinner or thicker than the approved proportions.
• Do not change the size or shape of the red rectangle in relation to the type.
• Do not change the font or recreate the logo in any way.
• Do not make the type or the rectangle in the logo any color other than red, white or black.
• Do not put the red logo on a red background; instead use the white logotype.
• Do not put a white line around the logo.
• Do not combine the logo with type to make a new logo.
• Do not combine the logo with any other logos.
• Red, white and black comprise the primary color palette. They should be the dominant colors used when designing all print materials. Red should appear in every piece of communication that allows color. Red type, however, should not be used for long lists or lengthy copy blocks. The colors in the primary color palette should always cover more area or be used more than any other color that appears in the material. CMYK and PMS colors are provided to allow for exact matching.
• The secondary color palette includes a range of neutrals that complement the primary colors without overpowering them. In any given application, only two secondary colors should be used with the primary colors to keep the primary colors dominant. The use of too many secondary colors will dilute the power of the primary colors.
• The support color palette includes a range of colors that can add a deep, rich quality to the materials. One support color may be used with as many as two secondary colors and any or all of the primary colors. The support colors are almost like accent colors in that they should never overtake the design.
• Photography that appears in any NC State materials and Web communications should have a modern look, simple content and interesting composition. Color should be bright with adequate contrast (avoid dull or muted color with low contrast). Whenever possible, use active imagery with visual energy and flow (bold, simple images, active composition, diagonal lines, etc.).
• All photography that will be printed should be 300 dpi at the actual size it will be displayed. Increasing the scale of a photo reduces its resolution, so this should be avoided. For quality control, print the photo at actual size to make sure it is not pixelated.
• Photography less than 300 dpi at actual printed size should not be used. Photography should be kept simple with a singular focus so as notto distract from the design. Images with low or bad lighting should not be used and photography should not be scaled disproportionately.
• Clip art should never be used.
• Univers Condensed is the preferred typeface and should be used whenever possible. Long form copy, however, may be harder to read in Univers Condensed. Univers may be a better option in these cases. Body copy can be set at 9 to 14 point, but 9 point is standard for long form copy. Headlines or headings should be at least 2 points larger than body copy.
• If circumstances require a serif for long form copy like an annual report or more formal communications like an invitation, you may consider using the complementary typeface, Minion Pro. This typeface was inspired by classical typefaces for an elegant and functional design. It should be used secondarily to Univers and not in headlines.
• Univers should be used as the primary sans serif typeface, but if for some reason it can’t be obtained, the substitute typeface is Arial. Similar to Univers, Arial offers a contemporary feel with versatile function.
• If for some reason you are not able to get access to the complementary typeface Minion Pro, the substitute typeface, Times New Roman, should be used. Similar to Minion Pro, it has many classical characteristics but offers excellent legibility as well as a crisp and clean appearance.
• The university’s official Web banner typeface is Univers. Colleges and central administrative units are encouraged to create site banners using the Univers typeface to maintain a consistent Web presence.
• University Web sites should use Verdana, Arial and Georgia typefaces for all HTML text.
• HTML headlines and section headers can use any of the fonts approved for university Web sites.
• These official university colors should be the most dominant colors on any of the NC State sites. They should anchor all Web site designs.
• These colors offer complementary options for navigational elements, promotional areas and other prominent design and content elements. As many as two secondary colors can be used with the primary color palette, but they should never be more dominant than the primary colors.
• These colors should be used for subtle accents (link styles, horizontal rules, etc.) and not for primary design elements. One support color can be used with the primary and secondary colors so as not to overpower the design.
• Good design comes from thoughtful use of the university’s color palette, white space and typography while also positioning and leveraging existing Web conventions.

Layout And Composition

• The x-height of the brick logo is based on the height of the N in NC STATE. No design elements, type or photos should come any closer to the logo than ½ x. The actual distance of x will change depending on how large the logo is scaled.
• The red rectangle and type should always be kept in proper proportion to maintain the integrity of the logo. Always use the approved logo files and use only vector files of the logo when printing. Never try to recreate the logos yourself, but if you need to scale the logo, always constrain proportions so the height and width are scaled together. To maintain the correct proportions of the brick logo, always hold down the shift key as you drag the corner to increase or decrease its size.
• The brick logo should not appear smaller than 13/8“ in any printed material, or 100 pixels wide on screen.
• For all university communications, the logo should be placed in the upper-left corner 4" to %" from the edges of the page. The logo should never be placed against the edge of the page as a bleed because when the page is trimmed the logo is often cropped disproportionately violating the logo standards.
• The NC State logo should always appear on the cover of any piece of communication.
• Do not place the logo anywhere other than the upper left corner. Do not bleed the logo off the edges of the page. Do not use a logo format that does not conform to the guidelines. In a color application, the red and white brick should always be used.
• Do not obstruct the logo with any graphic or image. Do not add a drop shadow to the logo. Do not scale the logo disproportionately so it is wider, taller, thinner or thicker than the approved proportions. Do not change the size or shape of the red rectangle in relation to the type. Do not change the font or recreate the logo in any way. Do not make the type or the rectangle in the logo any color other than red, white or black. Do not put the red logo on a red background; instead use the white logotype. Do not put a white line around the logo. Do not combine the logo with type to make a new logo. Do not combine the logo with any other logos.
• All type should be kept within the white area. The block Scan be removed if desired, but the red border and the type brick must be used.
• Four half-moon shaped wind slits must be cut into the large banner and three must be cut into the small banner, but the wind slit locations can shift to avoid text and graphic elements. For banners that need to feature another logo, place that logo at the bottom of the banner as far from the NC State logo as possible.
• There are many design possibilities for pole banners, but the logo should never be moved or pushed up against any other color or graphic. The logo placement and clear­space requirements outlined in the logo section should be followed in this application as well. All designs must follow the type, color and photography guidelines outlined in this book, but these banners offer more creative freedom to explore design options within these guidelines.
• The cover slide introduces your presentation with a large photograph to help engage the audience. The photo’s width should be kept even with the bar at the top of the template and allow room under the photo for your heading. Be sure to size or crop your photograph to fit the area. The heading should be red Univers Condensed Bold 32 point in all caps.
• The majority of the slides in your presentation will be this standard slide. It gives you the ability to customize the copy to include a heading, subhead and bullets. These slides include a gradient background to add some interest to the presentation, but additional slides with a white background are also available online. The heading should be red Univers Condensed Bold 32 point in all caps. The subheadings are black Univers Condensed Bold 28 point with title case capitalization. The bullets are black Univers Condensed 24 point with sentence style capitalization. Sub-bullets (not shown) are black Univers Condensed 20 point, and they decrease 4 points for each subsequent sublevel. The white background should be used if you are including graphics that have a white space around them.
• When choosing photography for PowerPoint presentations, follow the same style guidelines detailed in the photography section. The photos should have active imagery with visual energy and flow. Unless the PowerPoint will be printed, the resolution of the photography can be Web quality (72 dpi) at the actuaI size it will be displayed. All photos should be sized or cropped to fit within the dimensions found in the PowerPoint templates online. The heading should be red Univers Condensed Bold 32 point in all caps. The bullets are black Univers Condensed 24 point with sentence style capitalization. Additional templates, including those with vertical photography and graphs are available online at ncsu.edu/brand.
• If you aren’t able to get access to the Univers Condensed typeface, use the Arial typeface for your PowerPoint slides. The same design standards should be followed when using this typeface.
• The NC State branding bar offers a simple way to connect our thousands of sites and let users know where they are at all times. This element must appear at the top (centered or left-aligned) of all official NC State Web sites and pages. No content of any kind may appear above this bar. The branding bar is available in various color combinations consistent with official university colors, but it may not be edited or altered in any way outside of the options presented when downloading.
• Keep design and content separate. Write Web code that presents a site’s information in a structured, organized and intentional way, and use CSS to lay out the content.

Stationery System

• A cohesive stationery system includes letterhead, envelopes and business cards. In many cases, these materials are the first impression, so they must present a unified look. They are a key component to the brand and offer an easy way to maintain consistency across the university.
• The letterhead design is standardized to promote consistency, yet it also offers a way for units, colleges, departments and organizations to include their contact information within the design. There should be no unit-specific logos on university letterhead.
• The left margin should be 1¾” and align with the word UNIVERSITY. The right margin should be 1” and the top margin will vary according to the amount of text printed in the address section of the letterhead.
• Information appearing in the top margin above the horizontal red line may occupy as many as four lines of text. It is recommended that the name and address of the unit be placed in this space. Below the horizontal red line, units may include division, department or individual names, as well as phone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses.
• Unit-specific information appears in black and is added as orders are placed. All orders must be placed and produced through one of our approved convenience contract partners. You can view these partners at http://www7.acs.ncsu.edu/materialsmgmt/purchasing/guidelines/univ_contract.asp
• Word document templates are available for digital use only and can be downloaded at ncsu.edu/brand.
• In compliance with postal regulations, the return address and graphic does not exceed more than 50 percent of the horizontal envelope length. Recipient addresses should not be handwritten, but typed (10-12 point Univers or Arial), in no more than 4 lines. Address blocks should not intrude into the bottom 14" of the envelope.
• Address Service Requested statements and Bulk Postage can be added to the envelope upon request from University Communications. “Attention” or “information” lines directing delivery to a specific person or indicating how a business should handle mail should appear above the name of the business or individual to which the mail is addressed. These standards also apply to the design of window envelopes.
• For more information about postal requirements for mailing, call the Mailpiece Design Analyst in Raleigh at 919.420.5157. All orders must be placed and produced through one of our approved convenience contract partners. You can view these partners at http://www7.acs.ncsu.edu/materialsmgmt/purchasing/guidelines/univ_contract.asp
• Business cards can include up to ten lines of information (two lines of personal information above the red line and eight lines of contact information below). Both the campus box number and building/room location of offices should be included on the cards. This will help on-campus visitors and delivery people locate your office. The copy is set at 8 point with 11 point leading in Univers Condensed light. The individual’s name appears in bold and all the copy aligns with the word UNIVERSITY. The back of the card should be left blank. If exceptions are needed, contact University Communications at 919.515.3865.
• All university business cards must conform to this format and may not carry unit-specific logos.
• To place an order, contact the university Copy Center at 919.515.2131.
• Mailing labels are 3”x 4” and follow the same design standards as the other elements of the stationery system. Labels can have 4-5 lines of copy. Just like the envelope standards, “attention” or “information” lines directing delivery to a specific person or indicating how a business should handle mail should appear above the name of the business or individual to which the mail is addressed.

Print Guidelines

• The brick logo should not appear smaller than 13/8“ in any printed material, or 100 pixels wide on screen.
• No design elements, type or photos should come any closer to the logo than ½ x. The actual distance of x will change depending on how large the logo is scaled.
• Always use the approved logo files and use only vector files of the logo when printing.
• Never try to recreate the logos yourself, but if you need to scale the logo, always constrain proportions so the height and width are scaled together. To maintain the correct proportions of the brick logo, always hold down the shift key as you drag the corner to increase or decrease its size.
• The red rectangle and type should always be kept in proper proportion to maintain the integrity of the logo.
• There are two approved color options. One is red (PMS 186) and white. The other is a black and white version. The red and white version should be used whenever color is available. Use the primary brick logo with the red background whenever possible.
• Materials should be designed with the brick as the primary logo. It should work with most backgrounds, including solid colors and photographs.
• In certain cases, the type can be pulled out of the brick and used as red, white or black logotype, as indicated to the left.
• Do not place the logo anywhere other than the upper left corner. Do not bleed the logo off the edges of the page. Do not use a logo format that does not conform to the guidelines. In a color application, the red and white brick should always be used.
• For all university communications, the logo should be placed in the upper-left corner 4" to %" from the edges of the page. The logo should never be placed against the edge of the page as a bleed because when the page is trimmed the logo is often cropped disproportionately violating the logo standards.
• The NC State logo should always appear on the cover of any piece of communication.
• Contact University Communications at 919.515.3865 for permission to place the brick in an alternate location. The top left location is sometimes problematic for video and print advertising purposes, but should pose no problems for general collateral creation.
• Red, white and black comprise the primary color palette. They should be the dominant colors used when designing all print materials. Red should appear in every piece of communication that allows color. Red type, however, should not be used for long lists or lengthy copy blocks. The colors in the primary color palette should always cover more area or be used more than any other color that appears in the material. CMYK and PMS colors are provided to allow for exact matching.
• The secondary color palette includes a range of neutrals that complement the primary colors without overpowering them. In any given application, only two secondary colors should be used with the primary colors to keep the primary colors dominant. The use of too many secondary colors will dilute the power of the primary colors.
• The support color palette includes a range of colors that can add a deep, rich quality to the materials. One support color may be used with as many as two secondary colors and any or all of the primary colors. The support colors are almost like accent colors in that they should never overtake the design.
• All printed materials must have the EO statement and a cost statement. These are state requirements for projects paid for with public funds. They may be placed in the most convenient spot on your piece and can be as small as 6 pt type. There are long and short versions of the EO statement that you can choose from as space permits.
• If you’re printing items or sourcing materials from a unit outside of the state system, you must go through purchasing if your cost for that material is over $5000.
• You also must include some language on your printed materials to let the public know how much it cost and how many units were printed.
• You can contact University Communications at 919.515.3865 if you have questions about this. You can also visit the NC State purchasing Web site at http://www7.acs.ncsu. edu/materialsmgmt/purchasing/home/ to find out more details about purchasing requirements.
• You can download these statements from the brand Web site at http://www.ncsu.edu/brand/downloads/ downloads/

Web Guidelines

• The NC State branding bar offers a simple way to connect our thousands of sites and let users know where they are at all times. This element must appear at the top (centered or left-aligned) of all official NC State Web sites and pages. No content of any kind may appear above this bar. The branding bar is available in various color combinations consistent with official university colors, but it may not be edited or altered in any way outside of the options presented when downloading.
• The branding bar may not be required for certain entities’ operating under unique circumstances. Exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Web Communication will provide support for the branding strip but will rely on the college, unit and other entities internal Web or IT staff to implement the strip. For implementation or exception questions, e-mail Web Communication at web_feedback@ncsu.edu.
• #CC0000
• #FFFFFF
• #000000
• #383838
• #666666
• #666633
• #CCCCCC
• #556677
• #E1E1E1
• #A20000
• #5C5541
• #A79574
• #C5BD9D
• #E5E1D0
• #778855
• #99AA77
• #CCDDAA
• These official university colors should be the most dominant colors on any of the NC State sites. They should anchor all Web site designs.
• These colors offer complementary options for navigational elements, promotional areas and other prominent design and content elements. As many as two secondary colors can be used with the primary color palette, but they should never be more dominant than the primary colors.
• These colors should be used for subtle accents (link styles, horizontal rules, etc.) and not for primary design elements. One support color can be used with the primary and secondary colors so as not to overpower the design.
• The university’s official Web banner typeface is Univers. Colleges and central administrative units are encouraged to create site banners using the Univers typeface to maintain a consistent Web presence.
• University Web sites should use Verdana, Arial and Georgia typefaces for all HTML text.
• HTML headlines and section headers can use any of the fonts approved for university Web sites.
• All Web sites must have a “contact” link or contain direct access to contact information for the unit responsible for the content of the Web site or page.
• All Web sites must contain a link to an appropriate privacy statement, or use the following: ncsu.edu/privacy. A link to the university Policy Disclaimer (ncsu.edu/policies) should also be included, preferably in the footer of the site.
• All Web sites must include contact information for the Web developer, site manager or Web space owner somewhere in the Web space. This information does not need to be available publicly, but must be present in the Web space. For sites developed by third-party contractors, vendors, current students or former students, contact information must include both the site developer and the site owner/manager.
• NC State University Web sites and pages should be developed with the following principles in mind: User-centric design Through every step of Web design and development, consider the needs, goals and expectations of your site’s users. Clearly define and prioritize your audiences. Then design the content, layout, organization, navigation, structure and functionality for those audiences.
• Make sure your users know your site is part of NC State. Design Web sites in such a way that every element of the site supports the university brand. Use the Brand Book to guide the online creative process.
• Content is the heart and soul of every Web site. Without it, most sites wouldn’t exist. Create content that is engaging, interesting, up-to-date, accurate, on-brand and most importantly, relevant and valuable to your audiences.
• Think about what your users want from your site. Consider how they want itto work, what words and language resonate and what information is most important to them. Make every element of the site intuitive for your users (not just for the site’s designers or department heads).
• Most people prefer attractive sites, but they must also be functional. Good design comes from thoughtful use of the university’s color palette, white space and typography while also positioning and leveraging existing Web conventions.
• Keep design and content separate. Write Web code that presents a site’s information in a structured, organized and intentional way, and use CSS to lay out the content.
• Site content needs to be accessible and useful to all of those users. NC State is committed to delivering accessible Web sites, and requires that sites comply with requirements outlined in section 508 of the United States government’s Rehabilitation Act.
• Keeping sites fresh and accurate requires consistent updates, revisions and modifications. Sites should be built for simple, efficient management and evolution. Web management tools should be chosen based on the needs of the sites’ managers and contributors, not simply the Web developers or programmers.

Video Guidelines

• Whenever possible, videos for Web and internal use should be shot digitally. Logo placement may vary depending on the frame, but typically the NC State logo should be centered on the title card. For help with how to direct, set up or frame university videos, please contact the University Communications Audio Visual department at 919.515.3871.

Editorial Guidelines

• These editorial guidelines are designed to foster consistency of style and usage in publications written and edited at NC State. This content is not exhaustive, but it does attempt to answer many commonly asked questions directly related to NC State. It’s important that these guidelines are followed to ensure our information is presented correctly. This manual can be a valuable reference tool when writing about or for the university.
• On more general questions of form and usage, it is recommended that editors refer to the Associated Press Stylebook. The A.P. Stylebook prefers Webster’s New World Dictionary as the source for proper usage and spelling.
• The following are examples of formal names of academic degrees and their abbreviations: Associate of Applied Science in field crops technology (A.A.S.) Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Bachelor of Arts in history (B.A.) Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Master of Arts in English (M.A.) Master of Science in Management (M.S.M.) Master of Education (M.Ed.) Master of Science (M.S.) Master of Technology in International Development (M.T.I.D.) Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)
• The general terms for academic degrees are as follows: associate’s degree bachelor’s degree baccalaureate master’s degree doctoral degree doctorate The plural forms are bachelor’s degrees (B.A.s), master’s degrees (M.A.s) and doctoral degrees (Ph.D.s).
• For any questions on the proper name and abbreviation of a degree program at NC State, call Registration and Records at 919.515.2572 and ask for the records supervisor.
• In writing to an on-campus address, the preferred order is as follows: Recipient Name Department Name NC State University Campus Box (number) Raleigh, NC 27695-(box number) For return addresses, the preferred order is: NC State University Sender Name Department Name Campus Box (number) Raleigh, NC 27695-(box number) Refer to your style manual to determine whether to abbreviate terms North, East, South or West and drive, avenue, road, court and so forth.
• Do not capitalize [alma mater].
• An alumnus is a person, particularly a male, who has attended or is a graduate of a particular school, college or university; alumni is the plural form, referring to males as a group and males and females as a group. An alumna is a female alumnus; alumnae is the plural form, referring only to females as a group.
• Use the full, capitalized title on first reference. Thereafter, use the board of trustees.
• Use the full, capitalized title on first reference. Thereafter, use the board of visitors.
• Capitalize the B when referring to the brick courtyard area that is formally known as University Plaza.
• The Bulletin is the official electronic newspaper for NC State faculty and staff.
• This merit scholarship program provides three-year fellowships to high-achieving, first-year students.
• The structure was named Carter Stadium when it opened in 1966, then renamed Carter-Finley Stadium in 1979. It is named for Nick and Harry Carter, the brothers who provided the initial donations for the stadium, and A.E. Finley, who provided the largest single donation.
• Use the full, capitalized name [centennial campus].
• Use discretion in selecting the appropriate term [chair, chairperson, chairman, chairwoman].
• Capitalize when used before a name; lowercase after a name. The names and terms of those who served as NC State’s chancellors and presidents follow: Alexander Q. Holladay (president, 1889-1899) George T. Winston (president, 1899-1908) Daniel H. Hill (president, 1908-1916) Wallace C. Riddick (president, 1916-1923) Eugene Clyde Brooks (president, 1923-1934) John W. Harrelson (chancellor, 1934-1953) Carey H. Bostian (chancellor 1953-1959) John T. Caldwell (chancellor, 1959-1975) Joab L. Thomas (chancellor, 1976-1981) Bruce R. Poulton (chancellor, 1982-1989) Larry K. Monteith (chancellor, 1990-1998) Marye Anne Fox (chancellor, 1998-2004) James L. Oblinger (chancellor, 2004-2009) Jim Woodward (2009 -present)
• This unrestricted annual giving program solicits contributions at the $1,000 level and above. The “T” is capitalized even if it is not at the beginning of a sentence.
• No hyphen [coed].

Newsletter Template

• An e-mail newsletter should be seen as a tool to drive viewers to content located on the Web (i.e. department or university news sites). There is one “top story” area with a place for a large picture, headline, teaser copy and link to the full story. The four smaller sections all offer editable images, headlines, teaser copy and links to the full story. The template is not designed to accommodate more than two short sentences per story. There are four different Photoshop templates that can be used to create the different image sizes.
• The gray box offers an area for a dean or department head’s photo as well as a headline and message. Above the gray box are editable anchor links which link to each of the four sections. The headline, text and link at the bottom of the gray box are also editable.
• Contact Bob Witchger, Web Communications bob_witchger@ncsu.edu to obtain the Bronto Templates. If you have questions, contact Web Communications at 919.515.9616.

Invitation Template

• This invitation template offers an easy way to customize an e-mail to promote an event. The image and headline can be customized to fit the event.
• More detailed copy can be included below the headline in black type. The time and location should be in red type.
• Information about the event should be included in the black type below the location, with the most important information first. RSVP contact information should also be included.
• The second image can be a map or another image, and there are Photoshop templates for the top and bottom image areas for easy formatting.
• Contact Bob Witchger, Web Communications bob_witchger@ncsu.edu to obtain the Bronto Templates. If you have questions, contact Web Communications at 919.515.9616.

Faculty Announcement Template

• The faculty announcement template provides an editable area for a headline and text block. A photo can be included and easily sized using the Photoshop template. A link to more information can also be added atthe bottom of the template.
• Contact Bob Witchger, Web Communications bob_witchger@ncsu.edu to obtain the Bronto Templates. If you have questions, contact Web Communications at 919.515.9616.

Additional Properties

Employees History