Creating an official university identification policy included updating the coat of arms, which had been part of the university's seal since 1834, and adding the name Brown for a clearer and more consistent identification of the university. Suppliers who manufacture and/or sell items imprinted with Brown University visual identity elements or other Brown insignia (to the public, Brown University departments, or student organizations) must be licensed by the University. This logo, combined with the color palettes, fonts and images provided herein, is the primary element of Brown's visual identity.
The unofficial use of the coat of arms alone was discontinued in 2003 to create a more recognizable identity. The Presidential Coat of Arms includes a scroll at the bottom of the Coat of Arms with the Brown University motto, "In Deo Speramus," which translates to "In God We Hope."
PRIMARY LOGO COMPOSITIONS
LOGO
SPECIFICATIONS
PROPER USE OF THE LOGO
BROWN
PARODY OR SATIRICAL USE
LOGO ACCESS AND FILE TYPE
AFFINITY IDENTITIES
AFFILIATED IDENTITIES
DEPARTMENTS, SCHOOLS, CENTERS, PROGRAMS, ETC
CORE IDENTITY SYSTEM APPLICATIONS
DEPARTMENTS, SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS
CORPORATION SEAL AND IDENTITY
OTHER VISUAL
IDENTITY SYSTEMS
COLOR PALETTES AND APPLICATIONS
The colors associated with a visual identity become an instantly recognizable element of an institution, which is why official colors play an important role in Brown's visual identity. A range of secondary colors that complement the colors of the primary visual identity provide broader artistic expression while harmonizing with the primary color palette. The secondary color palette consists of contemporary colors and is maintained as a flexible palette that can be updated as color trends change over time.
The four colors that make up the secondary color palette complement the primary brown (476c) and red (2347c), but can also be used with other colors from the primary color palette, or with other colors of the designer's choice. These colors can be used at 100% tint, or screened to other values for design purposes if necessary. In cases where custom/specific colors are not an option, choose the colors that best fit these specifications.
Each logo defined in the Brown visual identity has four color versions, allowing for the flexibility of use in different media. A two-color or monochrome version of the logo is for use on all other colored backgrounds, with the name Brown displayed in white or black depending on the background. It can also be used on colored backgrounds to display the logo prominently in multiple colors.
RED, GOLD AND BLACK Most often reserved for ceremonial or formal use or on colored backgrounds SOLID.
TYPOGRAPHY
STANDARD TYPEFACES
MINION PRO
GOTHAM NARROW
FREIGHT SANS
DESKTOP AND DIGITAL OPTIONS
BEST PRACTICES GUIDE
This Guide to Applying the Visual Identity Standards was developed by a team of designers from across the university to help Brown's academic and administrative units use the Brown Visual Identity Policy and Strategy to create effective, attractive and professional communications. The brown logo (or specific unit logo) must be present on the cover/cover of all printed communications. When the visual identity policy was first established in 2003, a core problem was the proliferation of publications without the prominent university identification needed to distinguish Brown's programs from those of other institutions.
Additionally, the way the logo is used in design should be handled with care and respect. If used on top of a design element, the background must be simple and clear, not occupying a portion of a photo or pattern or against a color that interferes with Brown's official colors and identity. Founded in 1847, Brown University's engineering program is the oldest in the Ivy League and the third oldest civil engineering program in the nation.
Enhanced by the absence of traditional departmental boundaries, the School of Engineering is a highly collaborative and supportive research and teaching environment. Brown engineers are characterized as problem solvers fully concerned with the economic, environmental, political and ethical implications of solutions to global grand challenges. The School of Engineering engages students from across the university in the methodologies of engineering and science and empowers them to become creative leaders in a modern technological society.
Our goal is to be an international model for creativity and innovation in the 21st century: conducting deep and impactful research at the intersection of key disciplines, and increasingly across disciplines; creating new technologies that improve lives, improve human conditions and stimulate economic growth; educating and mentoring the next generation of leaders with innovative approaches that build on the strength of a premier liberal arts research university; and providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all who aspire to engage in technical knowledge and research.
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Depending on the scope, size and design of the communication, the logo may appear on the back in exceptional circumstances. The openness of research and the flexibility of the curriculum in technology promote collaboration between the sciences, the social sciences, the arts and the humanities.
APPLYING THE
IDENTITY TO STANDARD PUBLICATIONS
USE OF COAT OF ARMS IN ISOLATED As noted on page 8, the Brown University coat of arms may only be used in isolation in contexts where the word "Brown" or "Brown University" appears.
SURYA NAMASKAR (SUN SALUTATION)
IDENTITY TO STANDARD PUBLICATIONS (CONTINUED)
Brown's standard is Minion or Minion Pro "Regular" at minimum 10pt size, Freight Sans at 10pt size or Gotham Narrow at 9pt size. Freight Sans, Gotham Narrow and Minion Pro were chosen as Brown's official typefaces because they look attractive together. When the official Brown standard fonts are not available, two of the most commonly available fonts, Georgia and Arial, should be used as substitutes to best match Brown's official fonts.
Other fonts and treatments can be used sparingly (and consistently) as the title or theme of a specific event or program, depending on the scope of the project. The second in a series of annual events organized by the Pembroke Center's Feminist Theory Archive, the Colonial Archive Symposium is devoted to the question of the relationship between colonialism and the order of knowledge. NATALIE ZEMON DAVIS University of Toronto in Search of Slaves in the Colonial Archive ITOHAN OSAYIMWESE Brown University Colonialism and the Archive for Modern Architecture in Germany.
In conjunction with its research programs and the Watson Institute's broader agenda across governance, development and security, the China Initiative launched its Distinguished Speaker Series during 2014-2015. Gao Jian, Deputy Governor of the China Development Bank – the Chinese government's leading provider of development assistance and infrastructure financing both domestically and abroad – delivered a lecture entitled "The Chinese Approach to Development Aid: The History, Mission, and Challenges of the China". China Development Bank.” Professor Li remained on campus for a week as a China Initiative Distinguished Fellow and gave additional presentations to students in Brown's Department of East Asian Studies and the Watson Institute.
Consider the role the name recognition of the established Brown logo and identity can have in building the reputation of your department or program.
INDEPENDENT LOGOS
And in that spirit, departments and programs are often drawn to create unique logos for themselves, sometimes so unique that it disassociates them from the University itself, or undermines their goals of projecting prestige or professionalism. Offices and programs should seek guidance from the Office of University Communications before deciding to develop a unique identity or logo, and especially before engaging a designer or marketing/branding firm to assist. Carefully assess whether a unique identity is a strategic or promotional necessity, and ensure that this will not lead to perceived disassociation from the University.
Determine what marketing resources your unit will be able to devote to building brand awareness of a new logo in a crowded marketplace where logos compete for attention. Review whether your department's own photos, videos, and stories can capture uniqueness and personality as immediately and emotionally as a conceptual logo.
USE OF THE BROWN LOGO WITH OTHER
Images should be used to draw a viewer into a publication and to add a deeper understanding of the information communicated in text. 34;Less is more", as it allows the viewer to focus on the key concepts being communicated, and will help keep the designs clean and concise. Imagery should tell a story wherever possible, and the obvious image is not always the freshest or most compelling choice.
Genuine engagement between people, facial expressions, emotion and feeling creates a recognizable response in the viewer and can make a lasting impression. Visuals should reflect Brown's unique understanding of higher education, its diverse and inclusive community, and open and expansive curriculum. The Brown Image Gallery is also available for use by the Brown University community and contains a growing selection of professional photographs for use in print and digital media.
BROWN IMAGERY
The composition of a photo – the position of various elements within the frame – tells the viewer what the subject is within the context and interest needed to make the image appealing. This creates a more dramatic, visually interesting image than a shot where the subject is right in the center.
BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
BASIC TECHNICAL GUIDELINES
SOCIAL MEDIA
The standard letterhead design features the university wordmark in the horizontal format at the top left to clearly emphasize the brown name. At the top right, either the specific unit or a person's name and title is highlighted. Similarly, the business card has the horizontal word mark on the left and spaces on the right to accommodate all possible titles and addresses.
Special stationery for different purposes—for example, presidential, corporate, or international use—may reflect variations of this standard template, but must remain consistent with policies for use of the coat of arms and other aspects of Brown's visual identity. For help designing and ordering stationery, visit www.brown.edu/webmaster/visual_identity/stationery.
STATIONERY
Standardized digital templates and images for Microsoft Office presentations and documents, video intros and endings, and other repeatable projects keep work looking professional, attractive, consistent, and readable.
STANDARD TEMPLATES
Brown's visual identity policy and strategy was developed by the Office of University Communications and its Graphic Services Unit.