Design Style Guide
Introduction
Wordmark
Co-branding
The College Seal/LUX
Non Discrimination Statements
Primary Color Palette
Support Color Palette
Two Color Palette
One Color Palette
Web Color Palette
Typography Identity
Meredith College Primary Typography
Meredith College Graduate Schools Typography
Other Typography
Athletics - Avenging Angel logo
Stationery System: Letterhead, business card, envelope
Additional Available In-stock Items
Graphics and Photography Styles
Frequently Asked Questions
The Meredith College Identity Guidelines provide a guide for presenting the college in a cohesive way. A unified approach to graphics fosters a strong and consistent image for both internal and external audiences. The success of any identity program depends on the cooperation of all members of the College community.
This manual includes a description and use guidelines for the Meredith wordmark, athletic mark, color palettes, typefaces, as well as the appropriate use of the existing Lux and presidential seals.
The graphics identity program is administered through the Department of Marketing. General questions regarding the graphics standards programs should be directed to the Director of Visual Communications, at (919) 760-8405.
About The Marketing Department
We’re a creative professional team that develops marketing and communication solutions for Meredith through collaboration with campus colleagues and the community.
The department produces or supervises the production of official college materials. The Department of Marketing reports to the President of the College.
Contact Us
Department of Marketing
310 Johnson Hall
3800 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27607
Phone: (919) 760-8455
Fax: (919) 760-8330
Email: marketing@meredith.edu
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
To request a copy of the wordmark, please email helpgraphics@meredith.edu.
The Meredith College wordmark, redesigned in 1993 by the College’s design staff, is the official identifier of the College. It should be prominent on every project that represents the College and should always be reproduced from authorized art work. The wordmark should always be legible, and it must be in an area of isolation that is clear of other elements, either typographic or graphic. The wordmark may not be manipulated or changed in any way. Do not attempt to re-create the wordmark, change the font, or alter the size, proportions or space between the letters. It should not be screened or used as part of a larger pattern.
The wordmark can only be be printed in the College colors as shown: PMS 201 (maroon), black, or “reversed out” to white onto any color.
Secondary logos and school/department/program names must appear subordinate to the College wordmark. No secondary logo or school/department/program name may be used as a substitute for the College wordmark.
Acceptable Color Variations of the College Wordmark
Wordmark with location
We only use the location for undergraduate recruitment promotions. Location should be set in Courier Sans Bold.
Wordmark - unacceptable use examples
Meredith College wordmark may not be redrawn, reproportioned, distorted or altered in any way.
Wordmark - Minimum size and clear space requirements
Minimum Size:
Size minimums are specified to ensure legibility in various media. The specifications shown (below) are appropriate for print and web. There may be situations where the
Meredith wordmark will need to appear smaller than the minimum shown (e.g., lapel pins, pens, pencils). Please consult with the Director of Visual Communications at
(919) 760-8405 if you have questions.
Minimum size for print reproduction: Width of 1.75"
Minimum size for web reproduction: 200 pixels (w) X 45 pixels (h)
Clear Space:
A specified clear space around the Meredith wordmark ensures the integrity and impact of the mark. There may be cases where it is difficult to allow the full recommended clear space (e.g., a very small display ad).
No other graphic elements can touch, overlap or be combined with the Meredith
wordmark.
X = cap height of “M”
recommended clear space = 1.5 X
Contact helpgraphics@meredith.edu for the creation of a co-branding logo.
Meredith College’s graphics standards are intended to encourage the consistent and coordinated use of the Meredith wordmark and visual identity elements.
Co-branding means, “sharing the brand,” and it can benefit all parties involved. The co-branded department or organization benefits by being associated with the Meredith College brand and the goodwill attached to it. The College benefits by being associated with the activities of departments and organizations that further the College’s stated mission and objectives.
Independent logos for college supported departments and centers are not approved for publication use. Schools, departments and centers should align their areas to the college visually. By simply aligning the appropriate college name with the school, department or center in the correct college typeface you will visually be able to show the relationship between the two entities.
Examples of co-branding are pictured below.
The Meredith College seal (LUX) is the official symbol of the College and can be used formally on College-wide event programs, documents, certificates, and programs for official functions (convocations or commencement.)
The seal was designed in 1909 by Ida Poteat, professor of art, 1899–1940. Below the bands running diagonally across the shield are pines symbolizing the State of North Carolina. The lighted torch illustrates Meredith’s motto, the single word LUX, meaning light—the light of the mind and the light of the soul.
The seal can only be printed in the College color, PMS 201 (maroon), gray, black, metallic gold, gold foil stamp or blind embossed. The seal may not be manipulated or changed in any way.
To request an electronic file of the LUX or to request an exception to the use to the above list, please contact the Director of Visual Communication at (919) 760-8405.
Non-discrimination statement for undergraduate admissions
Meredith College admits qualified women students without regard to race, creed, national or ethnic origin, age or disability.
Non-discrimination statement for graduate admissions
Meredith College does not discriminate in the administration of its educational and admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school-administered programs, or in access to its programs and activities on the basis of race, creed, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, gender, age or disability.
The primary color palette consists of PMS 201 (maroon) for coated paper and PMS 200 for uncoated paper. Promoting PMS 201 as the dominant college color will reinforce the brand to the college community and the larger external community. PMS 201 should be used for the wordmark, college main web address and as an accent color, whenever possible, in all collateral. The PMS 201 color palette is used for:
- All commencement programs and collateral associated with commencement weekend
- Communication from the President’s office
- Pocket folders
- Meredith magazine with additional colors from the magazine color palette.
- Corporate stationery (business cards, letterhead)
- Athletics promotion
These supporting colors were chosen because they work well with PMS 201. The support color palette should be used for College based materials whose primary objective is to promote, portray or benefit Meredith College as a whole.
Overall: When budget is available, four-color photography should be used. Use the support color palette to compliment the colors in the photography. It is important to use PMS 201 if possible for the wordmark and web addresses. When designing a one color or two color piece use the appropriate color palettes found below.
Designs for Undergraduate admissions: Use the support color palette, but use PMS 201 as the accent brand color for the wordmark, web addressed and color accents whenever possible.
Designs for the alumna audience: There should be a strong use of PMS 201 to appeal to the audience’s sense of loyalty and tradition. Other colors from the support palette can be used.
* Some HEX (web colors) on web are not an exact match for PMS colors. Contact the Electronic Communications Manager, at 919-760-8235 for any questions about web based colors.
The two color palette consists of colors from the support color palette that work best with PMS 201.
Use any color from the primary or support color palette.
Though the web color palette should be based on the primary and support colors, the Electronics Communications Manager has the discretion to match the web palette as close as possible to the print color palette. We understand and accept that there will be some variation. Please consult current editions of PANTONE® color publications for web safe color formulations.
The Marketing Department uses several typographic families for its communication. When used consistently, the typeface is the foundation for a successful identity system. Our typographic identity takes many forms, encompassing college publications, and all applications that visually represent the campus.
This section is intended to identify typography considered primary to Meredith’s identity.
Primary Meredith College Typography
Headlines: Officina Serif Bold
Blurbs or intro text: Officina Bold or Officina Sans Bold
Body Text: Trade Gothic Medium. Helvetica Neue 57 can be used as an alternative.
Quotes: Courier Sans Light
Graduate School Typography
Headlines: Adobe Garamond Bold
Blurbs or intro text: Trade Gothic Bold
Body Text: Trade Gothic Medium. Helvetica Neue 57 can be used as an alternative.
Quotes: Trade Gothic Light or Trade Gothic Medium Ital
Typography Exceptions:
Exceptions might include promotion of an event with a specific theme such as an art exhibit, social event with a special theme, or conference. In these cases other fonts can be used for the main title fonts, but the body text should conform to the primary college typography.
Basic body font colors for four color collateral.
Web Typography Preferences
Verdana, Arial, San Serif at 100%
Font are specified in % not pixels
Preferred color choice: Black or dark color type on white background
Bold Headlines
Meredith College Primary Typography
Meredith College Graduate Schools Typography
Return address specifications
The following return address information should be included below the
college wordmark on publications that carry the return address.
- Department names before street address
- 3800 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-5298
- www.meredith.edu (add directory name as needed, ex. /admissions)
- Raleigh, NC if no street address is given
- a contact telephone number or the main telephone number (919) 760-8600
Adjust pt size so that the length of longest line of the address is no longer than the word mark. Position first line of return address .25” below the wordmark, flush left.
Postal indicia
Meredith College has two postal indicias that can be funded and used by departments.
Non-Profit Org. indicia often referred to as the Bulk Mail indicia. The minimum quantity is 200 pieces. Delivery time takes 3-10 business days. The mail must be sorted by zip code. The mail sort is usually outsourced to the printer or separate mail house.
Presorted First Class indicia. The minimum quantity to mail is 500 pieces. Delivery time take 1-3 business days. The mail must be sorted by zip code. The mail sort is usually outsourced to the printer or separate mail house.
Athletics - Avenging Angel logo
Please contact the Director of Visual Communications at (919) 760-8405 for a full athletic logo style guide and for logos.
The primary logo was designed by Winston-Salem based PAVE Creative Group, with guidance from Meredith’s athletics identity committee, which formed in 2006 in preparation for Meredith’s joining the USA South Conference.
In 1980, the angel was endorsed as Meredith’s mascot by the Student Government Association Executive Committee, but there had never been an official angel logo in use for athletics.
After gathering opinions from Meredith constituents the decision was made to keep the Angel in the College’s athletics nickname. Input from Meredith student athletes, alumnae leaders, faculty and staff helped shape the final logo and nickname selection.
It is preferred that the full or one color primary athletic logo be used whenever possible. The full color or one color logo can be reproduced in PMS 201 and black. The wing must always print white and NEVER transparent.
The athletic logo may be used as two separate configurations, the full logo or the wing with the large M.
The logo should never appear in any colors other than those shown.
Athletic typography
Meredith is set in a custom font named Meredith Athletics. Contact the Director of Visual Communications at (919) 760-8405 for the Meredith Athletics font.
Stationery System: Letterhead, business card, envelope
Stationery and Business Cards
The Marketing staff redesigned all College letterhead, business cards, and various other stationery with the new Meredith College wordmark in 1993. It is important that all faculty and staff of the College use this stationery and that it not be changed or manipulated in any way. It is printed by a local printer on a contractual basis, and low prices are available (keep in mind that business cards will be less expensive if several different cards are printed at the same time). Orders may be placed with Campus Copy Services.
Various items of stationery available include:
- letterhead
- business cards
- No. 10 business envelopes (with or without window)
- monarch letterhead and envelopes
- various sizes of catalogue envelopes
- note sheets with envelopes
- carbonless forms
Any other requests can generally be accommodated. Check with Campus Copy Services and Printing at (919) 760-8677 or copycenter@meredith.edu
Additional Available In-stock Items
Contact the marketing Office Manager for in-stock items (919) 760-8455
- Campus maps, black-and-white and color versions in limited quantities.
- Meredith promotional items are available for an additional charge.
Graphics and Photography Styles
General Photography Style
- Focus on subject matter, focus on foreground elements or subjects creating depth and visual interest
- Subject(s) should be actively involved in an activity or discussion
- Student centered photography should look natural and candid, not posed
- In general photographs of campus buildings should include people and activity to show community
Can I create my own departmental graphics and can it incorporate approved College visual identity elements?
Any graphics that are created outside of the marketing department must be approved prior
to release by the Director or Visual Communications.
May I alter the College wordmark for my own projects?
No, you may not distort or change the College wordmark for any purpose. Click here for more information on the wordmark.
Who makes decisions relating to graphic standards?
Any questions relating to the graphics standards in this manual should be addressed to the Director of Visual Communications at (919) 760-8405.
Can I get a logo that represents my department, office or program?
The graphics standards do not support the development of a specific logo to represent a department, office or program. There are guidelines for the development of a sub-brand logo.
Can I use the LUX on my cake?
You may not use the College LUX on anything but the items listed here.
