University updates its brand standards
Come September, Concordia will be sporting a slightly modified logo on some of its materials. As part of a five-year scheduled review of the way the logo and signature are displayed across platforms, a few subtle changes will be incorporated into the design.
University facilities will continue to feature the word “Concordia” alongside the university shield. This same look will now be used as an email signature for those who wish to include it on their electronic communications. The “Montreal” designation will be added to the Concordia logo on national and international marketing, recruitment and advertising materials, and on the university’s website.
Sami Antaki, executive director of University Communications Services, explains that the “Montreal” designation is important in situating Concordia geographically, and as an institution distinct from others that share the same name. “Our recruiters in the States and western Canada regularly faced questions about where we were from,” he says. “This is due to the fact that there are several Concordia Colleges out there.”
Faculty logos will no longer include the sun and book visual signature, but will now simply consist of the university logo with the name of the faculty either below or beside it. Department and unit designations will follow where appropriate.
These changes will be reflected in business-card and letterhead designs. The rollout will, however, be gradual: departments and individuals will only receive the tweaked look once current stock has been depleted.
“All the design work we’ve done has been carried out in-house as part of our five-year refresh schedule,” says Antaki. “Our designers have done a great job as always in maintaining the integrity of the logo and providing the necessary adjustments.”
A renewed brand standards manual will be available on Cspace and through the various communications advisors from September onwards, along with a number of templates for PowerPoint presentations, reports in Word and other stationery needs.
Over the past three years, the university has been testing “Small Planet / Big Thinking,” and its call to action “Be Part of the Thinking” on some of its materials. The response to this has been very strong; as such, the university will begin using it more prominently on all major institutional materials developed by University Communication Services. It will, of course, also be available for use by faculties and departments.
“We want to tell prospective students that we’re a university that’s engaged in exploring big issues and questions facing society,” Antaki says. “We’re inviting them to come here and be part of the thinking around these issues.”
The final change involves Concordia’s social media avatar, which appears on platforms including Twitter and Facebook. The current logo of an open book on a light-blue background will be replaced by a bold white “C” on a burgundy background.