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Logo / Identity Guide

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Using and Downloading a Logo

Please review these guidelines to help you use the logo correctly. After you have reviewed the standards, proceed to the logo download page by clicking the graphic on the right.

Can I create a logo?
Who can use Grand Valley's logo?
Logo Dos and Don'ts
Marketing Messages
Laker for a Lifetime

Grand Valley's primary logo
Logomark
Logotype
Logo display requirements
Dimensions standards
Official colors
Logo colors
Using the logo in conjunction with other logos
Adding a Web address to the logo
Logos for individual colleges, schools, centers or departments
Athletics logos
University seal
Become licensed to use the Grand Valley logo on non-university items that will be commercially printed or resold

 

Grand Valley's primary logo

Grand Valley’s primary logo or signature consists of the “Circle G” (logomark) and the words “Grand Valley State University” (logotype).

 

Logomark

The “Circle G” logomark may be used alone only when the complete primary logo (logomark and logotype), as referenced above, is used somewhere else on the piece. The logomark must not be altered or used as part of a logo or design.

 

Logotype

The logotype may not be used without the logomark. The logotype may only appear as a part of the complete logo. Never use the Grand Valley State University logo in any form in a line of text. See the typography section for suggested complementary fonts. Replicating the logotype in a different font may not be attempted.

                      

 

Logo display requirements

Grand Valley State University should be clearly and prominently displayed on the front of each communications piece with a primary Grand Valley logo as identified in this guide.

Although the logo can be resized it should not be distorted or altered. The logo should not be placed where a hole-punch or binding may interfere with it. The website address should also be displayed as often as possible.

Example:

 

Official colors

Color is a very important element in recall and recognition of the university brand. That is why it is important to match Grand Valley's colors as closely as possible in print or on the Web.

     OR CMYK:
     100-45-0-26

     OR RGB:
     R 0
     G 101
     B 164

     OR Hexadecimal (Web):
     #0065a4

 

Logo colors

The logo must be one of the following:

1. All black
2. Two-color (logo must have the logomark appear in blue and the logotype appear in black)
3. All blue (PMS 301) or (CMYK 100/45/0/26)
4. White reversed out of a dark color

1	2
3	4

When using colored paper, be sure to make the logo PMS 301 blue, black, or white - the color of the paper cannot serve as a color in the logo.

Follow these instructions to use the appropriate blue color in PowerPoint or Word:

1. Select the toolbox button from your toolbar
2. Click on the formatting palette (the icon on the top left)
3. Highlight whatever you wish to change the color of in the document
4. Select “Font color” or other appropriate color tool from the formatting palette
5. Choose “More colors...” button (with color wheel on the left side)
6. Choose “Color Sliders” icon (red and green horizontal bars on top of each other) from top of Colors toolbox
7. Choose ”CMYK Sliders” from dropdown box (default is “Gray scale slider”)
8. Enter the 100 for Cyan, 45 for Magenta, 0 for Yellow, and 26 for Black.
9. Click OK

 

Dimensions standards

The logo (which consists of the logomark plus logotype) MUST measure at least 1.25 inches wide for the markleft logo or 1 inch wide for the marktop logo (minimum actual sizes shown). Always provide space around the logo, free of typography, graphics, or other distracting elements.

Do not change the proportions of the logo or otherwise distort the logo.

 

Using the logo in conjunction with other logos

When using the Grand Valley logo in conjunction with other logos, please call Institutional Marketing for consultation at (616) 331-2525.

 

Adding a web address to the logo

Unique Grand Valley Web addresses may be added beneath logos that do not already include the www.gvsu.edu address. Do not alter or add extensions to the Web address on logos that already include the university website. When adding a Web address, it should appear in a sans-serif typeface (preferably Gill Sans) and should be 1/2 the height of the letter “Y” in the word “VALLEY”. The Web address should be centered under the logotype.

Example:

 

Logos for individual colleges, schools, centers, or departments

Departments, programs, colleges, or other units may request a personalized logo. Personalized logos consist of the Grand Valley logo with the unit’s name included under the logotype.

Here are examples:

You may request a personalized logo package for your college, school, center, program, or department by contacting Institutional Marketing at (616) 331-2525 or identity@gvsu.edu.

Some units that are named after donors AND serve as resources outside of the university (Ex. Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, Seidman College of Business, or the Fred Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors) have unique logos that have been grandfathered into accepted use. These units must also use the Grand Valley logo in any communications that include their unique logo. The grandfathered units include:

These units must use the GVSU logo in addition to their unit logo.

 

Athletics logos

The usage of all athletics logos is regulated by the Athletics Department. For internal use of athletics logos call Athletics Marketing at (616) 331-8800. For licensed use of athletic logos, visit the Licensing Resource Group's website. PLEASE NOTE: Athletic marks MAY NOT be used for academic unit publications or websites.

 

University seal

Use of the university seal is by permission of the Office of the President only.
Please call (616) 331-2100.

 

Non-university items that will be commercially printed or resold

If you are applying any logos or wordmarks registered for trademark by Grand Valley State University (i.e., anything on this logo download page) to items that will be commercially printed or resold, your vendor must become licensed through Licensing Resource Group. These vendors have already been licensed.