Correct use of the logo
Institutional logos
The Office of Public Affairs and Communications (PAC) is the sole approved logo resource for the institution. The following versions of the logo are official and approved; no other versions are authorized without the prior consent of PAC.
At least one version of the University logo must appear on all communication materials, promotional items, and University-owned vehicles. The logo is available in full colour, single colour, all-black, and all-white.
Preferred logo
The two-line version of the logo should be the first choice when a University logo is needed. Only when space, background colour, or other issues require substitution should other versions be used.
Faculty, School and Departmental style logos
In addition to placing the University logo on printed and digital materials, campus groups with shield-bearing logos can use their logos in lieu of the institutional logo on materials they produce when it makes sense to do so. See Sponsorship-Style Logos for more in-depth information.
For instances where more than one shield-bearing logo is needed, request a sponsorship style logo.
Use of individual logo elements
The shield and the wordmark are part of the logo and should not be used independently of one another without special permission from PAC. There is opportunity to use the shield as a graphic element provided graphic standards are upheld. Learn about using the shield as a graphic element.
Protective space
To maintain visual clarity and to provide maximum impact, space around the logo must remain free of text and graphic elements. This space is called protective space. The minimum protective space is the width of the letters “Un” in the logo. The protective space is proportional to the logo size. This space is required around all sides of the logo. However, as shown in the diagram below, the top and bottom of the shield are allowed to project slightly into this space.
The same measurement for protective space is used for each variation of the University of Windsor logo. The first two letters of the largest font are used to determine “x”.
Minimum size
Minimum size refers to the smallest size at which the logo may be reproduced to ensure its legibility. To protect the integrity and impact of the University of Windsor’s logo, it must never be reproduced where the shield is smaller than .5” in height.
Use of the shield as a graphic element
The shield can be used as a design element as long as:
- it is tilted at a 10.25º angle so that one of the angled centre lines of the W runs vertically; and
- at least one side of the shield falls off the side of the artwork; and
- a one-colour version is used (blue, white, or black– not the full-colour version) when the opacity is reduced.
The shield can also be used upright and centred as a Social Media Profile Picture. See Social Media for more in-depth social media guidelines.
Please contact PAC for assistance creating screened and tilted shield graphics if needed: PAC@uwindsor.ca.
Acceptable uses of the shield as a graphic element
Unacceptable uses of the shield as a graphic element
Examples of correct use of the logo
The University of Windsor logo lends itself to many applications, from stationery to apparel. When done properly, its use will contribute to campus and community pride and uphold a strong brand identity.
While there is some flexibility provided in logo use, it’s important to maintain its integrity ensuring it remains recognizable locally, nationally and globally.
The images shown are conceptualizations of possible logo use. They may or may not be in production or available to the public.
Use in stationery and publications
The best brand identity systems are executed with consistency and adherence to graphic standards like those described on this site. Please take the time to read and properly implement the graphic standards presented herein. This discipline is fundamental to the success of our identity program. We encourage you to strive for quality and consistency to ensure the University of Windsor brand is experienced with clarity and integrity.
Social Media Profiles
Social media profiles related to the University of Windsor must adhere to brand standards. If you are unsure which background colour to use for your profile, please contact Public Affairs and Communications: PAC@uwindsor.ca.
Profile Picture
The background colour of the profile picture is determined by the department or group. Exceptions are allowed only to show support for select groups. See Celebrations and Acknowledgments for more information. In all other instances, adhere to the following guidelines:
For the main University of Windsor feed, the full-colour, unrotated shield on a blue field is to be used as the profile image:
For recruitment and enrolment, the profile image is the full-colour, unrotated shield on a gold background:
For academic faculties and departments, the profile image is the full-colour, unrotated shield on a white background:
Non-academic departments, services and others are welcome to use the full-colour, unrotated shield on an 80% grey background:
Social Media Posts
Posts should contain high-quality, copyright assets only. Posts that contain images or videos overlaid with text are not AODA compliant. All text should appear in the description or caption and must be applied as an alternative (alt) description for the use of text readers.
Images with text overlay (i.e., graphic) are to be reserved for crisis communications and special attention posts and should be published sparingly to distinguish from day-to-day content. Please see social media policy at uwindsor.ca/pac.
No logos or brand marks should appear as graphics within the posts, other than an occasional shield, used as a graphic element.
Celebrations and Acknowlegments
The people at the University of Windsor are its greatest strength. We offer these suggestions when using our brand to show our support for the campus community and its people.
Marketing Materials for Celebrations and Acknowledgments
For print- and web-based marketing materials, please follow the guidelines within this document to produce your pieces, with the following exceptions:
Flags and Banners
For flags and banners containing only the logo, or the logo and web address, you may use the colours, pattern or flag associated with the group and overlay the logo in black or white - whichever provides the greatest contrast.
Social Media Profile
You may use the colours, pattern or flag, associated with the group and overlay the shield in either black or white- whichever provides the greatest contrast.
Banded Logo
Below your existing logo, you may include a colour band representing the group that extends the width of the logo. The colour band must respect the protected space around the logo and measure no more than half the height of the letter “o” in “of” in the wordmark. Use on a white or contrasting, even-toned colour field.
Celebration- and Acknowledgment-Branded Materials
Approved Graphics
If you have developed graphics to support a group and are not sure whether they meet the specifications outlined in this guide, please have them reviewed by Public Affairs and Communications before disseminating them. If you would like custom graphics made, please make a request by completing this form: uwindsor.ca/pac. Please note, the service is provided for free to the University of Windsor campus community provided adequate lead time is allowed.
Examples of Celebration- and Acknowledgment-Branded Materials
Black Student Support
In these examples, green, yellow, red and black are used in a band, and as a background pattern to show support.
Truth and Reconciliation Day
In these examples, orange is used as a background colour to show support.
2SLGBTQIA+ Pride Month
In these examples, the Pride flag colours and pattern are used as a background and in a band below the logo to show support.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
In these examples, a background of light pink is used to show support for the cause.
Unacceptable Use
To successfully reinforce a consistent brand, it is important that the University of Windsor logo is presented accurately. Under no circumstances should any component of the logo be redrawn, modified or altered in any way. Reproduction of the logo must always be completed using the approved electronic file art provided by Public Affairs and Communications, available by request at PAC@uwindsor.ca.
Examples of unacceptable use
Proper Reversed Version
The W within the logo must always remain white. The reversed UWindsor logo is not the negative of the black logo. The proper file for the reversed logo must be used.
Minimum Size
The logo should never appear at a size where the total height of the shield is less than .5” See Correct Use, Minimum Size.
Screens
The logo should not appear with any screens over it or with any reduced transparency.
Borders
The logo should not appear within frames or borders.
Drop Shadows
The logo should not appear with drop shadows nor inner or outer glow.
Horizontal and Vertical Scale
The horizontal and vertical scale must change equally. Never stretch or condense the logo.
Outlining
Never outline the logo. Contrast issues are to be solved by using other logo variations.
Graphic Box
The logo should never appear in a box or image area designed to hold the logo alone.
Background Noise
To ensure the logo’s clarity when placed over an image, darken or lighten the image as needed to ensure adequate contrast, or use the reversed (white) logo.
Protective Space
The logo must appear with the minimum protective space around it as outlined in "Correct Use" on this site.
Contrast
Do not position the logo on backgrounds with insufficient contrast. Use a logo variation that contrasts well with the background colour.
Institutional Hierarchy
Versions of the logo should never appear without the University of Windsor wordmark.
Repetition of the Shield
When more than one shield-bearing logo is required, request a Sponsorship-Style logo be made for your use.
Printing Low- and Web-Quality (Pixelated) Graphics
Use of the Unrotated Shield Independently of the Wordmark
Guidelines for using the shield as a graphic element can be found here.
Shield as Graphic Element Not Touching Edge; Use of a Discontinued Logo.
The double bordered shield is no longer in use.
Guidelines for using the shield as a graphic element can be found here.
Screened Full-colour Shield as a Graphic Element
Guidelines for using the shield as a graphic element can be found here.
Alternate Versions of the Logo
The UWindsor logo has been adapted to fit a variety of applications, media and users. Please reference this guide to ensure proper use of each.
Institutional Logos
Each logo is available in full colour for print and web, as well as in one-colour, reverse (white), and black.
2-Line Horizontal Logo
Preferred institutional logo. Only when space, background colour, or other issues require substitution should the other versions be used.
Vertical Logo
For use where there is more vertical space than horizontal.
1-Line Horizontal Logo
For use in applications with very limited vertical space, e.g. pen imprint, banners, web banners.
Faculty-Style Logos
The University of Windsor is made up of nine academic divisions, called Faculties, who each have a dean. The Leddy Library also has a dean and is therefore included in this category. The main University logo has been adapted for each faculty. These logos may be used instead of the Institutional logo when it makes sense to do so.
Each Faculty-Style logo is available in full colour for print and web, as well as in one-colour, reverse (white), and black.
Examples of Faculty-Style Logos
2-Line Full-colour Horizontal Faculty-Style Logo
Preferred logo.
Full-colour Vertical Faculty-Style Logo
For use in applications with limited horizontal space.
1-Line Full-colour Horizontal Faculty-Style Logo
For use in applications with very limited vertical space.
Available Faculty-Style Logos
Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Odette School of Business
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Graduate Studies
Faculty of Human Kinetics
Faculty of Nursing
Faculty of Science
Windsor Law
Leddy Library
School-Style Logos
Each school has its own logo, as do the Alumni and Retiree Associations. These logos are to be used instead of the Institutional logo when it makes sense to do so.
Each logo is available in full colour for print and web, as well as in one-colour, reverse (white), and black. All logos are available in a lockup with institutional web address (URL).
Examples of School-Style Logos
1-Line Full-colour Horizontal School-Style Logo
Preferred logo.
2-Line Full-colour Horizontal School-Style Logo
For use in applications with limited horizontal space.
Vertical School-Style Logo
For use in applications with very limited horizontal space.
Available School-Style Logos
School of Computer Science
School of Dramatic Art (SODA)
School of the Environment
School of Social Work
Alumni Association
The Alumni Association, with the active involvement of alumni and friends, fosters pride and the enhancement of the University’s reputation through communication, celebration of success and the development of lifelong relationships with graduates, past, present and future.
The Alumni Association logo includes versions for use in: full colour, single colour, black and white (reversed), 1-line, 2-line, vertical as well as partnership/sponsorship versions. All logos are available in a lockup with institutional URL. More detailed information on Sponsorship-Style logos available here.
Alumni
In addition to the Alumni Association logo, an Alumni logo has been developed specifically for use by graduates and by the Association when producing materials promoting Lancer pride and continued connection to the UWindsor community.
Retirees' Association
The Retirees’ Association acts as a unified voice for retirees, provides a bridge for communication with the University, encourages social contact among retired faculty, and opens doors through which they can continue to contribute to the University of Windsor.
The Retirees’ Association logo includes versions for use in full colour, single colour, black and white (reversed), 1-line, 2-line, vertical and in partnership or sponsorship situations.
Retiree
As with the Alumni logo, a Retiree logo has been developed specifically for use by retirees, and by the Association when producing promotional materials designed for retiree use.
School of Creative Arts (SoCA)
The School of Creative Arts (SoCA) has a unique logo, available by request.
Department-Style Logos
Official campus groups are able to request a Department-Style logo to be used instead of the Institutional logo when it makes sense to do so. Request a Department-Style logo for use on promotional materials where the minimum size of the logo is still too large, would cause print issues or is difficult to read. Each Department-Style logo is available in full colour for print and web, as well as in one-colour, reverse (white), and black.
Examples of Department-Style Logos
Horizontal Full-colour Department-Style Logo
For use in applications with limited vertical space, or very small imprint area.
Vertical Full-colour Department-Style Logo
For use in applications with limited horizontal space.
Sponsorship-Style Logos
When sponsoring an event in partnership with another campus group, request a custom Sponsorship-Style logo be made. This eliminates the repetitive use of the shield. This applies to multiple internal campus sponsors for a single event.
Similar to the Departmental-Style logo, groups are listed after the institutional logo– alphabetically or in order of priority sequence– with a rule between each.
Examples of Sponsorship-Style Logos
Full-colour Sponsorship-Style Logo
For use in applications with multiple University groups’ involvement.
Vertical Full-colour Sponsorship-Style Logo
For use in applications with limited horizontal space.
Vertical Full-colour Sponsorship-Style Logo for 3 or more groups
For use in applications where more than 3 campus groups are to be listed together. Groups are listed in order of importance, relevance, or alphabetically.
Web Address Lockup
Our URL (uwindsor.ca) can be appended to the logo, provided the protective space is respected and it appears in lowercase without “http://www.” or “https://www.”
The URL must:
- be set in DIN Black or approved alternate font;
- match the size of “of” in University of Windsor;
- be no smaller than 7.5 points in size;
- not exceed two words in addition to uwindsor.ca; and
- appear in UWindsor blue below the full colour logo, in black or 80% black below the black version, and in white or 20% grey when the wordmark is white.
If the above criteria cannot be met, the URL must appear separately from the logo. When the logo is used in a lockup with the URL, the protective space extends beyond the URL on all sides.
Examples of Web Address Lockup
In the examples below, the protective space under the logo is illustrated as a grey area The dotted outline delineates the group's protective space; this area must not contain competing graphic elements. These two elements are not part of the logo or lockup and appear for illustrative purposes only.
2-Line Horizontal Full-colour Logo Web Address Lockup
Preferred version. URL is left-aligned with “of Windsor.” Only when space, background colour, or other issues require substitution should another version be used.
Vertical Full-colour Logo Web Address Lockup
For use where there is more vertical space than horizontal. URL is centred under the wordmark.
1-Line Horizontal Full-colour Logo Web Address Lockup
For use in applications with very limited vertical space. URL is left-aligned to the wordmark.
Discontinued Logos
All logos created prior to 2013 are considered obsolete and should not be used to represent the University of Windsor.
On the 10th anniversary of our current logo, it was updated. Please update your files and verify your vendors are working with the latest versions.
2023 Updates
Alignment
All horizontal logos are now left-aligned rather than centred. The wordmark remains centred in the vertical logo.
Reversed Logos
White logos and full-colour logos with white type have been updated. A single, solid white outline now frames the shield.
While it has never been an official logo, it bears mentioning that any logo where the W in the shield appears darker than the the fill of the shield is not to be used. Please ensure you and your vendors are using the correct reversed logo file formats rather than using the inverse of the black version of our logo.
Faculty-Style Logos
The Faculty-Style logo has been updated, showcasing the faculty as primary and the institution as secondary within the mark.
Use in Social Media
When brand standards are upheld, social media can highlight our values, show our personality and strengthen our brand and reputation.