Logo Usage

Boston University’s logo is immediately recognizable and should be your starting point when creating marketing materials.

The logo system is the common thread throughout our communications. Consistent, thoughtful usage builds our University’s name and reputation. The correct usage of our logos and logo system is mandatory across all pieces of collateral. The logos should be used exactly as specified, and should not be manipulated or altered.  Never create your own sub-brand logo, we’ll make it for you — request it here.

Third parties — agencies, suppliers, vendors, etc. — may not use our logo in their promotional materials (though they may list our name), to avoid implying endorsement or affiliation. University groups may not include “Boston University” or “BU” as part of their official name because it results in awkward redundancy when paired with the sub-brand.

University Plate

The University plate is the official logo of Boston University and should be paired with the appropriate departmental Sub-brand Logotype. It must be used on any communication to an external audience such as prospective students, peer institutions, and industry leaders.

Placement

Give the logo its space. This is one of the most important things we’d like you to remember. This space is always required on print pieces. This safe zone unit is the height of the mark, on all four sides of the logo. Do not impose on this space. It allows the logo to stand out on the page.

Color

There are three approved versions of the University plate that can be used depending on your medium. Whenever possible, the red version of the plate should be used.

Size

On a standard 8½ x 11″ page, the University plate should not be larger than 1.25 inches.

On an 8½ x 11″ page, the University plate should never be smaller than .75 inches.

Sub-brand Signature

The sub-brand signature is a combination of the BU icon and one or more sub-brand logotypes used to identify individual schools, colleges, or departments. It is intended for only internal use within the BU community. It should not be used for formal external communications and should not appear on the same printed page with the University plate.

The visual elements of the signature are specifically configured, placed, sized, and rendered in a precise relationship to create a unique visual character.

Variations

Signature Top-Tier—print or digital

For use with an internal audience. It requires that you know “BU” is Boston University. That’s why we use it for alumni and internal audiences and more informal settings. It is also used on our websites in special digital setups, because the University plate or sub-brand logotype in the footer of the website fully identifies the University.

Signature—print only

Includes the full name “Boston University” as the print medium allows for more control over text size and placement.

Signature with department—print only

Departments and centers need to have their school or college name included in the sub-brand signature to define where the department fits within the University.

Signature with department—digital only

Departments and centers need to have their school or college name included in the sub-brand signature to define where the department fits within the University.

Placement

Give the logo its space. This is one of the most important things we’d like you to remember. This space is always required on print pieces.

Color

The sub-brand signature has two options. It’s either two colors, BU Red and black, or just black. It should only be reversed out of those two colors.

Download

You must be a staff or faculty member to download logos. Students and third parties can request logos from a faculty or staff sponsor. Common departments are included in the list below, but all departments may request a logo package.

Sub-brand Logotype

The sub-brand logotype is used to identify individual schools, colleges, or other entities. It must be used in combination with the University plate either as a lockup that can be provided by our Brand Team or appearing in proximity on a single page.

Placement

Sub-brand logotypes must always appear as part of the Sub-brand signature (for internal communications) or with the University plate.

Color

A sub-brand logotype is always one color only: black. Always black—never in BU Red (and never in your own choice of color). A sub-brand logotype can only be reversed to white out of red or black.

Naming Conventions

The BU Brand has established conventions for how a school, college, department or a unit within one, gets represented in our logo system. The following are the most commonly asked questions about naming conventions.

Departments

Departments will appear below the school or college, helping the reader understand where the department is located. Our identity standards have eliminated “Department of” in the names of departments. “Department of” is not used in logos but can be used in running text.

Master’s Programs and Groupings of Programs

Due to the unique nature of digital marketing campaigns, there is a need to break our convention for websites and add in program-level branding. With this in mind, we have developed rules for this specific usage.

Office Of

Our identity standards have eliminated “Office of” in the names of departments. “Office of” is not used in logos or running text. The exception is when the office takes its name from an individual’s title (e.g., Office of the Provost, Office of the President, etc.).

Ampersand

Our identity standards specify the use of “&” instead of “and” in the names of schools, colleges, administrative or academic departments, offices, centers, and institutes. The word “and” only appears in logos when referring to two separate departments as a co-brand.

Schools, Colleges, and Other BU Entities Working Together

In some situations, you may need to represent multiple schools, colleges, departments, or BU entities at once to show internal collaboration. In this case, you may combine sub-brands into a sub-brand lockup.

The Brand Team will create the lockups for you. Please don’t create them on your own.

Affiliating With an Entity Outside of BU

And in some cases, BU may need to show collaboration with an external organization.

These instances must be reviewed and approved prior to providing logos to any outside organization.

Any approved affiliations with another entity (co-branding) should utilize the BU plate and follow our brand guidelines for logo usage and position the two logos the correct distance apart—at least the height of the logo.

BU Brand guidelines do not permit use of the University’s logos to endorse an outside company or commercial arrangement so
they may NOT use any BU logos on their marketing materials.

Below are examples of approved co-branding and proper use (printed stationery, top; website, bottom):

A school or college affiliating with another entity (co-branding) should place the University plate along with the entity’s logo in the footer.

Event Sponsorship

When a BU entity is sponsoring an event outside of BU, the University plate should be used to demonstrate sponsorship. The plate must be clearly used in a place that is showing sponsorship, and must have ample space around it as noted in the logo guidelines.

Download

You must be a staff or faculty member to download logos. Students and third parties can request logos from a faculty or staff sponsor. Common departments are included in the list below, but all departments may request a logo package.

University Seal

The Boston University Seal is used for only the most formal occasions, appearing on Commencement-related material (including programs and University diplomas), formal invitations, and ceremonial documents deemed appropriate by the Office of the President.

It is not downloadable and may not be used as a graphic element. To fulfill trademark requirements, the seal appears on the University academics and athletics websites.

Wordmarks

Historically, wordmarks have been allowed by the BU brand and were defined as typography paired with a graphic mark to represent an entity, program, or communications series. Most often these were not allowed to replace the official University logo without explicit written approval from the Office of the President.

As we work to evaluate and reposition the University’s brand, we are no longer allowing the creation of any new marks for any entity within the University. 

Trademark Licensing

The Trademark Licensing office manages and licenses the use of BU’s trademarks on products such as apparel, stationary, and promotional items. They manage a list of licensed vendors to order products through. To order departmental apparel, swag, etc. visit their website to get started.

Athletics Logos

You probably recognize this system of marks, and BU’s mascot, Rhett, that represent BU Athletics—and they exist as a cousin to the overall BU Brand. This helps the BU Brand focus on academics, and keep the Athletics look and feel more vibrant. These may not be used as branding for University entities, and use of any of these marks for any other purposes, including Rhett, or his likeness, must be approved by Athletics.

The following BU Athletics marks and images have been approved for internal use. All requests and design approval for use of Athletics marks should be submitted through the Exemplar Associates website. Exemplar Associates will provide authorized manufacturers with the high-resolution files required for production. For more information, please contact Brian Kelley, Associate Director of Athletics, at bkelley@bu.edu, or Jonathan Sliva, JD, Assistant Director, Trademark Licensing & University Sponsorships, at jsliva@bu.edu.