Visual Identity Guidelines

University Logo

Overview

The Ohio State University logo serves to identify the university in all forms of communications, and it preserves the integrity of its reputation for academic quality, innovation, research, and leadership in higher education.

The logo consists of a solid box with the words "The Ohio State University" reversing out of it. Consistent application of this logo in communications and signage across campus is integral to the success of Ohio State's identity program.

All materials, print or electronic, published by the university must correctly display The Ohio State University logo. The logo must be high resolution and not be overprinted, manipulated, or distorted. Such alterations would damage the logo's visual integrity and effectiveness.

The Ohio State logo should never appear smaller than the other logos used. Normal white-space, color, and size guidelines apply. Preferably, the Ohio State logo should appear to the left of other logos or first in reading order.

The use of the logo is restricted to Ohio State colleges, departments, organizations, and administrative units.

Preferred University Logo Colors

Use of Ohio State's official preferred color red (scarlet), PANTONE 200, is critical when reproducing the university logo.

Black is the preferred alternative when red is not used.

The logo should always be printed in one of four preferred colors: red, black, gray, or white. Exception: If the publication is printed in one or two colors and none of the colors is one of the preferred colors, the logo must be printed in the darkest of the color(s) used.

If the logo is on a dark solid background, the logo should be white with red letters. (See examples)

Color Specifications

The Ohio State University Red (Scarlet)

• PANTONE 200
• CMYK: four-color process formula:
  • 0 cyan
  • 100 magenta
  • 65 yellow
  • 15 black
• Web or interactive: Use web safe hexadecimal: #990000 or RGB values: 153, 0, 0

The Ohio State University Gray

• PANTONE 429
• CMYK: four-color process formula:
  • 6 cyan
  • 0 magenta
  • 0 yellow
  • 34 black
• 35% black
• Web or interactive: Use web safe hexadecimal: #999999 or RGB values: 153, 153, 153

Color Usage

The logo should always maintain maximum visibility over any background color or image. The logo can be screened to 35% black but should never be less than 100% opaque in any other color. The logo may be placed over photographs as long as maximum readability is maintained.

The correct version of the logo is a red (PANTONE 200) box with the words "The Ohio State University" reversed to white. Other versions exist and are indicated below.

Preferred

PANTONE 200

Acceptable

BLACK

PANTONE 429

Logo with Background Color

If the logo is printed with a solid red or non-contrasting color background, the logo will need to be shown as white with red, black, or gray letters, and with no outline. If a solid color background has enough contrast with the solid logo, then it should be used, with no outline.

Unacceptable Color Usage for the Logo

Unacceptable color usage includes:

• Using screen tints of the official university PANTONE 200 or any other color except black
• Mixing the colors in any combination other than the approved usage
• Using color digital files when outputting to a black and white laser printer (This will render the official color of PANTONE 200 red in a screen of black, making the logo look screened.)
• Using colors for the logo other than the preferred color choices of PANTONE 200, black, or PANTONE 429. Exception: If the publication is printed in one or two colors and none of the colors is a preferred one, the logo must be printed in the darkest of the color(s) used.

White Space and Size

Minimum white space around the logo should be 1/4 width of the box or 1/8" minimum.

Minimum logo height for print applications: 1/2".

Minimum logo height for web/interactive: 54 pixels.

NOTE: The Ohio State University Medical Center has been granted an exemption to the "white space" restriction around the university logo. Due to its unique need to be competitive in the health care market, the Medical Center has built a brand that acknowledges its university affiliation as well as a unified commitment to personalized health care. No other academic or administrative unit of the university currently has an equivalent dual challenge, and, therefore, this exemption is intended to be unique to the Medical Center.

Other Logo Reproduction

The logo may be embossed, foil stamped, or printed in metallic inks providing the colors are gold, silver, gray, smoke, black, or red.

The minimum height for an embossing die is 1".