It’s Me, Hi, I’m the Brand Guidelines Site

You may have noticed that the Johns Hopkins University Brand Guidelines website is in its upgrade era. It’s been a long time coming.

This website is designed to empower you with the guidance and resources necessary to create consistent and high-quality communications. Following brand guidelines is essential to upholding our reputation and strengthening our commitment to “One University.”

The foundational guidance on this site is the same, but the looks, accessibility, and user experience are much improved. Take a look around and explore how the guidelines and resources can support you best. Perhaps you’re looking for guidance on the primary logo or unit lock-ups. Maybe you’ll be happy to learn about the icon set and spirit marks available for use. And it’s impossible to miss the real star of the show—the brand-new Download Library.

Let’s talk highlights and recap what’s changed. Are you ready for it?

Visual Identity

Home to the same Johns Hopkins University logos that you know and love! There were no major changes here, but we do want to call out some new clarifying guidance:

• The Shield Mark is permitted to use as a graphic and we’ve added the Shield Tag to your design toolkit.
• Custom logos are not permitted—unit-lock-ups are the preferred solution for branding your department, with new guidance around requesting a lock-up and establishing a unit sub-identity.
• Co-branding guidance is back! Internal co-sponsorships and external co-branding are addressed. Only one Johns Hopkins logo per design, please.
• Our colors have names—some new and some old, but it should help all of us to be on the same page. Plus, many of our secondary colors got a slight update to their RGB and HEX values in the name of accessibility. More on that in a future post.
• A new photography and videography page is posted, featuring our sound identity package, photo library, and more.
• We’ve defined “secondary graphics” to include unit accent marks, event graphics, and unique merchandise graphics.

Applying the Brand

We heard your call for more real-life examples of the guidelines at work. In an effort to show and tell, we built the Applying the Brand section, featuring guidance and inspiration for all of the channels, platforms, and mediums we find ourselves working in!

• The Brand Showcase features the best brand work from across the institution—have you submitted yours yet?
• Taking on a new print project? Start here for tips, templates, and vendors. Plus, order official stationery for your office.
• On the Web page, dive into technical and visual website requirements, as well as content strategy resources.
• Social media best practices, visual guidelines, and graphic design resources are available. Plus, check out our favorite emojis!
• We’ve defined the ordering and licensing process for internal Promotional Items and Merchandise.
• Environmental branding is your guide to wayfinding, placemaking, and temporary signage.
• New guidance is available for Events—we’ve expanded the parameters on what events qualify for a graphic and what an event graphic can look like.
• Formerly in Use of Name, the Clubs and Organizations page outlines naming and logo guidance for student, staff, and faculty-led groups, including club sports teams.

Messaging

A never-before-seen section on our brand guidelines website!

• Voice and tone words were inspired by Daniel Gilman’s inaugural address.
• Previously living on the University Communications website, the Editorial Style Guide now has a home under Messaging.

Resources

Now all in one place!

• Access the Download Library, no login required, and filter by category or search for your desired brand assets.
• Sign up for a brand training session, coming this fall. We’re excited to get everyone together to talk shop!
• Ready-to-use templates in Canva and Microsoft and advanced Marq templates are showcased. Have a suggestion for a new template?
• Since you’re here, I guess you already know about the Brand Blog!

Long story short, we’re so excited to bring you this new and improved Johns Hopkins University brand guidelines website. Consider brand.jhu.edu to be your authoritative source for all things brand. Anything you think we missed? Let us know via our contact form. Plus, sign up for our mailing list to stay in the know about upcoming trainings, new blog posts, and more.

You’re not on your own, kid—we’re here to help.

Ok, ok, I’m done with the Taylor Swift lyrics. What can I say? This Brand Manager is a Swiftie.