Graphics Standards

The UH stationery system and business card design incorporates the department, program or office information with the respective system or campus signature, and only the official design can be produced at university expense. Individual use of the university name, seal or signature on stationery or business cards is prohibited unless authorized and designed according to the university’s procurement procedures.

Stationery and business cards can be produced in black or two-color (black plus the designated campus or system color). Units are not restricted to campus signature colors, but are encouraged to adopt them as appropriate. For official campus spot colors and Pantone® recommended HTML equivalent, see “UH Signature” above. Arial is the recommended font it works well with the nameplate type in printed communication materials. Their use provides continuity to university publications.

The Curriculum Research and Development Group and Campus Solutions Copy & Print Services are within the UH system, so bids are not necessary.

Curriculum Research and Development Group (CRDG)

   (808) 956-4969 or (800) 799-8111
   crdg@hawaii.edu

UH Mānoa Bookstore Campus Solutions

   (808) 956-9750
   csprint@hawaii.edu

Samples

The seal and signature will be used in the design for all stationery and business cards, in accordance with University of Hawaiʻi Graphics Standards.

Sample letterhead, envelopes, business cards (PDF)
Campus colors and seals (PDF)

Electronic letterhead files

Electronic letterhead files are available at no cost. Electronic letterheads must conform to official university stationery design.

To obtain an electronic letterhead template file, send a requesting memo signed by the respective dean, director or chair. Include a sample of existing letterhead (or correct content information) and the receiving email address to Bachman Annex 2. The file will be emailed about 2 weeks from receipt of memo and information. For questions about electronic letterhead, contact UH Communications, (808) 956-7514 or sldodo@hawaii.edu.

Requests to use alternate signatures or logos must be made in writing and transmitted via the respective chancellor. Any questions about alternate marks can be addressed to UH Office of Communications, ur@hawaii.edu. The request must state the exceptional circumstances that warrant deviation from the university signature system. The following criteria will be considered:

• Does the entity constitute an independent public attraction and/or and commercial operation that has established historical equity in its insignia? This exception does not apply to units whose primary purpose is delivery of credit or non-credit training.
• Is the entity a non–degree-granting, independent research unit that has historical equity in and widespread recognition of its identity mark?
• Is the unit named for a major benefactor whose gift stipulates provisions for an identity program?
• Is the unit a major programmatic entity administered jointly with another institution or agency? This exception does not apply to centers established to pursue specific investigations nor those funded, but not jointly operated by extramural agencies.
• Is the entity a campus NCAA athletic program?

Although excepted from using the official signature, these units must identify themselves as part of the University of Hawaiʻi on all printed and electronic materials. Units not specifically identified here as exceptions must request permission from the associate vice president for external affairs and university relations before establishing a joint or alternate identity mark and must submit the mark for review before using it.

Independent but UH-affiliated organizations develop their own signatures (e.g., UH Foundation, UH Alumni Association, Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi).

Individual unit logos are not allowed. Although the drive to “have our own identity” is pervasive, proliferation of such marks dilutes the university’s integrity and creates confusion on the part of the public.

This doesn’t mean everything has to look alike. Schools, colleges, departments and programs may develop design themes and elements, including use of color and graphic images, to provide continuity to their print and electronic communication. UH Communications, ur@hawaii.edu or (808) 956-8856, can assist units in developing and implementing appropriate design elements in conjunction with the official seal and/or signature.

Use of the following marks is governed by the respective units or agencies and should be used only in relation to, and with the permission of, those entities. (E.g., the athletics mark is not appropriate on materials related to academic programs.) All alternate marks are subject to licensing regulations.

• Quasi-commercial operations: ʻImiloa Astronomy Center | Lyon Arboretum | UH Press | Rain*Bow*Tique | Waikīkī Aquarium
• Independent research organizations: UH Cancer Center | Institute for Astronomy
• Benefactor directed: Shidler College of Business
• Jointly administered programs: Hawaiʻi State Center for Nursing | International Pacific Research Center | Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research
• NCAA athletics programs: UH Hilo Athletics | UH Mānoa Athletics
• Related but independent organizations: Research Corporation of UH | UH Foundation | UH Alumni Association

Good photographs and video enhance the look and improve the communication value of many publications. Fuzzy, gray, out-of-focus photographs do not. For print documents, UH Communications can advise you on the reproducibility of photographs, (808) 956-8856, ur@hawaii.edu.

Every photograph should have a caption with people correctly identified.

If you did not take the photo or video yourself, be sure to have permission from the photographer or videographer. Many professionals require visible credit when their work is published, so make sure you know how they would like to be credited for their work. If you plan to publish such photographs, provide the appropriate credit.

In some situations you may need to have written permission to use a person’s image:

• subject is a minor, in which case, a parent or legal guardian will need to give permission
• photo or video will be used specifically for marketing purposes
• subject has a reasonable expectation of privacy

If you are unsure if you need written permission to use a photo or video, or for an example of a photo/video release form, contact UH Communications (808) 956-8856, ur@hawaii.edu.

Copy, paste and personalize these email signatures into your favorite email program.