Logo Usage and Brand Policy

Note: This Policy is to be used and consulted in conjunction with the official Oblate School of Theology Brand Style Guide

Purpose

These guidelines are created to ensure the integrity of the Oblate School of Theology (OST) logos and is directed at all OST members, faculty, staff, volunteers as well as any other organization or individual who may use OST brand and or logo in a pre-approved manner.

Meaning of the OST Logo

The OST logo represents our tagline: “educates for the mission.” The overall design blends modern clarity with symbolism evocative of the Eucharist; the source and summit of our faith. This reality is central to the logo and the OST brand. Within the icon the façade of the Benson Theological Center, the main building on the campus, can be seen. The negative space flame represents wisdom. This pairs with the meaning of theology: faith seeking wisdom and understanding.

Elements of The OST Logo

1. The OST Symbol - The brandmark of the school.

2. The wordmark – Our name and connection to Oblate School of Theology.

3. The logo - Together, the symbol and wordmark create our logo.

Logo Versions

Each authorized OST logo is available in several formats, or signatures, to best compliment different formats and design attributes. Any and all OST logos that do not appear in the current approved Brand Style Guide will not be used.

Learn which signature to use:

Digital Icons

The single flame digital icons are designed specifically for use as a thumbnail for pre-approved usage. Digital icons are not included as part of standard logo packages. Contact marketing@ost.edu for more information about digital icons.

Logo Size, Spacing Requirements, and Approved Colors

For all information regarding this topic, please see our OST Brand Style Guide.

Logo Placement

When placing the logo on top of a photograph, make sure that the logo is clearly visible and does not get overpowered by the background image. In some cases, using a different color variation of the logo or choosing a different photo may be necessary.

Hold the "shift" key down when scaling logos to maintain the proper proportions of the logo file.

Incorrect Logo Usage

In order to maintain consistency throughout our identity, it is essential that the brandmark is never altered in any way. Altering, distorting or illustrating the brandmark in any way weakens the power of the OST brand and what it represents.

• Do not use any form of the old logos, including individual departmental or program logos following previous logo conventions

• Do not personalize or make the logo specific to a department

• Do not change the orientation of the logo

• Do not change the colors of the logo

• Do not stretch or squeeze the logo

• Do not outline the logo

• Do not alter the lettering in the logo

• Do not add drop shadows to the logo

• Do not add graphics to the logo

Department, Institute or Program Identifiers

OST Marketing understands that many departments, programs, and institutes wish to establish an identity for their respective programs and research initiatives. The only authorized logos for entities that are part of OST are included in OST Brand Style Guide.

Unique visual marks and self-created logos that are not included in the OST Brand Style Guide are not allowed for use by OST entities, in order to strengthen our visual brand by maintaining a limited set of well-established logos.

There are a number of creative ways headlines and text elements can be used to identify a specific program or department in a unique, descriptive way, while using the OST logos in an approved way.

A headline treatment should not be used instead of an approved OST logo. Rather, use the program or department’s headline in addition to the approved logo.

Graphic elements become problematic when they are consistently combined with specific typography and text, especially an institute, program or department’s name or acronym. When graphic elements incorporate type, and are used routinely, they essentially act like a logo would act.

The use of graphic elements that include a program, department, or institute name or identifier is not allowed.

The OST Marketing Department is available to help create materials that represent individual programs, departments, and institutes in a meaningful and professional way. Please contact marketing@ost.edu with request and questions regarding logo usage.

Mandatory Usage

All publications and materials created by the school should include the OST logo, including but not limited to:

• Letter headings

• Presentations

• Business cards

• Certificates and awards

• Websites

• Policy documents, guidelines and toolkits

• Official digital assets

• Press releases and articles

• Promotional materials (e.g. banners, trifolds, flyers)

• Merchandise (e.g. clothing, mugs, bags)

Internal Use

The logo may be used internally for Members, Staff, Faculty, Committees, Projects, Guidelines or other relevant purposes. Any use of a OST logo will be subject to the OST Logo Policy and Brand Style Guide.

External Use

The logo may be used externally for Sponsor Acknowledgement, Endorsements, Events and other relevant purposes.

• Request - Any sponsor, partner, other organization and individual may request to display the OST logo on publications, materials, and social media platforms. Requests for the display/usage of any approved OST logo related to sponsorship, hosting, and or partnerships are at the discretion of the Marketing Department in consultation with the Vice President of Institutional Advancement.

• Submission - All requests must be sent in to the OST Marketing Department (marketing@ost.edu) via email and should receive a preliminary decision within 7 days.

  • All requests must include: information on the publication (e.g. purpose, audience, term), intended use (e.g. sponsorship relationship, endorsement), proposed graphic design/format

• Preliminary Approval - Any request may be preliminary approved or denied at the discretion of the OST Marketing Department.

  • If the request is related to any project or committee, the Marketing Department will request recommendations from the project managers, staff, faculty and or committee.

• Final Approval – If the preliminary decision is positive, the Marketing Department can request a final design of the publication or material for final approval prior to production or publication

Endorsements

Neither the name of OST nor any OST trademark, including OST colors, may be used in any way that states or implies endorsement of a commercial product or service, gives a false impression, is misleading, or could cause confusion regarding the school’s relationship with any person or entity without the express written consent of the OST Executive Council. Statements that OST is a user or purchaser of a product or program are permitted if true and no not result in defamation of the school in any way. Use of OST trademarks are not allowed in third-party communications including vendor websites or other communications aimed at marketing their products or services. All endorsements are subject to approval by the Executive Council.

Sponsor Logo Display by OST

Any approved sponsor logo may be displayed on OST materials or publications but should be smaller in size than the OST logo.

• Footer – in case a footer is used, the notation on the footer should be flexible but cannot indicate exclusive sponsorship

• Tagline – in case a footer is used, the following tagline should be added in the footer; “OST thanks the generous sponsorship of <sponsor names><+/- logos> for their support of the <project name>

Restrictions

OST has the right to withdraw any permission given at any point if the logo usage is deemed to violate the principles of or exploit the school.

• Logo usage can only be permitted for content and/or materials that are related to OST

• No logo can be published on product advertisements or on the same page in which products are displayed.

• Permission of the use of the logo can only be applied specifically to the final design (as described in Final Approval) that has received final approval.

• The OST Marketing Department in consultation with the Executive Council reserves the right and power to approve the use of commercial logos in any OST publications, or the use of the OST logo by commercial sources.