Brand Extensions

University divisions, colleges, schools, offices and administrative units are highly visible and should always be tied directly to the master brand lockup.

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General Guidelines

Limited Lockup Variations

Within the university visual identity system, such units may only have one lockup (“logo”), which is created and maintained by University Communications. Lockups are the only permissible way to represent these groups with official trademarks. No other graphic, logo or designed permutations of the name that deviate from this construction may be used.

Representing your unit in plain text

The unit may represent itself in plain type and rely on the university master brand mark to show affiliation. If more than one brand extension or sub-brand lockup is represented, please use the university master brand lockup and recognize the units in plain type. If the sub-brand lockups derive from the same unit, the brand extension may be leveraged and sub-brand units should be reflected in plain text.

Elevated Sub-brand Lockups

A sub-brand may choose to remove the brand extension and affiliate with the university by displaying the masterbrand mark and the unit or department in plain type only. With this arrangement, the brand extension unit should be clear and it must be pre-approved by the senior communicator.

Lockups Creation

New lockup creation must be coordinated through the unit's senior communicator, in collaboration with University Communications.

Lockup Production

University Communications is responsible for creating and managing all of UB’s lockups. Always use the provided artwork without modification. Do not add, remove or adjust text, or alter the elements in any way.
 
You can review rules for usage here, and contact University Communications with questions.

Standard Brand Extensions

There are three categories of brand extensions.

Colleges and Schools Examples:

  • Graduate School of Education
  • School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
  • School of Management
  • School of Social Work

Division Examples:

  • Division of Athletics
  • Division of University Advancement
  • Student Life
  • University Communications

Offices and Administrative Unit Examples:

  • Information Technology
  • Office of the Provost
  • University Shared Governance
  • Vice President for Finance and Administration
School of Law Brand Extension Lockup.
Division of Athletics Brand Extension Lockup.
Office of the Provost Brand Extension Lockup.

Centered Brand Extensions

Centered lockups are available for 11 decanal units to use on merchandise with limited imprint areas that create challenges in leveraging the original brand extension. These marks should not be used in print, digital, advertising, social media or email communications, or in any other applications beyond merchandise and apparel. It is also not permissible to use centered marks on formal or official items, such as awards, certificates, plaques, step-and-repeat backdrops, etc.

It is important to understand that these marks are not a unit’s primary brand extension mark and do not replace what currently exists. Previously issued brand extensions should be used in all instances other than what is listed here and as often as possible in order to maintain a cohesive system.

College of Arts and Sciences Centered Brand Extension Lockup.
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Centered Brand Extension Lockup.
Want to use a centered lockup?

The use of centered lockups is determined by your senior communicator. To inquire about using a centered lockup, please contact the senior communicator for your decanal unit.

Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Due to the unit's naming agreement, the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is not permitted to use a centered brand extension. Please discuss alternative design options with your senior communicator.

Lockup Usage Examples

An example of a lecturn with a centered brand extension.
An example of a hat with a centered brand extension.
An example of a shirt with a centered brand extension.
An example of a water bottle with a centered brand extension.

FABRICATED ITEMS

(e.g., podiums, lecterns with limited imprint area)

APPAREL

(e.g., shirts, hats, jackets, scarves)

MERCHANDISE

(e.g., mugs, tumblers, water bottles, bags, embossed binders, air fresheners, card holders, pens)

Minimum Lockup Sizes

 As a reminder, all brand extensions and sub-brand lockups, including this centered lockup variation, must maintain a minimum size in which the width of the interlocking UB is at least 13/16 of an inch for embroidery or 3/8 of an inch for all other merchandise applications. Any application smaller than these sizes renders University at Buffalo type within the lockup illegible. If you are unable to achieve the minimum lockup size on a product, please reconfigure the design or choose an alternative product.

Merchandise Sizing:

Merchandise minimum size for a Centered Brand Extension lockup.

Embroidery Sizing:

Merchandise minimum size for a Centered Brand Extension lockup.

 Refer to the Usage page for additional usage guidance including clear space as well as Trademarks & Licensing’s approval process, vendor lists and more.

Related Resources