Unit Signatures

The unit signature system at UC Irvine was designed to establish a consistent framework for all units to effectively highlight their specific areas of focus. Schools, departments, centers, offices, institutes, programs and divisions can choose to brand their marketing and informational materials using either the university’s Primary Logo “UC Irvine” or their respective unit identity.

School and Unit Signature Guidelines

  • Availability: Identity files for each campus unit are available upon request.
  • Consultation: If you have questions about using a university logo, a unit signature or your unit identity, please contact your communications director.
  • Consistency: All unit signatures and visual identity elements must adhere to established conventions.

Choosing the Right Signature

  • Internal vs. External Audiences: Units primarily communicating with campus audiences can use either the UC Irvine Logo, the Official Unit Signature, or their Unit Identity. Units primarily communicating with external audiences should always use an Official Unit Signature.
  • Signature Structure: The official unit signature combines the “UC Irvine” logo with the “Unit’s Identity” (name of the unit, e.g. school of humanities). The signature may appear on one or two lines, depending on the length of the unit name.
  • Unit Identity: Your Unit Identity is your school, department, center, office, institute, program or division.

Signature Components

All UC Irvine unit signatures have two levels, with an optional third level.

  • Top Level: Always contains the UC Irvine wordmark.
  • Second Level: Displays the name of the unit.
  • Third Level: Provides additional space for long-form signatures or organizational context if needed.

Signature Creation

To qualify for a branded signature, at least one of the following criteria must be met:

  • Affiliation: The entity falls under the category of a school, department, institute, program or center.
  • University Initiative: It is a major university initiative directed by the chancellor’s office.

Official Unit Signature

Academic and administrative units should use the following guidelines to combine their unit identity with the UC Irvine logo as their unit signature.

Examples of standard signatures are provided for reference.

Usage

  • Signatures must not be modified in any way. This includes changes to fonts, colors, size, or spatial relationships.
  • All signature elements should adhere to the provided templates to ensure consistency and accuracy.
  • The yellow and white signatures are designed for use on dark backgrounds.

Any official logo/wordmark for UC Irvine must be created by the Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs.

official unit example

Official Department Signatures

While branding individual departments may not always be necessary, we can use specific constructs to present department names in conjunction with our overall identity. This helps to maintain consistency and clarity while highlighting the department’s relationship to the university.

Usage

  • Signatures must not be modified in any way. This includes changes to fonts, colors, size, or spatial relationships.
  • All signature elements should adhere to the provided templates to ensure consistency and accuracy.
  • The yellow and white signatures are designed for use on dark backgrounds.

Any official logo/wordmark for UC Irvine must be created by the Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs.

Department signature examples

For official logo/wordmark for UC Irvine

Request artwork

Official Promotional Signatures - Centered

Promotional items may necessitate variations in unit signatures to accommodate specific design requirements or product limitations. Examples of centered signatures are provided for reference.

Usage

  • Signatures must not be modified in any way. This includes changes to fonts, colors, size, or spatial relationships.
  • All signature elements should adhere to the provided templates to ensure consistency and accuracy.
  • The yellow and white signatures are designed for use on dark backgrounds.

Any official logo/wordmark for UC Irvine must be created by the Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs.

Promotional example

Official Center and Institute Signatures

Our centers and institutes are renowned worldwide, playing a vital role in the UC Irvine narrative. Our branding system ensures that the centers, institutes and the university benefit from a direct and clear association.

Center and Institute units should use the following guidelines to combine their unit identity with the UC Irvine logo as their unit signature. Examples of standard signatures are provided for reference.

Usage

  • Signatures must not be modified in any way. This includes changes to fonts, colors, size, or spatial relationships.
  • All signature elements should adhere to the provided templates to ensure consistency and accuracy.
  • The yellow and white signatures are designed for use on dark backgrounds.

Any official logo/wordmark for UC Irvine must be created by the Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs.

Center and Institute signature examples

Alternate Signature

When the UC Irvine logo needs to be displayed prominently and the accompanying unit identity should be smaller, this specific wordmark should be used. Examples of alternate unit signatures are provided for reference.

 

Alternate signature example

Horizontal

When vertical space is limited, consider using a horizontal wordmark format. This allows for a more efficient presentation while still maintaining the essential brand elements. Examples of alternate horizontal unit signatures are provided for reference. 

Usage

  • Signatures must not be modified in any way. This includes changes to fonts, colors, size, or spatial relationships.
  • All signature elements should adhere to the provided templates to ensure consistency and accuracy.
  • The yellow and white signatures are designed for use on dark backgrounds.

Any official logo/wordmark for UC Irvine must be created by the Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs.

Alternate signature horizontal example

Program Signatures

Academic programs that possess a distinct identity within the university, enjoy a high degree of external recognition or prestige, and are strategically important to the university’s mission and goals are eligible for a branded signature. Programs should use the following guidelines to combine their program name with the UC Irvine logo to use as their program signature. Examples of program signatures are provided for reference.

Usage

  • Signatures must not be modified in any way. This includes changes to fonts, colors, size, or spatial relationships.
  • All signature elements should adhere to the provided templates to ensure consistency and accuracy.
  • The yellow and white signatures are designed for use on dark backgrounds.

Any official logo/wordmark for UC Irvine must be created by the Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs.

Program signature examples

Representing Multiple Campus Units

When featuring multiple campus units on a single piece, such as a sponsor page in an event program, use a single UC Irvine logo and list the unit names separately in text. This text should be placed either below the logo or to the right, separated by a “e” space. Avoid using multiple wordmarks together.

To ensure consistency and readability, please use the Montserrat typeface in semi-bold for all unit names listed in this manner.

Multiple campus units example