Branding, Marketing, and Licensing and Trademarks Resources
Assembly Hall, morning session
Alternative Story Forms
Color and Design
- Recording
- Presentation (PDF)
Crowdfunding for Success
Data-Driven Marketing
Email Best Practices
Graphics for Social Media
- Recording
- Presentation (PDF)
Marketing your Programs
Set up Your Canva
Using Media to Elevate Faculty Research
Using Virginia Tech News Tags
Volunteer Groups Distinct Identities
- Recording
- Presentation (PDF)
Writing Better Headlines
Brand Center
The Virginia Tech Brand Center is the digital hub for the brand guidelines. brand.vt.edu
Licensing Guidelines
The Virginia Tech Licensing Guidelines act as a resource with the correct standards of use for all vendors and licensees. The licensing guidelines provide instruction for the use of all university trademarks (the athletic VT, the university logo, the Hokies wordmark, HokieBird, etc.). brand.vt.edu/licensing
Other important sites
Key Contacts
For a full list of Communications and Marketing contacts, visit the Contacts page.
- University Style Guide: styleguide@vt.edu l 540-231-9468
- Virginia Tech Magazine: vtmag@vt.edu | classnotes@vt.edu | 540-231-1969
- Social Media: socialmedia-g@vt.edu
- Virginia Tech News: vtnews@vt.edu l 540-231-8508
- Web Communications: webcomm@vt.edu l 540-231-8508
- Licensing and Trademarks: licensing@vt.edu l 540-231-3748
- Marketing and Brand Management: vtbrand@vt.edu l 540-231-9745
TIP: For inquiries about permanent and temporary signage, banner requests, Virginia Tech Magazine ads, and general marketing needs, and questions about internal and external approval to use trademarks, distinct identity approvals, lockup logo requests, licensed vendor information, and online brand center suggestions, contact vtbrand@vt.edu.
The university logo or appropriate primary brand extension logo appears at the top left of the business card. Note that no other logos are to be used in conjunction with the university logo.
Business cards for secondary and tertiary brand extensions should use the university logo or appropriate primary extension logo and use their secondary or tertiary name in the text. Other alterations are not permitted.
Graduate Assistants/Teaching Assistants
With prior approval from the appropriate college, graduate assistants and graduate teaching assistants are permitted to use the university’s standard business card format for research-related, teaching-related, and other academic activities.
Backs of Business Cards
There is some flexibility for the backs of business cards. Approved distinct identities and QR codes leading to college or unit websites may appear on business card backs. Sub-brands may use their unit’s branding on the back of business cards.
TIP: Virginia Tech works with a network of licensed printers to produce branded business materials, such as business cards, letterhead, envelopes, thank you cards, and more. Visit Virginia Tech Procurement's list of licensed printers.
For all university employees: Use Acherus Grotesque (regular) or Gineso condensed (book) with the master brand logo or appropriate primary or secondary brand extension logo. Use tertiary brand extension name in text only. First and last names, professional designations, and titles should be in bold.
University faculty and staff with flexible work arrangements should use only phone numbers in their email signatures where they can be reached during business hours, whether that be to a desk phone that is forwarded to a home or cell phone, to a university-issued cell phone, or to whatever line will reach the employee most efficiently.
For pronoun usage visit the Inclusive Language guide
Example:
JOHN SMITH | Position Title
Virginia Tech | Department
0123 Street Avenue, Suite 0011
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 123-4567 | email@vt.edu
he/him/his
Video: How to insert the Virginia Tech logo lockup in your email signature using Outlook
Presentations should include slides with the university logo, or appropriate lockup logo.
TIP: An accessible PowerPoint presentation template is available for download on the Brand Center. Instructions for how to use the accessible, branded template is in the first few slides.
Primary and secondary brand extensions may use their primary or secondary brand extension lockup logo or the university logo. Tertiary brand extensions must use the university logo or appropriate primary or secondary brand extension lockup logo and use their tertiary brand extension name in the text. Sub-brands must use the university logo and their sub-brand name in the text.
Primary and secondary brand extensions may use their primary or secondary brand extension lockup logo or the university logo. Tertiary brand extensions must use the university logo or appropriate primary or secondary brand extension lockup logo and use their tertiary brand extension name in the text. Sub-brands must use the university logo and their sub-brand name in the text.
Folded Cards
Other cards
NOTE: These resources are available to order from a licensed print vendor. . Unlike letterhead, letterhead envelopes, and business cards, other designs may be created for these assets.
Greeting Cards
Blank or with approved sentiment options, logo, and vt.edu on the back.
Messages:
- With our deepest condolences.
- Wishing you the happiest of birthdays!
- Happy anniversary, with many more to come!
- CONGRATULATIONS!
- Seasons greetings!
Folder and Notepad
NOTE: These resources are available to order from a licensed print vendor. . Unlike letterhead, letterhead envelopes, and business cards, other designs may be created for these assets.
All university brand extensions use these name tags. Sub-brands and individual brands may use designs to align with their brand guidelines.
Space is limited: The fewer the words, the better. We recommend name tags be as simple as possible, with your name (omitting credentials) and department only. This extends the life of the tag and increases the flexibility of when and where you may want to wear your tag.
Character count: Names can be up to 10 characters long per line, and up to 15 characters long per unit/title line. If your department name or title is longer, the vendor will need to print this information in a smaller size to fit, which will make it hard to read. We encourage the use of business cards to feature your title and longer unit/department names.
Employees who are also alumni of the university may elect to include their graduation years on their name tags. Graduation years are abbreviated and are acknowledged on the same line as the name (i.e., Jane Doe ’68). Alumni employees with multiple degrees may elect to list years of each degree earned (i.e., Jane Doe ’68, ’71, ’73).
Specify standard tag or heavy-duty tag: Heavy-duty tags are an available option and recommended where above-average exposure to heat, moisture, and movement may occur.
Nametags may be ordered from a licensed print vendor.
Creative Brief Template
A creative brief is a helpful way to start organizing a project. The creative brief template is available for download on the Brand Center, along with other communications and project management templates. Communications and Marketing lead communicators may customize or develop their own creative brief templates.
How to Request Banners for Campus Display
Learn how Virginia Tech entities can seek permission to place a free-standing, exterior building, or interior banner on the Blacksburg campus. Visit the guide.
Presentations and Training Sessions
- 2023 Hokie Brand Camp sessions (PID log-in required)
- Communicators session (PDF)
- Brand Guide updates session (PDF)
- Brand Education Program, PageUp (PID log-in required)
TIP: Visit the Downloads page for all brand fonts, design elements, and other resources available for download.