Branded Merchandise

University Departments and Student Groups

University departments and student groups are required to purchase PSU trademarked merchandise from a licensed vendor.  Merchandise developed for non-resale promotional purposes can be purchased from any licensed vendor.

For licensing and trademarking, PSU works with CLC (Collegiate Licensing Company).  CLC maintains the art sheets (see below) with our official logos.

Merchandise sold for a profit must be ordered from a vendor with a Retail license. When selling PSU trademarked merchandise, you must add a ™ or ® to University names or logos. The licensed vendor you select can add these icons for you if needed.  

PROCESS FOR ORDERING PSU BRANDED PROMOTIONAL ITEM ORDERS 

Portland State University is contracted with the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), part of IMG College Licensing (IMGCL), to manage the use of the PSU logos on branded promotional items.  CLC is the largest licensing group in the country that handles design approvals for nearly 200 universities including Portland State.

Designs for items intended for retail sale must conform to high standards.  If standard PSU logos are used, they cannot be modified.  In addition, when using any standard PSU logos, the “TM” and “R” designations must be applied to the design.  That said, to reflect the changing tastes of customers, fonts can be altered, and ink and fabric color choices are not limited to the PSU color palette.  

When departments or student groups want to create PSU-branded promotional items that are not for retail sale, there is some leeway with the look and feel of what may be approved.  Fonts and logo designs can be different from the standard PSU logo and fonts as long as they meet PSU identity standards, and ink and fabric color choices are not limited to the PSU color palette.   

Process if the branded promotional item design meets PSU identity standards

1. Department or student group finds a manufacturer and gets bids for branded items
2. Promotional item and bid are chosen by department or student group
3. Art file is sent to the manufacturer by department or student group, or the manufacturer uses CLC “Logos on Demand” to retrieve art file.
4. Manufacturer creates a proof of what the item will look like, and sends it to department or student group for their approval
5. After the manufacturer receives the proof approval, they submit the approved proof to the CLC approval queue
6. The item(s) in the queue are reviewed by PSU UCOMM and are approved if the design(s) are compliant with PSU’s brand identity standards
7. Once the item is approved by PSU UCOMM, the manufacturer is notified and may proceed with production

Process if the branded promotional item design does not meet PSU identity standards

1. Department or student group finds a manufacturer and gets bids for branded items
2. Promotional item and bid are chosen by department or student group
3. Art file is sent to the manufacturer by department or student group, or the manufacturer uses CLC “Logos on Demand” to retrieve art file
4. Manufacturer creates a proof of what the item will look like, and sends it to department or student group for their approval
5. After the manufacturer receives the proof approval, they submit the approved proof to the CLC approval queue
6. If the item does not meet the standards, PSU UCOMM disapproves it, UCOMM reaches out to the department or student group to work on a solution to bring the item within identity standards  
7. Once the solution has been implemented, the manufacturer sends another proof for department or student group approval
8. The department or student group approves the updated proof
9. Manufacturer resubmits the item to the CLC approval queue. Once the item is approved by PSU UCOM,. the manufacturer is notified and may proceed with production.

Frequently Used Local CLC Licensed Vendors

American Solutions for Business - Brent Daniels - 503-550-5234  - bdaniels@americanbus.com

Hyder Graphics - Bryce - bryce@hydergraphics.com - 503-644-8191

Marco Ideas Unlimited - Tom Gudekunst - 503-620-0770 x224 - tom@marcopdx.com

If your department or student group is seeking a specialty product and cannot find a licensed vendor, please contact Tracy Weber at 503-725-8555 for assistance.