University Communications

Tools and Templates

The Portland State University Brand is much more than a logo or history. Our brand is what students, parents, faculty, alumni, peers and outside observers think, feel and respond to when they encounter anything and everything Portland State University. By using established brand standards, tools and templates, our look and feel will remain consistent. Maintaining a strong, unified voice ensures that our brand won’t be diluted or misconstrued. Amid the complexities that make up Portland State University, there are very few times that we ask our community to be single-minded. This is one of them.
 

NOTE: 
You must log in with your pdx.edu account to view or download files found on this site.

 

Person sitting on the MAX

Style Guide

The Portland State University Style Guide is intended for those responsible for creating communication materials for PSU, from student information packets to website content and more. Great brands are instantly recognizable, stand for something, and speak a common language, even when they speak to different audiences.

View the Style Guide pdf about this content
Adertisement of confident person outside with the headline "Change isn't a maybe, it's a must."

Messaging Framework

The Brand Messaging Framework gives campus stakeholders a way to build key messages for a variety of target audiences. It leverages findings from quantitative and qualitative research to prioritize messages, unifies the institution’s voice, provides clarity on the priority proof points and rinses the institution’s key messages through the approved strategic positioning.

View the Brand Messaging Framework about this content

Identity Basics

Color and typography are the foundation of Portland State's visual communications. From the variety of greens that represent Portland's natural surroundings to the bold fonts that portray the unrelenting ambitions of our students and faculty. It's important to use each element consistently to build brand equity, and articulate a brand that is driven, assertive, confident, creative and unapologetic.

Typography about Typography Example
Brand Colors about PSU Primary Colors

Logos and Seals

PSU Logo Example

University Logos

The Portland State University logo is the core visual element that represents every aspect of our institution and is the primary logo to be used in all public facing communications.

Secondary PSU Logo Example

Secondary Logos

A set of secondary logos were designed to help campus offices, colleges and departments identify themselves in communications where the department or office identity needs to appear combined directly with the Portland State logo. Use is limited.

Athletics Logo Example

Seals and Sub Brand Logos

Special use logos that represent specific parts of Portland State. Use is restricted.

screenshot of Canva

Canva Templates

Canva is an online graphic design tool that helps users create social media posts, posters, presentations and more. We have created a PSU Canva Pro team and converted all of our tools and templates into Canva to give marketers and communicators within Portland State an additional way to create materials using the PSU brand assets.  

To learn about your department purchasing a license to join the PSU Canva Pro team, please contact ucomm@pdx.edu.