Visual identity

An institution's logo, wordmark, and brand creative are the visual manifestation of the institutional position and branding strategy. In a sense, they are just the tip of the brand iceberg, but because they are visible they carry particular weight and importance. A visual identity is the single most important piece of graphic design your institution will ever commission. It should define your institution for a decade or more. Your graphic identity is public face of your institution — making you recognizable, familiar, and desirable. It distills your institution's philosphy, brand and personality into a single, simple statement and serves as the cornerstone of your marketing efforts.

An institution has only one chance to make a first impression with those that matter most – prospective students, community leaders, alumni and potential donors, local and provincial government officials etc. If your visual identity is tired and dated, it will convey the polar opposite of the forward-thinking, contemporary, professional institution you truly are.

Visual identity design is a highly specialized form of graphic design, a combination of art and science, talent and experience. Identity design is far more complex than the average desktop publishing or layout assignment, and the stakes are much higher. For a university or college, identity design involves market research, stakeholder discussion, creative exploration, concept testing, and the development of a thorough graphic standards manual. It is a significant investment, but one that can repay the investment handsomely over time.

Academica Group's creative team, headed by Creative Director David Beyer, has decades of experience in corporate, nonprofit, and particularly higher education visual identity development. We would welcome the opportunity to work with you to enhance your institution's public face.