Graphic Identity Guidelines

Why Are the Visual Identity Standards Important?

Colleges and universities have distinctive faces and personalities.

Each time Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College communicates with its audiences, we have an opportunity to strengthen public awareness of our unique character and mission. The promise of academic excellence, a commitment to the Catholic traditions and many other distinct attributes of the College come alive in a real and meaningful way for people when they see our logo, seal and of course, the ring.

A strong and consistent visual identity helps shape the way key constituents view Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, now and in the future. Consistency in the ways these icons are presented is important for a thriving institution that is growing in quality and stature. Based in part on visual images, our constituents form impressions that become lasting opinions about the College. Our goal is to send positive impressions and messages to the public that strengthens our reputation and will assist in attracting great faculty, staff, students, donors and friends. 

It helps build the reputation and recognition of our college’s, departments and programs.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College has distinctive graphics to convey our brand messaging. They include:

The College Seal

The “virtus cum scientia” seal is reserved for official College documents. Contact the Office of College Relations for design and layout projects requiring the use of the “vitus cum scientia” seal.

The College's coat of arms is a shield divided vertically in halves. The left field is blue, showing in the center a poplar tree on a hill or terrace in natural colors, with the first letter of the name of Mary; these latter devices are in gold. The right field is gold, and shows three eaglets with open wings in blue and beak and talons in red. The right half of the shield shows the arms of Madame du Roscoat, the foundress of the Sisters of Providence at Ruille-sur-Loire, France. The three eaglets are emblematic of the Holy Trinity, the motto of the du Roscoat family being “Trino Soli sit honor et gloria” (“To the Triune God alone honor and glory”).

The left field is charged with devices symbolic or significant of some fact connected with the history of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. The rayed star, charged with the letter “M” in blue, is an emblem of Mary, Mother of God, the Stella Matutina, under whose protection Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, represented by a tree, places all its hopes for growth and life. The Latin crosses are emblems of Redemption and Catholicity. The crest is the count’s coronet of the du Roscoat family and the College’s motto, “Virtus cum Scientia,” translated as “Virtue with Knowledge United,” is the one chosen by Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Mother Theodore Guerin. 

The College seal is reserved for official and formal documents. The seal’s use is restricted to the president, board of trustees, and groups created or designated by the Office of the President. Please report inappropriate usage of the seal to the Office of College Relations.

The College Logo

The logo is among the strongest visible symbols of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. It is strong enough to identify SMWC in the marketplace by itself.

Usage

  • The logo should be used as the primary graphic element, while the ligature (below) is an accent piece to the logo.
  • The logo cannot be altered. All elements of the logo must be used as a unit.
  • The logo must appear on publications and should never appear smaller than the other logos used.
  • Do not create your own logo using part or all of the official logo. 

The College Ligature (AKA "Ring Top")

The ligature, also referred to as the "ring top," is a typographic representation of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. 

Usage

  • The ligature is an accent graphic and should not take the place of the official logo.

College Publication Colors

The consistent use of color is a subtle tool for communicating the image of a vibrant institution. The color palette is taken from the beauty endless and energy of the day and evening skies accented by the warmth of the golden sun. The colors for publications and web must include the colors below.

Primary Colors 

   

PMS: Dark Blue – 298

CMYK – 100/84/42/50

RGB – 0/33/68

Hex # 002144

PMS: Light Blue – 292
(College Color)

CMYK – 58/17/0/0

RGB – 94/176/229

Hex # 5eb0e5

Promotional Items

Physical items such as give-a-ways that are intended to promote SMWC should also adhere to this color palatte. Please consult the Office of College Relations for discussion of any variations.

Other Identity Standards

Stationery

Letterhead, envelopes, and business cards are the first contact many people have with Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. They are perhaps the primary means of presenting SMWC’s identity clearly and consistently. University letterhead, envelopes, and business cards reflect our standards of graphic consistency.  

All campus departments and offices are required to purchase letterhead second sheets and matching envelopes through the Office of College Relations. Stationary requirements are as follows.

Stationery Stock: Cougar

Weight: 70#

Color: Natural

Ink: PMS 298

Business Cards

Business cards are another element in the consistent application of SMWC’s visual identity. The cards are ordered through the Office of College Relations and are printed in PMS 298 on natural.

Type Families

The approved type families for the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College brand are Trajan Pro, A Garamond Pro or Garamond, and Arial.

When used as a form of text logo, the text: Saint Mary-of-the Woods College should be formatted in Trajon Pro.

Email Signatures

It is recommended that emails include a pre-formatted signature that contains the following information:

Example

Jane Doe
Associate Professor
Department of English

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
1 St Mary of Woods Coll
Saint Mary of the Woods, IN
   47876-1099

p: (812) 535-XXXX
http://www.smwc.edu

Celebrating 40 Years of Distance Education. 1973-2013.