Our brand is the way we at Occidental College talk about who we are. It’s how we tell our unique story and it’s what makes us immediately recognizable.
In November 2024, the Office of Marketing & Communications embarked on a brand rearticulation process with a higher ed marketing agency called Simpson Scarborough. The process included audience research to collect feedback and see where we stood. It also included the development of brand messaging and visuals as well as clear frameworks for us to use as we talk about our story, our values, and our aspirations. While our logo did not change, we established a unified brand voice and visual identity that we invite our campus community to use. Read on to find out how.
Brand Voice
Brand voice is the consistent tone and style the College uses in its writing and communications. It helps express our personality and values, ensuring messages feel clear, authentic, and recognizable across all audiences.
Visual Identity
Occidental’s visual identity is the system of colors, typography, logos, and design elements that visually represent our institution. It ensures everything the College creates looks cohesive and immediately recognizable.
Occidental College Logo
The most recognizable symbol of our institution is the College logo. The logo serves as a visual shorthand representing the attributes that make Occidental special. By being consistent in our use of the College logo for all internal and external communications, our collective efforts across all platforms work together to reinforce our identity for all audiences.
Brand Guidelines
The Brand Guidelines and other resources below have been developed to ensure we communicate this identity clearly and consistently, whether we’re engaging with prospective students, current students, faculty, alumni, or donors.
View Brand Guidelines & Resources (myOxy login required)
Logo Usage
While the Brand Guidelines contain specific information on logo usage, below is a quick primer. Logos cannot be downloaded from this site. Contact our office at omc@oxy.edu for help on getting the right logo for your communication needs.
Sometimes the colors or layout you are working with require a different logo format:
Proper logo usage also covers what not to do when it comes to the college logo. Common examples include:
Templates
We also have created a number of easy-to-use templates you can use to create professional-looking materials consistent with the College style guide.
Canva Pro
The Office of Marketing & Communications is pleased to offer a Canva Enterprise subscription to members of our campus community. OMC has a limited number of Enterprise licenses to assign to staff members who rely on Canva’s tools regularly for design tasks within the scope of their positions.