Logo Usage

Core identity

Because “UCSC” is easily transposed (“USCS”) or confused with other institutions (“USC”), and “University of California, Santa Cruz,” is sometimes erroneously truncated, especially in broadcast media, to “University of Santa Cruz,” “UC Santa Cruz” is the only acceptable alternate to “University of California, Santa Cruz,” to identify the campus

There are two version of the UC Santa Cruz logo. The preferred or primary logo, often referred to as the horizontal logo, and the logo that spells out ‘University of California’ and is often referred to as the stacked logo.

 

Logo usage

The logo has two components: the UC insignia and the wordmark. These components have been carefully drawn and proportioned and should never be redrawn, altered, or distorted.

Online use

Due to clarity, page load time and the increasing demand to optimize graphics for mobile devices we allow for using our logotype with out the seal.  Minimum size for online use: 60 pixels tall

Logo colors

The UC Santa Cruz logo can be used in three colors: Santa Cruz blue, white (reversed), and black. The full-color blue variation is preferred and should be used if your application allows for color printing, and a light background. The reverse variation is meant for use against a dark background.

For the entire palette of approved UC Santa Cruz colors, please see the color page.

Logo safe space

To ensure legibility and recognizability, our logo must have a minimum safe space around it.

1. In most cases, the logo should be of equal prominence to any other brands with which it is shown.
2. Allow for adequate space around the logo when used in conjunction with other identifiers.
3. Do not place other identifiers closer than the equivalent of the width of 1/2 the logo

Minimum size for print: 1.5 inches wide

 

Logo misuse

The UC Santa Cruz logo was created as a unified graphic and cannot be altered in any way. Including the using the logo as part of a sentence or phrase and as a watermark. For any questions regarding the correct use of the UC Santa Cruz logo visual identity, please contact the University Relations office of Communications & Marketing.

• Don’t place the logo on clashing colored backgrounds.
• Don’t place the reverse logo on similar tints.
• Don’t place any logo variation on busy backgrounds.
• Don’t place special effects such as drop shadows on the logo
• Don’t skew or distort the logo
• Don’t alternate the color of the logo

UC unofficial seal

The “unofficial” seal of the University of California, shown here, is a replica of the corporate seal, with the words “Seal of” deleted. It is the only version of the seal designated by the UC Regents and the UC Office of the President for use by campuses in their communications (please refer to UC Regents Bylaw 3. Unofficial Seal: Design and Use.

 

Campus mascot

Sammy the Slug

The official mascot for UC Santa Cruz is a banana slug named Sammy.

• When writing about Banana Slugs for external audiences always ensure the word ‘Banana’ is included—it is what makes us distinctive and conjures a image that is very different than a simple slug.
• When writing for a internal audience (students, facutly and staff) it is okay to shorten the reference to Slugs.

Sammy may be used on all applications by registered student organizations and the official Alumni Network. Other official university organizations may use Sammy only on communications and materials that are directed to students or alumni.

Icons & avatars

A good introduction to what is needed for modern identity icons/avatars is in this post from The Iconfactory. Some technical insights:

• They should be square or fit well in a square format.
• They should be vector files, aligned to a pixel grid.
• A simple design is better, since the display size will range from 16px by 16px to 512px by 512px.