August 1, 2007
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the Vanderbilt Graphic Standards home page. Since 2003, the visual identity system explained in this site has helped to create a strong image for Vanderbilt University.
One of the most commonly used elements of our visual identity appears at the top of this Web page. The V symbol, incorporating
the well-known oak leaf and acorn, is the nucleus of the visual
identity for Vanderbilt. When combined with the wordmark "Vanderbilt" or "Vanderbilt University," the logo is formed.
This strong and distinctive identity clearly expresses Vanderbilt today. It has become the primary visual representation of the university,
conveying the values and attributes that distinguish the Vanderbilt brand
as one of excellence and leadership in education, teaching, research and service.
The symbol is part of a comprehensive identity program and was the result
of more than two years of research, consultation, study and review involving
faculty, students, staff, and alumni. It was developed by the renowned firm
of Malcolm Grear Designers, which has designed visual identity programs for
institutions such as Harvard, Emory, Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and the Guggenheim
Museum, for international events including 1996 Centennial Olympic Games and for agencies
and businesses such as the Veterans Administration and Sonesta International
Hotels.
After four years, the Vanderbilt signatures have become fixtures on everything from stationery to cornerstones for new buildings. It is gratifying to see the success of the visual identity program, as it was the first effort that the University had undertaken
to shape its visual identity into a cohesive whole. This
initiative has brought consistency to what had been a confusing accumulation
of symbols, logos and marks developed over the years, often without much direction
or rationale.
You should find everything you need here in this site to enable you to incorporate the correct symbols and logos into your applications. If you need further assistance, please go to the contacts page. We are delighted that you share our enthusiasm for building the Vanderbilt brand, both in your everyday work, and in choosing to appropriately incorporate the university's symbols.
Sincerely,
Michael Schoenfeld