Our logo was last updated in 2007, the same year Steve Jobs first introduced the iPhone.1
Back then the change represented a welcome return to recognizing both of the university鈥檚 primary predecessor institutions.
But as Case Western Reserve engaged in more institutional collaborations within and beyond the region, the logo鈥檚 shortcomings became increasingly clear.
While inarguably elegant, its thin letters made the university鈥檚 name easy to miss when among peers with bolder styles. With the horizontal line and 鈥楨ST. 1826鈥� on the bottom, it became even harder to discern.
Sixteen years later, Case Western Reserve can point to a more unified community, much-improved stature and dynamic new leadership. The time is right to transition to a logo that stands out in a crowd鈥攊n the very best way.
1 That world-changing device is now on Version 14.
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鈥凄谤别补谤测.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
鈥淐leveland鈥檚 winters are bleak enough.鈥�
Those are just a few of the comments we heard about Case Western Reserve鈥檚 existing hues during early focus groups and interviews for this update. Having inherited navy, dark gray and black as primary colors, we heartily agreed.
Now in their place are the far-brighter CWRU Blue, plus a handful of azure shades a tad darker and lighter.
We round out the scheme with tertiary tints designed to offer accents that pop鈥斺榲ivid green,鈥� 鈥榯erracotta orange鈥� and the like.
The overall goal? To inspire, excite and convey the kind of energy that best characterizes today鈥檚 campus.
Just as before, our logos are available for download online. To request a file for download, visit or go to our 鈥淟ogos鈥� section and select 鈥淒ownload Logos.鈥�
Today the university has variations of the basic horizontal logo for individual entities that are (or were) part of Case Western Reserve. Add in different versions of files鈥攕tacked vs. horizontal, regular and reversed鈥攁nd the number of files climbs five-fold.
As a result, our top priority has been to finalize and upload all versions of university logos鈥攅.g., horizontal, stacked, centered, etc., and each with blue letters on white and also reversed (i.e., white letters).
In addition, we have uploaded horizontal versions of school logos and those of major administrative units. These are in WebDAM.
With regard to centers and institutes, University Marketing and Communications is collaborating with the Office of the Provost to determine which entities still exist and, if so, which qualify for center (or institute) status. In some instances, the answer to each question will be an obvious 鈥測es鈥濃攖hose will be the first added to the system. We expect horizontal versions of the 鈥榦bvious yes鈥� logos to be available after the July 4 holiday.
Additional updates regarding logo availability will appear in The Daily during the summer.
UMC has provided university- and school-level templates to our Printing Services partners at FedEx. Their staff is in the process of implementing these templates to make them available for ordering by authorized members of the university community. We will update the community in The Daily as soon as these become available.
Absolutely not. In an institution as large and complex as ours, the brand roll-out is a process鈥攏ot a simple flip of a switch. We recognize that some areas will have existing materials featuring the 2007 logo; trashing or shredding them now would be a waste of institutional resources.
You have a few options. First, you may want to consider adopting a digital-first approach, as the university did for the 2023 Commencement; this choice eliminates the need for lead time in printing (and, if applicable, mailing).
Second, you could use the new colors and university/related school logo, and simply cite the name of your department or center as host within the program鈥檚 text.
Third, you can use your unit鈥檚 old logo until your new version is available on WebDAM.
As noted previously, UMC is creating thousands of variations of different units鈥� logos; staff are following a process that prioritizes primary (e.g., horizontal) versions of the logo for the university鈥檚 largest and/or most prominent campus entities. Subsequent phases will follow a similar approach, while also including additions of other versions of logos for those initial larger/more prominent units.
Given the volume and complexity of this process鈥攂oth in terms of numbers of units and logo options鈥擴MC cannot respond to one-off requests. If the logo version you wish to use is not yet available on WebDAM, please follow the guidance provided in the response to question 7.
In the very near future, you will not be able to use the 2007 logos or colors; that said, if the logo for your area is not yet available on WebDAM, you are permitted to use a version of the 2007 logo.
Keep in mind, however, that as new logo versions are added to WebDAM, their predecessors will be removed and will not be approved through the merchandising-approval process.
Yes, these brand guidelines apply to all uses of the university's visual identity across all forms of communication executed by any unit of the university, including websites.
All university templates built within University Marketing and Communications鈥� Drupal content management system now reflect the visual identity updates, including logos, colors and font updates. All updates are in compliance with federal accessibility regulations. Those sites not built within university templates will be updated in coordination with the units responsible for them.
The short answer is 鈥渘ever.鈥� As Case Western Reserve launches new centers, institutes or departments, UMC will create new logos for them.
In terms of the overall transition from our previous visual identity to this new one, timelines are still being determined. It鈥檚 one thing to develop and add all of the versions of logos to WebDAM, but entirely another to update all of the university鈥檚 signage, banners, uniforms and other merchandise.
Campus leaders are working to develop schedules and budgets to determine how and when respective transitions take place.
Additional updates will appear in The Daily.