Before You Order a Product, Ask Yourself:
Choose products that are useful, thoughtful and designed to leave a positive lasting impression.
Avoid disposable or generic giveaways. Items that spark conversation or demonstrate care create stronger connections.
Whenever possible, select sustainable items that minimize environmental impact.
Thoughtful spending ensures promotional efforts align with responsible stewardship of university resources.
Ordering Promotional Items
All items that include trademarks must be ordered using an approved licensed vendor. Licensed vendors have access to university logos and most can assist you with creating the layout for your order.
Vendors are required to submit designs for approval through the Trademarks & Licensing Brand Manager 360 portal. Once approval is received, the product may move into production. Please allow a minimum of one week for Trademarks & Licensing to review product proofs.
If logos or trademarks are not used in accordance with brand guidelines, they will be denied and a revised proof will be needed. Following these guidelines will help the approval process and ensure your promotional items are received on time.
FAQs
Promotional Item Design Guidelines
These guidelines help ensure consistent, professional use of university logos, registered trademarks and supporting graphics across all promotional materials created by colleges, schools, departments and units.
Note: Retail merchandise and Athletics products follow separate brand standards
For guidelines related to: Arizona Athletics, club sports, Adaptive Athletics, admissions, or The University of Arizona Foundation please email brand@arizona.edu
Guidelines for student clubs, staff, and faculty organizations can be found on the Clubs & Organizations page.
Logo Use on Promotional Items
Block A Trademark
The Block A is a registered trademark and must be represented correctly in every instance. To ensure consistency and brand integrity, all promotional items must feature approved university marks. If you're unsure whether a logo is approved, contact brand@arizona.edu before placing your order.
The Block A cannot stand alone or be used as a graphic except in cases approved by the Brand Equity Review Board and its leadership. In some cases, Senior Leadership approval will be required.
Enterprise Logo
The enterprise logo represents the University of Arizona and can only be used with permission from University Marketing & Brand Development. To request use of the enterprise logo, email brand@arizona.edu or submit a request through the Digital Asset Library with details about the intended use.
Unit Block A Logos
Use only your approved official unit logos. If your unit has a Block A logo suite, select the logo version based on the imprint area of your item:
- Promo/embroidery (PROEM) versions of your logo have been created for most promotional items, particularly where there is limited space available.
- For embroidered items, use the promo/embroidery logo to ensure the font is large enough to be reproduced with thread (>20 pt).
- Make sure you follow the minimum size requirements for the Block A in small imprint areas (Preferred height: .3648 inch, Absolute: .2667 inch).
- Make sure to leave the appropriate clear space around the logo and other elements of your design.
- If the imprint area is too small for a Block A logo, we recommend using your website URL as a brand element.
- For larger imprint areas, like tote bags or tablecloths, you can use your primary, alternate or promo/embroidery logos.
PROEM Logo
Primary Logo
Alternate Logo
Multiple Unit Branding
Only ONE Block A logo is allowed on a promotional item.
When multiple university units are represented using logos on a single promotional item, there are a couple of approved approaches to ensure clarity and brand integrity. In all cases, the imprint area must be large enough to accommodate the number of units represented without compromising legibility, spacing, or proper logo clear space requirements. For guidance on the best approach for your item, please contact brand@arizona.edu.
If Your Unit Does Not Qualify for a Block A Logo
Not every unit is eligible for a Block A logo; in these cases:
- Use the logo of the next higher level (school, department, center, or program)
- Place your unit name to the right or under the Block A logo with required clear space.
This approach allows greater flexibility with fonts, type treatments, and acronyms – which are not allowed in logos.
Guidelines for Lapel Pins and Challenge Coins
University Lapel Pins
To ensure a consistent and professional representation of the university, a standardized lapel pin template is available for all colleges, schools, departments and units.
Lapel pins may be no smaller or larger than one inch at their largest dimension. Include no more than three lines of text for the rectangle template. The circle template will always have the same point size of text for the unit name and “THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA.”
Challenge Coins
Challenge coins are intended to represent a very specific level of recognition or institutional significance. Coins are often seen as representing the institution at a high level, and their use is limited to scenarios that align with that level of representation.
Do not use coins for:
- General department branding or morale items
- Student recruitment giveaways
- Conference or event swag
- Internal team recognition that could be fulfilled with other items
- Any use where the coin functions primarily as a promotional product
Because challenge coins include official branding, they cannot be developed without the approval of University Marketing & Communications. If you have a proposal for a challenge coin, please email licensing@arizona.edu with the purpose of the coin, the receiving audience and relevant background information.
Special Cases for Reproducing the Block A
The examples used on this page represent both campus orders and retail items. These examples are provided solely to illustrate the Block A reproduction. Retail items have a different set of brand guidelines.
1-Color Printing
When producing the 1-Color Block A, the substrate color must be considered in addition to the Block A color. In every case, the center serif A and the exterior Block A should be the darkest elements.
Correct
Serif A and Block A are Black
Incorrect
Serif A and Block A are White
Vinyl on Glass Products
Whenever possible, use full-color logos. If you are using the 1-color logo in white, please consider that what is visible through the glass may be darker than the vinyl used. For example, if you use all-white as the 1-color, the two “A”s would be transparent (cut out) and the white vinyl would be the white areas of the 1-color logo.
Correct
Incorrect
Reverse Plate (Etching)
Use the reverse plate logo file for etched products. Black areas indicate etched portions, and both “A”s in the logo will be the substrate color or clear, so they will stand out based on the substrate.
Black/gold (Dedication plaques, trophy plates)
Dimensional Impressions
Embossing or debossing is a special case for the Block A as it requires the two “A”s (inner serif A and outer Block A) within the logo lockup to be clearly visible against the background or substrate.
Substrate Guidance
The substrate and its reaction to embossing or debossing are important considerations. For example, when embossing, the two “A”s should not only be raised from the background, but they must also be distinguishable from the substrate. Lighter leathers may raise the “A”s but also make them appear lighter than the substrate.
For debossed items, a special version of the Block A should be used. This version includes a substrate outline and fill to represent the outline around the Block A, which is typically white in a printed version. Due to this specialization, this Block A will be provided by the Trademark & Licensing department to the vendor for use in these cases.
Other Trademarked Logos
Wildcat Face
The Wildcat Face may not be used as a stand alone logo on a promotional item without the approval of University Marketing & Brand Development. You may use the Wildcat Face in conjunction with a logo, event name or unit name
White Border
All versions of the Wildcat Face mark have an embedded white border and background (illustrated here by the dotted line). When using this mark, the white border must remain intact.
Color Variations
The only color combination that can be used for the Wildcat Face mark is Arizona Red, Arizona Blue, white and black. A one-color Wildcat Face mark must always include the outline and fill.
.
Wordmarks
Community Marks (formerly Heritage Marks)
Community marks have their own set of guidelines and are managed by Campus Community Connections. Use requests and designs must be reviewed by that team prior to Trademarks & Licensing submission.
Use of Vintage Marks Is Not Allowed
Vintage marks (vintage Block A, Wilbur & Wilma, and Vintage Cactus) are not meant for institutional use and are limited to retail and select Athletics promotional items only.
University Seal
The University Seal is only for limited use as approved by the Office of the President. Please read the Presidential assets guidelines and if your need qualifies, fill out this request form that is sent to the Office of the President for review.
Supporting Graphics & Promotional Items
Units can use supporting graphics or taglines on promotional items if there’s room within the imprint area. Please review the guidelines below to make sure your item is approved:
- Items must display the official department logo or The University of Arizona ® on the item for brand recognition.
- The official logo or trademark should be separate from the graphic or tagline with the appropriate clear space.
- The unit name should only be in the official logo (we don’t want the design to look like an alternative logo).
- The unique graphic must represent the university in a positive way and may not violate other parameters outlined in the brand guidelines.
- The graphic should be an original design, not a parody or likeness of any trademarked logo/design.
- The tagline should be original and not quotations, song lyrics, parody, or third-party language.
Sticker Examples:
Tote Bag Examples:
T-Shirt Example:
- A custom event graphic can be created to represent an event.
- The event name can be in any font or style.
- Items must include the official unit logo. The unit name should only be in the official logo (we don’t want the design to look like an alternative logo).
- The unique graphic must represent the university in a positive way and may not violate other guidance outlined in the brand guidelines.
- The official logo and custom event design should be kept separate with clear space between them.
- The custom design should be original, not a parody or likeness of any trademarked logo or design.
Umbrella Example:
Umbrella Example:
T-Shirt Example:
Retail merchandise is distinct from university promotional products or department apparel. These officially licensed products are bought by the general public through brick-and-mortar or online stores. Brand standards are different for retail merchandise to appeal to a specific audience. Retail merchandise is selected based on personal style preferences and purchased with personal funds.
The University of Arizona frequently collaborates with businesses, nonprofit organizations, partner institutions and other outside affiliates. Items that include third-party logos as part of a partnership or sponsorship agreement are categorized as Premium Promotional items. On these promotional items you must use your unit logo unless use of the university enterprise logo has been approved by the Office of Strategic Partnerships.
Sponsor logos cannot appear in university primary colors unless the business uses those as their primary colors. However, if printing the item in 1-Color, Arizona Blue is recommended (see tote example below.) Premium Promotional items must be produced by a Licensed vendor and be submitted by the vendor through the Brand Manager 360 portal for final approval. Providing the correct sponsor logos and approval of the layout by the sponsor is the responsibility of the requesting unit. Licensing will only be responsible for approving the layout and the university trademarks.
If you have any questions about sponsorships and branded items, email the Office of Strategic Partnerships.
Tote Example:
Polo Example:
