RISD Interim Identity Palette
In the near future we hope to address the current lack of consistency in RISD’s visual language (in print and online) by providing guidelines that help anyone designing for RISD to deliver more intentional, consistent and distinctive experiences. We’ll create these guidelines through an identity articulation exercise that seeks input from community members and results in tools to support our community when creating visual representations of RISD. In the meantime, this document offers basic interim identity guidelines to create cohesion across a number of communications vehicles and platforms. Community members who are creating communications about RISD are encouraged to produce work that incorporates these guidelines whenever possible. If you have any questions about this palette, please contact Kerci Marcello Stroud, RISD’s chief marketing & communications officer, at kstroud@risd.edu
Introduction
IDENTITY PALETTE
RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN
Logos & Marks
Primary Mark The primary identifying wordmark is RISD Gotham bold. The file below should be used instead of simply typing R I S D in the proper typeface.
RISD “Din” is being phased out and should no longer be used.
Logos and Marks
IDENTITY PALETTE
RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN
Secondary Mark The seal should be used as a secondary mark at sizes above 0.5” in diameter and below 3” in diameter. Any use of the seal in publication should be similar in size and placement to the tradition of embossers and wax seals. It’s RISD’s signature, and a nod to its traditions.
The seal should never be placed on top of another background color as it creates too much visual noise.
Logos and Marks
IDENTITY PALETTE
RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN
The simplified seal should be used when the visual complexity of the original seal causes it to plug up visually. App icons, profile images, and favicons are often places in which the simplified seal should be used.
The simplified seal should not be the dominant form and should not be used at above 0.5� in diameter.
Logos and Marks
IDENTITY PALETTE
RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN
Typefaces
Gotham for sans abcdefghijklmnop qrstuvwxyz 01234567890 Mercury for serifs abcdefghijklmnop qrstuvwxyz 01234567890
Typefaces
Gotham and Mercury from H&Co are our primary typefaces. They can be mixed based on desired tone. A piece that is meant to be bold and technical can be set in all Gotham. A piece that is meant to be traditional and elegant can be set in all Mercury. It’s preferred that they’re mixed in an elegant manner, such as Gotham for headlines and Mercury for body text, or vice versa. License for print and web from the following links: https://www.typography.com/fonts/gotham/ styles/gothamoffice (you will only need Gotham Office - 4 styles, not Gotham Narrow or Gotham Rounded) https://www.typography.com/fonts/mercury-text/ styles/office/
IDENTITY PALETTE
RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN
ABCDEFGHIJKLMN OPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstu vwxyz 1234567890
Mercury Regular should generally be used for body text, with the Bold being used for emphasis. Depending on the tone of the design, Mercury can be used for headlines and titles.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMN OPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstu vwxyz 1234567890
Typefaces
IDENTITY PALETTE
RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN
ABCDEFGHIJKLM NOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnop qrstuvwxyz 1234567890 123567890 ABCDEFGHIJKLM NOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnop qrstuvwxyz 1234567890 1234567890
Typefaces
Gotham Bold should be used for headlines and section markers. Avoid using Gotham book, light, or black for headlines. This text should be set with the boldness and confidence that Gotham has to offer. Headlines can bet set uppercase or u&lc depending on the content and desired effect.
Gotham Regular can be used for body text when Mercury is not appropriate.
IDENTITY PALETTE
RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN
Color
RISD doesn’t have “school colors” in the traditional sense. However, strong, bold, rich color is a preferred sensibility to a palette that is more serene or ‘dusty.’ At RISD we value the physical experience of “seeing” so using color that has a distinct material quality whenever possible is encouraged, such as fluorescent or vibrant pantone colors that are not easily produced in 4-color process printing.
Color
IDENTITY PALETTE
RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN