The NKU brand is everything we do, everything we say - how we use our logo, our type styles, and other visual cues to express our message and personality. The NKU brand becomes stronger when people know what we stand for and how we fit into their lives.
These guidelines were created to help you get the word out and maintain a consistent NKU identity.
Question or need help?
Contact the office of Marketing & Communications at (859) 572-6948 or marcomm@nku.edu
Our communication pillars define our brand experience by capturing what we offer uniquely to connect with our aspirational student’s values, driving trust and loyalty. These emotional and rational benefits are a benchmark for marketing communications – at least one or more of these communication pillars should be present in our work and how we go to market.
This language can be lifted for marketing material. Consider the context of the marketing channel and where the student is on their journey to adapt the copy accordingly. Additional copy will be needed dependent on the application and should be added to over time.
At NKU, we place innovative academic excellence at the center of education’s future—fueled by real ambition and action. We thrive on change because we think differently and innovate ambitiously across every aspect of university life.
We push the boundary of life-changing education, in the classroom and beyond, to expand learning, opportunity and access for everyone making our industry-leading programs, curriculum and experiences both future-proof and affordable.
Reasons to Believe:
Success by Design framework, Coursera, Hybrid U, financial aid & scholarships, accelerated skill-focused programs, etc.
We are a real community with real experiences, where everybody belongs. Here at NKU, every individual is free to be themselves, to be ambitious, to be different because the intersection of diverse perspectives is where real progress and impact lies.
An intimate, thriving campus that celebrates our shared and differing ambitions. Explore our breadth of collaborative experiences, diverse organizations, support services, dynamic activities and spirited events.
Reasons to Believe:
200+ student organizations,on-campus activities, athletic programs, recreation center, etc.
As a regional comprehensive university, we are the center of positive change connecting our learning community with our region and our world. Because we believe how we come together is how we make real, transformative impact. To advance our future together we cultivate mutually beneficial networks and experiences that are people powered, future forward and equity focused.
NKU is nestled in a growing, close-knit town [Northern Kentucky] neighboring a culturally vibrant urban city [Cincinnati, Oh]. Here, you can discover a welcoming, inclusive home in a thriving region with global opportunities.
Reasons to Believe:
Campus location, ENTERprise NKU, regional partnerships, Moonshot for Equity, etc.
NKU believes that higher education should encompass human-centered development in order to unleash the student’s full potential and establish the foundation for a higher-quality and fulfilling life.
Here we focus on learning, your way. We will guide you on your empowered journey of purposeful self-discovery and equip you with the knowledge, tools, and resources to enable self-sufficiency and autonomy wherever you are. Your success, our purpose.
Reasons to Believe:
Student & alumni success stories, Success by Design framework, Fuel NKU, Student Center, etc.
Real one-on-one student-faculty relationships are found at NKU. Faculty and staff actively engage in the student’s holistic well-being fostering meaningful, long-lasting connections.
Once a Norse, always a Norse. Connect with NKU alumni taking real action, all over the world.
Reasons to Believe:
Advisors Initiative & First Year Success Hub, global alumni network, student-faculty ratio, etc.
This is our face to the outside world - how we use our logo, our type styles, and other visual cues to express our message and personality.
The NKU logos with "Northern Kentucky University" must be used on all applications that are intended for an external audience. For internal documents, please use the NKU logo. For any futher questions regarding logo use requirements, please contact Marketing & Communications.
For the full set of university logo lockups with colleges/departments, please contact Marketing & Communications for guidance. Use of the NKU athletics logos and Victor E. Viking (mascot) is restricted due to trademark and licensing. Please contact the Athletics department directly for usage rights and files.
The main colors are gold, white and black. These three main colors become iconic to NKU.
Business cards and office-use quantities of letterhead, envelopes, notecards and namebadges can be ordered by contacting our contracted print provider.
Request Stationery with AFOX Solutions, LLC
AFOX Solutions, LLC // Lori A Edgington, CEO
l.edgington@afoxsolutions.com // (859) 638-8881
Clip art, quotes, and logos should not be used in email signatures due to consistency, professionalism, and various browsers that could manipulate/disrupt the layout upon receipt.
Jane Doe, ABC, 123
Job Title Goes Here
"Department of"or “Office of" Here
Northern Kentucky University
Mailing Address Here
O: (859) XXX-XXXX
C: (XXX) XXX-XXXX (optional)
Email address here
The official NKU PowerPoint template offers a variety of slide layout options and provides instructions for using your own images as needed.
