The UNG Brand

Brand Identity Guide

Developing recognition for the University of North Georgia is critical for attracting the highest quality of students, maintaining the best faculty and staff, solidifying strong community partnerships, increasing alumni participation and activities, and reaching advancement goals.

For more information or questions, contact communications@ung.edu

Download Mini Brand Guide and other Assets

What is a Brand?

It’s more than a logo, a slogan, a mascot or an ad campaign. A brand is an enduring platform that articulates an organization’s unique identity and point of view. It helps an organization connect with many broad, diverse communities through informed and relevant interactions

A brand is:

  • Promises to Our Audience
  • Our Essence
  • Personality We Convey
  • Message We Deliver
  • Identity We Express

Brand expression: 

  • Logo
  • Colors and Textures 
  • Photography 
  • Branded Materials 
  • Crafted Content

Messaging & Voice

UNG is a valued and respected regional and national brand. Our academic programs are valued, offer an empowering multi-campus construct, the endorsement as a State Leadership Institution, and the honor of being one of six senior military colleges. Our goal is to make a transformative difference in the lives of students.

Vision & Mission

We see a future where the University of North Georgia is the most dynamic, innovative, legacy-making University in America!​ As a regional multi-campus institution and premier senior military college, the University of North Georgia educates and engages students in lifelong learning and responsible leadership through dedicated faculty and specialized programs that forge leaders who may meet our evolving world’s challenges.

 "What Comes Next"

For some, it’s a statement. To others, an intriguing question. Some even consider it a challenge. At UNG, what comes next is discovering what comes next; who you are, what you like, and who you want to become.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. Some of our incoming students don’t. And that’s okay. You need a willingness to explore; to grab that next rung or write that next chapter. Whatever the next big thing is for you, UNG can help you do it.

At UNG, you’ll ignite your passion, and no matter what comes next — you’ll be ready for it.

Target Audiences and Messaging

Students: You may not know what your future holds, but the University of North Georgia can help you start shaping it. A UNG education will change the trajectory of your life both professionally and personally. It will allow you to be someone who makes a positive impact no matter what comes next.

Parents: As a parent, you want the best possible future for your child. At UNG, they will have a chance to learn, grow and do hard things that push them to greater heights than they could have previously imagined. By the time they have graduated, they will be ready for what comes next.

Community partners: You need leaders who are ready for the future. When you hire UNG graduates, you will be getting well-rounded professionals who are unafraid of uncertainty and have the tools to boldly shape what comes next.

Faculty and staff: You are shaping the next generation of leaders for our region, state, and the nation. The mentorship and teaching you provide help propel our students into their calling. With your encouragement, they step into a boldness that allows them to do hard things and succeed, preparing them for what comes next.

Alumni: You know the power of a UNG education. It is much deeper than simply what you receive in a classroom. The lifelong relationships you formed and the mentors from whom you learned helped equip you for the success that you enjoy today. Through your continued connection to UNG and support of our work, you are enabling another generation to be prepared for what comes next.

Social Media

The University of North Georgia (UNG) maintains an official presence on several social media platforms to connect with students, faculty, and the broader community.

All UNG social media content should reflect the university’s professional, welcoming, and collegiate tone. Content should be:

  • Respectful: Focus on academic programs, university services, and community engagement.
  • Engaging: Encourage interaction but maintain professionalism.
  • Aligned with UNG Values: All posts should align with the mission, vision, and values of the university.

Official Platforms

Learn about the Social Media Ambassadors, guidelines on creating and managing social media accounts for your department, sharing your photos, and more about our Social Media.

Seals, Logos, & Marks

Visual Identity

Our visual identity is always developing and evolving with collaborations within and outside the institution. Elements within the brand identity are property of the University System of Georgia and are trademarked and thus should always include the ™. As such, their use is prohibited without explicit permission from the Division of Strategic Communications & Marketing. 

UNG Seal

The University of North Georgia seal has two distinct sides that represent important aspects of the university’s mission and identity. The seal should be reserved only for diplomas and official institutional documents. Due to the restricted use, it is not available for download.

 

UNG Logo

It’s important to have a versatile logo system that can accommodate a range of applications. To account for this, a number of color options have been created. These are the only approved versions of the logo. For more information, review the Brand Identity Guide (PDF) or contact communications@ung.edu.

Note: Whenever possible, default to the full color versions. Pantone, CMYK, and RGB versions exist, so use the one that’s most appropriate for the application.

Usage

It’s important that the logo always be used correctly. The logo should be prominent and legible, using proper spacing and sizing. To ensure consistent use of the logo, here are some practices to avoid.

  • Don’t skew or bend the logo in any way
  • Don’t disassemble/rearrange the logo in any way
  • Don’t retype the logo in any way
  • Don’t distort the logo in any way (resizing tip: hold the shift key when resizing to keep the logo in proportion)
  • Don’t recolor or use colors other than those specified the logo in any way
  • Don’t use drop shadows or other visual effects
  • Don’t use the logo on a background with insufficient contrast
  • Don’t outline the logo
  • Don’t add elements to the logo
  • Caution should be used when combining colors that could be confused with another university or school in our region (e.g.: black logo on yellow background, white signature on red background, blue logo on gold background).

Clear Space

Ensure that other elements don’t compete with the logo by allowing a minimum amount of space around the perimeter, measured with the width of the “U” in “UNG”. This applies to all versions of the logo. 

The institutional mark must be prominent and legible, including “The Military College of Georgia®”
so keep these considerations in mind when using it in layout.

Unit Formal Marks

When representing a University of North Georgia campus, college, division, institute, department, or office, the institutional marks should be visually consistent. The signature is a recognizable symbol of the University and consistent alignment strengthens its influence. To request the logo files for your unit, submit a marketing request form.

Cobranding

When a separate organization partners with the University, both marks may be used. The institutional mark will be placed on the left and appropriate space will be applied between the marks. When two or more University groups partner, the University’s mark is used with partnering groups.

Athletic Marks

Note: University of North Georgia Department of Athletics manages the use of its marks, logos, and graphic elements. For more information, log in to myUNG to view the Brand Identity Guide (PDF) or contact athletics@ung.edu.

Usage

It’s important that the logo always be used correctly. The Athletics logo should be prominent and legible, using proper spacing and sizing. To ensure consistent use of the logo, here are some practices to avoid.

  • Do not combine logos (Athletics/UNG)
  • Do not use Gold unless it is secondary design support to the three-color hawk or a logo that has the gold steeple
  • Do not use a blue NG on a dark background – single color white is preferred, two-color NG (outline in white) is allowed
  • Do not add thicker borders to the NG
  • Do not typeset NORTH GEORGIA or NIGHTHAWK(S) – use wordmarks
  • Do not reference Lady Nighthawks
  • Do not reference sport sex (i.e. women's basketball), just basketball
  • Do not reverse out Nighthawk head

Student Clubs and Organizations

Nigel the Nighthawk™ 

Nigel is the official mascot of the University of North Georgia. Nigel can’t talk, but he surely can express himself. From costumes to fun antics to making signs, you always know what is on Nigel’s mind. Nigel should always present a positive balance of attitude and swag. The Division of Student Engagement and Success manages the use of these Nigel graphics. 

Usage 

All graphics are restricted for departmental, registered student organization, and university affiliate use. Departments Heads/Directors will be responsible for the approval of their usage based on these guidelines. Departments that oversee University Affiliate Groups, RSOs, and FSL will be responsible for the approval of their usage based on these guidelines. Contact wellness.sports@ung.edu for approval to use the Nigel Illustrations.

These graphics are intended to promote school spirit, used for informational/learning purposes, merchandising, Athletic use, LiveWell UNG, social media, and other marketing materials. They are to be used based on these guidelines and should not be altered in any way.

  • Only use the original colors
  • Only use the jersey that is already worn in the graphic
  • Nigel can point to, hold, and be around items that are related to the University-related event or department
  • Do not flip the graphics for them to be used in a preferred direction
  • All merchandise requests must be approved by the University’s purchasing requirements

 

Photography

With UNG, you are always looking toward the future and embracing the next big thing, progressing in your life and your education — and we’ll capture that spirit in our imagery.

Show subjects always in motion so viewers feel the movement in every moment as they explore this next chapter of their lives.

Colors

Colors are an integral part of the University of North Georgia's brand and should be used consistently in all communications materials. Consistent usage of color is required. Guesswork will be eliminated by using these CMYK, RGB, HEX, and Pantone Matching System (PMS) values.

RGB and HEX values are utilized for digital applications, whereas CMYK and PMS are only used for print. 

Primary Colors 

Our primary colors are UNG Royal and UNG Gold. Layouts should lean heavily on these colors, mixing with the other palettes for color schemes that are complementary and balanced.

UNG Blue

PMS 287C
CMYK 100:87:20:10
RGB 0:47:134
HEX #002f87

UNG Gold

PMS 123C
CMYK 0:23:91:0
RGB 255:198:39
HEX #ffc82e

Secondary

These colors may be used in addition to the two primary palette colors. These colors are mainly for promotional or printing purposes for accent, not to replace the two primary UNG colors. 

 

PMS 631C
CMYK 69:10:18:0
RGB 58:176:200
HEX #3ab0c8

 

PMS 631C
CMYK 69:10:18:0
RGB 58:176:200
HEX #007166

 

PMS 482C
CMYK 12:21:26:0
RGB 222:199:182
HEX #dec7b6

 

PMS Bright Red
CMYK 0:90:95:0
RGB 255:58:29
HEX #ff3a1d

Typefaces

Typefaces help unify the look of many different types of materials and give personality to communications pieces while conveying professionalism and expertise in the information being presented.

Primary 

Gotham: A sans-serif typeface that is clean and adaptable with a full range of styles; however, Gotham Book is the preferred style for most purposes.

  • Uses: headlines and lists, where special emphasis may be needed.
  • Google Font Substitute: Figtree

Secondary

Sentinel: This slab serif typeface works well in large and small sizes. 

  • Uses: it may be used for publications and creative communications projects.
  • Google Font Substitute - Lora

Garamond: A sans-serif typeface that is clean and adaptable with a full range of styles; however, Gotham Book is the preferred style for most purposes

  • Uses: headlines and lists, where special emphasis may be needed.
  • Google Font Substitute: EB Garamond