FAQS

When you work with an LMU-approved vendor, you are working with someone who is fully trained in the university’s graphic identity and meets the quality standards of the program. Since you will not have to train the vendors in these areas, you will spend less time and money executing your project.

LMU has also given preferred status to the four print vendors, who have an established relationship with the university and meet the quality standards of the template program. The preferred print vendors have worked closely with the university to match the official identity colors, select high-performing paper stock, and offer printing prices that are highly competitive with the market.

It is not uncommon to find vendors willing to perform cheaper services, but the quality of the product is very likely to suffer as a result. Projects executed with vendors who are not on the LMU-preferred list must still meet minimum quality standards for resolution, color matching and paper stock, requirements that are clearly defined on the template gallery and graphic identity pages.

If you engage the services of a vendor that does not appear on the LMU-preferred list, your project must be approved by the department of Marketing and Communications before it is printed.

No. Unique logos and symbols created by university departments and programs undermine LMU’s efforts to create lasting brand awareness of LMU among its external audiences. The foundation of the template program is the university’s official graphic identity, which ensures our audiences immediately recognize our communications as distinct from other institutions and organizations. The use of logos that fall outside the official graphic identity system is not permitted. To download a university logo click here.

Each of the templates has a fixed location for the university logo. There are many different versions of LMU’s logo that can be acceptably placed in these areas of the layout. You can select the appropriate logo to use on your template from the family of marks that comprise LMU’s graphic identity. A communications strategist in the Marketing and Communications department can assist you in making the best choice of logo that both meets your goals and objectives and is functional in the template layout you have selected.

No. The templates are a function of LMU’s visual identity. Official typefaces and colors are among the most important aspects of the program. They are fixed elements that cannot be modified in any way.

Most of the templates’ image areas can be divided up to accommodate additional photos. Communications strategists and the Marketing and Communications department as well as LMU-preferred design vendors can assist you in making an acceptable adjustment. If you are working with a designer that does not appear on the list of preferred university vendors, your project must be approved by Marketing and Communications before it’s printed.

The template program is growing and evolving every day. While the layouts offered today represent the most commonly produced publications on campus, the Marketing and Communications team is available to assess new template requests on an ongoing basis. Fill out the online project request form and a communications strategist will contact you and consult with you.

No. Please continue to use your existing print materials until your supplies are exhausted. You should develop your publications in template layouts when you run out of stock or require revisions.

The template program was designed to integrate with LMU’s visual identity and offer constituents a design choice when producing publications. The blue template family closely resembles the design direction of the LMU Web site, so if online traffic is crucial to your marketing objectives, it makes sense to use the blue print templates. Similarly, the red template family was devised in direct relation to the primary university logo as well as in correlation with the “Right Place. Right Time. The Campaign for LMU” design direction. If your project objectives lineup with similar initiatives, the red template would be a good choice.

Whichever template you choose, it is best to keep within the same design family for projects that have multiple components. For example, if you select a postcard from the red template, it is best to continue with the red family for additional communications about the same program. When in doubt, communications strategists in the Marketing and Communications department are ready to help you make the best choice of template for your project. You can engage their consultation by filling out the online project request form.

The primary objective of the template program is to standardize LMU’s visual message on external publications and other external communications. While internal communications are not required to follow template standards, they must be in adherence of LMU’s internal communications policies and procedures.

It is strongly recommended that campus constituencies follow the template program for internal communications. There are many benefits to using the templates, including a simplified and more cost-effective production process. Additionally, the LMU brand is strengthened when each member of the community participates fully in correctly executing the visual identity.

LMU is an institution of many wonderful, exciting and unique programs and offerings. Often, we measure our endeavors against those of our colleagues and desire a separate design approach that achieves distinction. It is important to remember that our audiences recognize the “seal of approval” that the university’s visual identity and template program give to the publications that reach them. When we are consistent with our communications, our audiences are more likely to engage with our messages because we have established trust with them. In other words, LMU’s programs and offerings are valuable to our audiences because they are part of the university as a whole, as opposed to attempting to exist as stand-alone entities.

Occasionally, large, university-wide efforts, such as “Right Place. Right Time. The Campaign for LMU,” require a modified design direction that clearly communicates both the university’s visual identity as well as a special distinction. If you believe your project falls into this category, you must engage the strategic consultation of the department of Marketing and Communications. You can begin this process by filling out the online project request form.