This page contains information about using the University of Konstanz logo.
1. Previous use of logos
Since 1981, the square signet from Otl Aicher has been the official logo of the University of Konstanz. Otl Aicher provided this logo as a gift to the University of Konstanz under the condition that it be used just as he designed it.
Over time, a range of additional logos has been developed for university institutions, projects and sometimes even for study programmes. These logos vary widely with regard to their size, colour, art and design “professionality”, and they were created by many different people (graphic designers, university staff, relatives, etc...). This variety of very different logos makes it difficult to recognize both the university areas they represent and their relationship to the University of Konstanz as a whole. And there are often requests for new logos within the university.
2. Current use of logos
So that individual areas of the university as well as the University of Konstanz as a whole can present themselves using professional communications and branding, the Rectorate has discussed and decided upon guidelines for logo usage.
2.1. Independent logos
The following may use their own logos:
- Collaborative Research Centres (SFB)
- Comparable, large research networks, e.g. research units
- In exceptional cases, and with the approval of the Rectorate: Special programmes
- Existing logos for research institutions enjoy a certain level of protection, for example, for the four university units funded by the German Excellence Initiative and the existing logos for the Collaborative Research Centres (SFB).
2.2. Presentation using the university logo
The following may not use their own logos:
- Units in the university administration (e.g. the Central Student Advisory Service (ZSB), Career Service, the mentoring programme and the health initiative “Gesunde Uni”)
- Projects funded with “Zweitmittel” (additional state funding) and projects in academic support services such as b3
These areas are “central” to the university, are main facilities and parts of the university, and are consequently covered by the university’s logo. Any existing individual logos may not be used any longer. Individual university faculties, departments, professorships and study programmes, too, cannot have and use their own logos.
3. Logo placement in letterheads and office documents
The University of Konstanz logo should always appear at the top right of any format. It has a defined free space reserved specifically for the logo. All other texts and elements can only be placed outside this reserved space.
All templates for letterhead, presentations and posters include a “standard” version as well as versions with space for a second, smaller logo and a second, same-size logo. The “standard” documents only include the University of Konstanz logo.
Templates with space for a second, smaller logo should be used by all university institutions that may use their own logos (see section 2.1). The main (larger) logo is from the University of Konstanz. Please also use this template to include logos from university sponsors in your document. The smaller-size logos always appear at the bottom left of any format. It is possible to position more than one such logo next to each other, starting on the left side and moving towards the right.
Templates with space for a second, same-size logo can be used when logos of external universities or institutions should appear next to the University of Konstanz logo in documents relating to a joint, equally-funded project that uses the University of Konstanz’s corporate design. The same-size logos of partner institutions appear at the top left and with the same height and size as the University of Konstanz’s logo.
4. New logos
A “logo toolbox” for creating new logos (see section 2.1) was developed in the context of the corporate design relaunch as requested by the Rectorate. This toolbox makes it easy and affordable to create new logos when they are required. Logos are designed by the university’s own WWA Graphic Design team. Please contact WWA or Communications and Marketing if you need a new logo. This will ensure that the new logo has a design that is clear and consistent with the university logo so that the respective institution can be recognized as belonging to the university.
4.1. Elements of the logo toolbox
- The logos are based on the University of Konstanz logo
- Colours: black, blue
- Typography: Theinhardt-medium or Theinhardt-light
- Reserved space for logo(s), positioning and size remain the same
- Text block can be one to four lines long
- Icons or illustrations (graphical elements) are located inside a square frame
- Either one or four icons are possible
5. The university logo in small mobile applications
The logo from Otl Aicher was not created for digital media, and the fine lines of the logo would not be visible on smartphones or low-resolution tablets. Thus, a blue square with the standard Theinhardt light font is used instead of the usual logo in small mobile applications.