Brand & Logo Guidelines for Student Orgs
Guidelines for Student Organizations Marketing, Apparel, and Promotional Items
The University encourages students to be creative in designing logos, posters, apparel, and other marketing items for their organizations. We also encourage organizations to celebrate their connection to Penn State with these designs.
Keep in mind, that many of the Penn State logos and graphics you see around campus are trademarked or registered and have specific guidelines about who can use them and how they can be used. These logos and graphics are an important part of the Penn State brand.
By following the guidelines below, you can avoid unnecessary delays and ensure your designs positively represent your organization and Penn State.
Licensed Vendors
When purchasing merchandise or apparel for your organization such as t-shirts, water bottles, pins, etc. students MUST use a licensed vendor. Only licensed vendors may reproduce University marks, names, and logos. For more information and a list of licensed vendors visit Penn State Licensing.
Registration marks
Many recognizable Penn State names and graphics are registered or trademarked. Any merchandise or promotional products using these names or graphics must include the appropriate [R] or [TM] symbol. Students can refer to the Office of Licensing Programs at Penn State's Graphic Art Sheet for more information on the University's registered or trademarked names and graphics. When students use a licensed vendor, the vendor can assist in ensuring all the correct registration marks and trademarks are included.
Intellectual Property Rights
It is the sole responsibility of recognized student organizations to ensure that they refrain from engaging in activities that may infringe the intellectual property rights of third parties. Notwithstanding that responsibility, the University reserves the right to prohibit, and generally will reject all proposals that it perceives as involving, the use of the University’s name, designs, marks, and indicia on the same articles as or in conjunction with other names, designs, marks, or other indicia that it, in its sole discretion, believes potentially infringe or may be perceived as infringing such third party rights. Please reach out to Penn State Licensing at: licensing@psu.edu with questions.
Hand-Drawn Artwork
Students may create artwork that conveys the spirit of their organization. Do not redraw trademarked university graphics such as the lion shield, the athletic logo, the paw print, or the lion mascot. Check trademarked graphics at the Office of Licensing Programs at Penn State's Graphic Art Sheet.
Student groups may use the images below
Keep in mind, with the exception of the Official Shield Mark none of the Penn State graphics shown below can be used as part of a Student Organization logo. They are meant as decorative artwork for posters, banners, t-shirts, etc.
Recognized student organizations can request a special version of the University's mark to use on their materials by filling out an online form. When using this mark, do not alter it in any way. Find all the usage guidelines in the Student Org Marketing Toolkit.
The Nittany Lion paw print graphic is available for use by Penn State students. The paw print is trademarked by the University, and must not be altered. Merchandise featuring the paw print requires a registration symbol. The paw print may not be used as part of a Student Organization logo. It may be used for accent artwork on posters, banners, etc. Students can download .eps files and usage guidelines from the Student Org Marketing Toolbox.
A variety of different Lion Shrine images and drawings are approved for student organization use. These are the only Lion Shrine images that are approved for use and these images should not be altered or redrawn. Lion Shrine images may not be used as part of a Student Organization logo. It may be used for accent artwork on posters, banners, etc.You can download images from the Student Org Marketing Toolkit.
A variety of Lion Caricatures are available for use by student organizations. These graphics should not be altered and students must follow the guidelines document, which can be found in the folder with the images. Please note: these caricatures cannot be used for merchandise at this time. Download the images and guidelines in the Student Org Marketing Toolkit.
Student groups may NOT use the images below
