Wilson College Brand

Wilson College of Textiles

For internal and external communications (email, calendar invitations, Google Chat, Slack, presentations, posters, letters, flyers, etc.) please refer to the college as:

Wilson College of Textiles or Wilson College (the only approved abbreviation for the college)

NEVER use the following to refer to the Wilson College of Textiles:

WCOT or WCoT
Wilson COT or Wilson CoT
Wilcot in any spelling form
College of Textiles (without Wilson in front of it)
COT or CoT

NC State vs. NCSU

Do not use NCSU to refer to NC State University in any way, regardless of whether the communication in question is internal or external.

This rule stems from market research the university conducted in the 2000s to gauge public name recognition of “NCSU” vs. “NC State.” This research discovered that “NC State” was recognized across the United States, but “NCSU” was not well known or well understood outside the South. To position NC State as a nationally prominent university, strengthen our name recognition and make our brand more cohesive, we eliminated “NCSU” from our communications.

To help members of our community get in the habit of using on-brand terminology, we prefer that people refrain from using NCSU even in internal communications with a more private audience, such as emails within the university or on platforms like Slack.

Color

Color is one of the most recognizable elements of NC State’s brand. The hues that were developed were drawn from NC State’s history and from the people, places and things on campus. The university has created a large palette that resonates visually and reflects exactly who NC State is. The color palette details are below. For more information on how to use them, particularly the secondary palette, visit.

Core Palette

NC State’s core palette consists of three colors: Wolfpack Red, Wolfpack White and Wolfpack Black. These colors should feature more prominently than any others in NC State communications. In all communications using color, Wolfpack Red should dominate. We are, always, the Red and White of NC State.

Wolfpack Red

Wolfpack Red is not one of the standard colors in Microsoft products – you have to input the RGB code under: More Colors > Custom > 204, 0, 0
Wolfpack Red is available in the Google Suite palette. Note that it is NOT the bright red featured in the second row. It is the red found in bright red column, third from the bottom:

Expanded Palette

The expanded palette features seven colors that complement each other and, more importantly, complement Wolfpack Red, Black and White.

As Wolfpack Red should always dominate, brand recommends that you use two colors from the expanded palette.

Tints and Shades

Available to create single-color design and illustration with a range of values.
The “A” on top of each color denotes text color to use on top of each color.
Tints and shades can be downloaded here.

Fonts

The quick rule for fonts is to use Arial. If you are using university letterhead, PPT or posters you must use Arial.

If you working on the design side of things – posters, brochures, printed materials – please refer to this page to learn more about the university’s primary typeface (Univers) and secondary typeface (Glypha).

Imagery

Brand imagery guidelines state that images should be “big, bold and impactful”, there should not be visual clutter and when possible, a singular image should be used. They also emphasize imagery that shows people DOING and pays close attention to perspective, lighting and movement.

What does this mean?

Go BIG! Photos should be prominent in presentations, printed materials, monitor slides, etc.
Limit collages. Brand rule: Make your image’s purpose clear: Use a single image (rather than an image collection) and focus on a specific subject (avoid group portraits). Don’t use photo compilations, montages and collages. On occasion there will be a need to use more than one photo. In these cases, limit to as few as possible (two if you can) and organize so that photos are the same size and in a grid pattern.
No overlapping, shadowing, boxing, tilting.
Full imagery guidelines can be found here.
Only use new photography!
- Photos are available through NC State’s Photoshelter site. If “Date Taken” is more than three years old, please ask group-tex-marcomm@ncsu.edu if the photo should be used.
- If you need a photo from a Wilson College of Textiles event, email group-tex-marcomm@ncsu.edu.
- If you aren’t sure where a photo came from (and how old it is), please contact group-tex-marcomm@ncsu.edu.

Formatting

Full guidelines can be found in NC State’s Editorial Guidelines.
Do not use “&” – instead spell out “and” (unless it’s official: R&D, H&M, etc.).

Only use 1 space between sentences.

Do not use the Oxford comma unless the sentence is complicated and it’s required. The Oxford comma is the comma before “and” in a series.
- Example of Oxford comma: a, b, and c
- Example of no Oxford comma: a, b and c

Dates
- Do not use st, nd, rd, etc. to follow a number. Example: use May 1, not May 1st.
- If you are using a month, day and year, abbreviate the month if applicable. Examples: Feb. 1, 2022; July 1, 2022
  - Do not abbreviate March, April, May, June or July
- If you are using the month alone or just the month and year, do not abbreviate the month. Examples: February 2022, October

Time
- a.m. / p.m. Lowercase with periods: a.m. and p.m.
- Do not use :00 for even hours. Example: 11 a.m.
- Use noon for 12 p.m. and midnight for 12 a.m.
- Write spans of time as follows: 9-11 a.m., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Agendas: try to only using beginning time, can use entire time for alignment (9:00 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 10:00 a.m., etc.)
Capitalization
- Per NC State brand: In general, avoid unnecessary use of capital letters. Words are not capitalized just because somebody considers them important. Capitalize words in these categories: proper nouns, personal titles immediately preceding a person’s name, personal titles following a name in a formal or ceremonial list.
- Paragraph/story format:
  - Correct: Dean David Hinks
  - Correct: David Hinks, dean of the Wilson College of Textiles
  - Correct: The dean of the Wilson College of Textiles
  - Incorrect: David Hinks, Dean of the Wilson College of Textiles
  - Incorrect: The Dean of the Wilson College of Textiles
- Formal/ceremonial list (often seen in agendas):
  - Correct: David Hinks, Dean, Wilson College of Textiles
“Flat” Brand
- Per NC State brand: NC State is a modern place of hard edges and practical thinking. Our design philosophy follows that focus on what’s real, tangible and impactful. We take a more modern, flat approach that emphasizes hard angles over soft curves.
- “Floating” semi-transparent boxes cannot be used over a photo. Here are alternate options:
  - The box over the photo can be opaque.
  - You can put a semi-transparent box over the entire slide.
- Do not use drop shadows for photos, boxes, text, etc.
- If placing text directly on top of a photo – that text should be legible (easy to distinguish from the photo). The photo should not be altered (such as selective darkening or lightening) to make the text more accessible.
- Do not use circles if hard angles can be used. Contact group-tex-marcomm@ncsu.edu regarding this as needed.

Icons

Icons can be used to add visual interest and illustrate important facts and figures within your web and print content.
Icons can be changed to any color in NC State’s color palette. Either place a white icon on a field of color, or convert an icon’s color for use on a white background. Only use one color per icon. Icons should not be altered or combined.
Below is a screenshot of a selection of icons. The entire suite of icons can be downloaded here.

Logos

Below is a screenshot of the logos approved for use based on audience. They can be downloaded from the Wilson College of Textiles Intranet. Anyone that cannot access the intranet that needs a logo should email group-tex-marcomm@ncsu.edu.

Alternate Logos

If you need access to one of the logos not pictured above due to space or color restraints, please email group-tex-marcomm@ncsu.edu for access and permission to the alternate logos.

Diamond Logo

The diamond logo should never be used. This applies to internal and external materials including posters, flyers, presentations, etc.

Names and Abbreviations

While writing the name of a department or degree program may seem easy, you may be surprised at how often the commas or “ands” are in the wrong place. We have included the names and abbreviations below.

Common Mistakes:

Forgetting to put the comma between “Apparel” and “Technology” in TATM: Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management
Adding a comma after “Chemistry” in TECS: Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science

One additional tip – NC State brand does not use “&” – make sure you spell out “and”.

Names (Abbreviations)

Wilson College of Textiles (Wilson College)

Departments, Centers, Institutes
Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management (TATM)
Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science (TECS)
The Nonwovens Institute (NWI)
Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC)
Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE)

Units
Academic, Career and Student Services (ACSS)
North Carolina Textile Foundation (NCTF)
Textiles Creative and Technology Services (TCTS)
Wilson Communications and Marketing (WComm)

Academic Degrees

All Wilson College degrees are abbreviated using periods per AP Style / NC State brand: B.S., M.S., M.T., Ph.D.
All programs are abbreviated without periods.

Undergraduate Degrees – all are Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Fashion and Textile Design (FTD)
Fashion and Textile Management (FTM)
Polymer and Color Chemistry (PCC)
Textile Engineering (TE)
Textile Technology (TT)

Graduate Degrees
Master of Science (M.S.) in Textile Chemistry (TC)
Master of Science (M.S.) in Textile Engineering (TE)
Master of Science (M.S.) in Textiles
Master of Textiles (M.T.)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Fiber and Polymer Science (FPS)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Textile Technology Management (TTM)

Poster, Presentation and Letterhead Templates

Wilson College of Textiles branded poster, presentation and letterhead templates are available on the Wilson College of Textiles Intranet. Graduate students can email group-tex-marcomm@ncsu.edu to request a template if needed. Remember – use Arial!

Social Media

We invite you to follow us if you aren’t already. We also encourage you to tag us using the correct handles and hashtags when you share something related to the Wilson College of Textiles. By doing so, we see your post and can opt to like it or share it.

Please use this hashtag for the college; it is the only way we will see your posts: #NCStateWilson

Facebook: @NCStateWilsonTextiles
Twitter: @NCStateWilson
Instagram: @NCStateWilson
LinkedIn group: NC State Wilson College of Textiles

Email Formatting

Email Body

When it comes to keeping your emails on brand, the preferred formatting for email body text is the default Gmail settings:

Font: Sans Serif
Text Size: Normal
Text Color: Black

To restore these default settings, go into your email and click on this icon in the top right:

Choose Settings and in the first tab (General), scroll until you see this:

When you click on:

it will restore the default settings.

Signature

The preferred formatting for your email signature is the same as for the body text:

Font: Sans Serif
Text Size: Normal
Text Color: Black

To update these settings, go into your email and click on this icon in the top right:

Choose Settings and in the first tab (General), scroll until you get to the Signature section.

The information given in the email signature can differ based on your preferences. The basic information that should be included: your name, title, Wilson College of Textiles, NC State University, phone number. Additional information that you could list includes, but is not limited to: address (physical address: 1020 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606 / campus box mailing address: 1020 Main Campus Drive, Campus Box 8301, Raleigh, NC 27695), email address, website, cell phone number, fax number, social media icons, NC State brick, public records statement.

NC State Brick

This is the NC State brick allowed in your signature per brand guidelines.

Social Media Icons

To include the Wilson College of Textiles social media icons in your email signature, copy / paste the icons below.

Public Records Statement

The public records statement found at the bottom is often italicized and can be in grey font to distinguish it from the rest of your signature.

All electronic mail messages in connection with State business which are sent to or received by this account are subject to the NC Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

Signature Example

One example of a signature is below and can be copied directly into the signature field and updated with your information:

________________________________

Name
Title
Wilson College of Textiles
NC State University

1020 Main Campus Drive
Campus Box 8301
Raleigh, NC 27695
P: 919-51x-xxxx
Email
Web Address

Resources

NC State Brand Website: brand.ncsu.edu
NC State Editorial Guide: brand.ncsu.edu/editorial-guidelines
Photos taken by NC State Photos: ncstatephotos.photoshelter.com
Photos taken by Wilson College: group-tex-marcomm@ncsu.edu
Downloads: Wilson College Intranet
Any brand questions: group-tex-marcomm@ncsu.edu