Gold star confetti is shown in the air in front of the red doors of Main Building
guidelines

St. Edward’s Brand

The St. Edward’s brand is one of our most important assets and allows our university to stay relevant in the marketplace.

Visual and written communication should align with the principles of our brand strategy and the guidance in this style guide. These guidelines and resources assist the campus community in producing brand-aligned materials.

Brand Strategy

Our brand strategy defines our mission, story, vision and who we are as a community. Our strategy comprises clear brand positioning and messaging, attributes, voice and tone. 

Sorin Oak tree in daytime.

Brand Platform

Our brand platform provides the framework for how we communicate about St. Edward’s and the evolving student experience on the Hilltop. The strategy and structure behind our platform ensure consistent messaging and communication of our brand to different audiences.

A woman in a graduation cap and gown smiles with her fellow graduates

Creative and Content Strategy

The creative concept is an emotional translation of the brand platform, bringing together visuals, cohesive messaging, tone and more to communicate effectively and consistently to our audiences. This is not a tagline or a headline, but a starting point to inspire the look, feel and tone of communications.

Five copies of the St. Ed's magazine are shown on the grass from an aerial viewpoint

Brand Identity

Consistent use of how we refer to ourselves across audiences, channels, materials and communications strengthens our brand recognition and identity. How our name is used is part of our brand strategy and varies based on audience and use case.

Visual Identity

Our visual identity is a key component of our brand, and it works in conjunction with the stories we tell to our audiences. Consisting of logos and marks, color, typography, design components and photography, a cohesive visual identity indicates strength, trust and clarity to our audiences.

A student and professor sit outside at a table with a banner showing the St. Edward's University logo

Logo

The St. Edward’s University logo is the highest representation of our brand. It acts as the most consistent and primary component in our communications.

Four examples from the St. Edward's color palette: a dark blue, gold, light blue and red

Color

Color is a key component of our identity. Our color palette represents our heritage, distinguishes our brand and creates consistent experiences for our audiences.

A smiling young woman stands outdoors, holding a bright yellow sign that reads "Future Hilltopper - I Chose SEU - St. Edward’s University." She is wearing a name tag and has a blue tote bag over her shoulder, with a backdrop of sunlit trees.

Typography

Typography is a powerful tool that can add visual meaning to our communications. Our typefaces were carefully selected to reflect St. Edward’s brand identity.

Brand Toolkit and Resources

The Brand Toolkit is a one-stop shop for assets that help you stay true to our unique identity across a range of media. Whether you're printing and mailing promotional materials, producing apparel and swag, or creating signage for events, our Brand Resources cover your questions and needs.

An illustration of the Toppers Up hand sign

Downloads

Access logos, design components, templates, color palettes and more all in one place. These resources will help you create branded content and materials representing St. Edward's. 

A man and a woman sit at a table together and look at a computer screen, which displays a document that the man is pointing to

Editorial Style Guide

By using this guide, you’ll contribute to a high standard of cohesive, purposeful and clear communications and be able to present a unified voice to our audiences. 

The Topper mascot stands in front of the Red Doors of Main Building holding his hooves up to his face

FAQs

Do you wonder why things are done a certain way? Find answers to common brand questions, and contact us with any additional questions. 

Digital and Web

See comprehensive digital and web guidance for building and maintaining webpages, managing social media accounts and sending emails. Ensure your communications are adhering to accessibility laws and compliance, as well as SEO best practices. 

A young man in a dark green turtleneck sits at a cafe table, focused on his laptop while holding a coffee cup. The background is softly blurred, showing a cozy interior with musical decor and a red armchair.

Web Standards

Our Web Standards provide the guidance you need to maintain user-friendly and up-to-date website content and manage your pages effectively.

A person is shown from an aerial view sitting down, with only legs and hand showing, holding a phone and resting a red backpack at their feet

Social Media

Review comprehensive guidelines and best practices for developing and maintaining an effective and on-brand social media presence.

A laptop sits on a wooden desk in a bright, modern office, displaying an email newsletter from St. Edward's University titled "November 2025 Insights from Dr. K." The screen shows a photo of a drone light show forming the shape of a goat in the night sky.

Email

Ensure your emails follow best practices and see tips and resources for building and sending university email communication.

About Marketing and Communications

The Marketing and Communications Office empowers campus communicators to produce brand-aligned materials through marketing expertise, intentional creative platforms and purposeful brand strategy, driven by data insights and the combined expertise of our team members. We're ready to collaborate and work with you!

St. Edward’s continues to gain national recognition on many fronts, including our marketing, advertising and communication efforts. Over the past 20 years, the Marketing Office has received more than 50 national and regional awards. Here are some of our recent honors.

  • 2024 Education Digital Marketing Bronze Award, Institutional Website
  • 2024 UCDA Honorable Mention in Print: Complete Unit – St. Ed's Magazine
  • 2024 UCDA Excellence Award, News and Editorial Photography – Total Eclipse of the Hilltop
  • 2023 CASE Best of District IV Awards in Photography: Inauguration Festivities
  • 2023 UCDA Honorable Mention in Photography: People and Portraits – Midsommar at Sorin Oak
  • 2023 UPAA Second Place in Publications Competition: Viewbook – Travel Piece
  • 2023 UPAA Third Place in Publications Competition: General – St. Ed's Magazine
  • 2023 UPAA Honorable Mention in Narrative Series: Social Media Video - Lopez Grant Announcement
  • 2022 UCDA Silver Award in Print: Complete Unit – St. Ed's Magazine
  • 2022 UCDA Honorable Mention in Illustration: Ragsdale Murals
  • 2022 UPAA Honorable Mention in Narrative Series: Social Media Video – 2021 Year in Review
  • 2021 UCDA Gold Award in Photography: Photo Series – Breakout Women Portraits
  • 2021 UCDA Excellence Award in Social Media: The Ripple Effect Content Campaign
  • 2021 UCDA Excellence Award in Print: Complete Unit – St. Ed's Magazine
  • 2020 CASE Silver Award in Digital Communications: College, Unfiltered
  • 2020 CASE Silver Award in Publications: Undergraduate Student Recruitment Travel Brochure
  • 2019 CASE Bronze Award in Editorial Design: University Magazine – St. Ed's Magazine
  • 2018 Content Marketing Awards Finalist in School/University Magazine – St. Ed's Magazine
  • 2018 Educational Advertising Awards Bronze Winner: Publication/External
  • 2016 Content Marketing Awards: Best Marketing Automation in Content Marketing
  • 2016 Content Marketing Awards Finalist in School/University Magazine – St. Ed's Magazine
  • 2015 Marketing Team of the Year: Marketo Revvies: Consumer Business
  • 2014 CASE Gold Award in Design: University Christmas Card
  • 2014 CASE Gold Award in Marketing: Undergraduate Recruitment Publications for Print
  • 2014 Statesman Social Media Awards: Top 10 in Central Texas

The St. Edward's community is rich with stories that demonstrate the highly personalized university experience, transformative opportunities for students and the innovative ways that faculty, staff and our alumni are impacting the community.

If we decide to use the information you provide for marketing content or success reports, we may contact you for additional details. Thank you!

Submit a Success Story

Marketing and Communications
Main Building, G8–9
3001 South Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78757

brand@stedwards.edu
 

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