Brand transition guide

Make the UIC brand known: transition guide

As UIC continues to implement the refreshed brand, colleges, schools, departments and units are encouraged to review existing branded materials and identify opportunities to align with the updated brand system.

This transition is not about replacing everything at once. Instead, we encourage units to prioritize high-impact updates, incorporate refreshed brand assets into new materials and future purchases, and help support UIC’s sustainability goals by diverting legacy branded materials from landfills.

Start with a brand review

Consider where your unit’s brand appears:

  • Websites
  • Social media
  • Email signatures
  • Presentations
  • Digital signage PDFs and downloadable resources
  • Brochures
  • Flyers
  • Posters
  • Recruitment materials
  • Stationery
  • Retractable banners
  • Tablecloths
  • Event signage
  • Event tents
  • Display systems
  • Giveaways and apparel
  • Office signage
  • Lobby displays
  • Wall graphics
  • Door and window decals
  • Wayfinding systems

Look for:

  • Outdated logos
  • Legacy colors
  • Older typography
  • Previous templates
  • Outdated visual styles
  • Inconsistent university naming

Prioritize for updating now

These items are highly visible, easy to update and should reflect the refreshed UIC brand whenever possible:

  • Websites and digital properties
  • Social media profile images and account branding
  • Email signatures
  • Presentations and templates
  • New marketing and communications material

Prioritize for updating within the next 6–12 months

These items may continue to be used until replacement is practical. However, units are strongly encouraged to transition these highly visible materials to the refreshed brand within the next 6–12 months. All newly purchased or produced materials should follow the refreshed brand standards.

Events and recruitment materials

  • Tablecloths
  • Retractable banners
  • Event signage
  • Event tents
  • Display systems
  • Recruitment and admissions materials

Promotional items and apparel

  • Branded merchandise
  • T-shirts and apparel
  • Giveaways and promotional products

Consult with Strategic Marketing and Communications before updating

Some items require additional planning, coordination or investment. Please contact Strategic Marketing and Communications before making changes to:

  • Building and lobby signage
  • Wayfinding systems
  • Environmental graphics
  • Door and window vinyl
  • Permanent branded installations

Brand refresh priority guide

Use this chart to determine which materials should be updated now, incorporated into future replacement cycles or reviewed with Strategic Marketing and Communications before changes are made.

Item Update now Update later Contact SMC
Website ✔
Social media ✔
Email signature ✔
Apparel ✔
Tablecloth ✔
Building signage ✔

Before you toss it — transform it

Close-up of hands holding a fan of rectangular cards with a red circular design; one card features a portrait of a person in a yellow top. The cards are partially spread over a blue table, next to a booklet with a UIC logo, a pen, a paper sheet, and a takeaway coffee cup in the background.

Help give legacy UIC materials a second life

As part of the UIC brand refresh, we are asking colleges, schools, departments and units to take a second look at outdated branded materials before they are discarded.

In partnership with Planning, Sustainability and Project Management, Strategic Marketing and Communications is collecting legacy UIC-branded apparel, textiles, banners and other reusable materials to keep them out of landfills and give them a new purpose. Through creative upcycling and future campus activations, these materials will be transformed into new experiences that celebrate UIC’s evolution, creativity and commitment to sustainability.

Whether it’s a box of old T-shirts, retired event banners or outdated promotional materials, your contributions can help reduce waste and support a more circular approach to campus branding.

Collection opportunities

College of Medicine Research Building Courtyard
914 S. Wood St.
Monday, June 29, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Student Center East
750 S. Halsted St.
Tuesday, July 7, 10:30 a.m-2 p.m.

Additional drop-off opportunities

Can’t attend a collection event? Materials may be dropped off in 1320 University Hall on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between June 30 and July 23. Contact Rachel Suarez for more information, rsuarez1@uic.edu.

Why participate?

Every item collected helps:

  • Divert materials from landfills
  • Support UIC’s sustainability goals
  • Reduce waste through creative reuse
  • Contribute to future campus activations and student engagement opportunities
  • Give legacy UIC brand materials a meaningful second life

Together, we can turn yesterday’s branded materials into tomorrow’s opportunities.