As the University of Missouri competes for faculty, staff, students, funding and donations, the strength of our brand is increasingly important. Below are guidelines for using the Division of Research, Innovation & Impact’s name and brand assets. Make sure to review additional guidelines on Mizzou’s Brand & Identity website and use resources on that site to create on‐brand content. Please email the research division communications team to request assistance.
Editorial style
- Use Division of Research, Innovation & Impact on first reference. Thereafter, use Division of Research, Research Division, division (lowercase) or the acronym RII,
- Make sure to include (RII) at the end of the division’s official name on first reference if you plan to make subsequent references: Division of Research, Innovation & Impact (RII). Adding (RII) is not necessary if you only mention the division once.
- MU centers and advanced technology core facilities enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and provide centralized resources and instrumentation. Official names for each one are listed on the research website.
- Use advanced technology core facilities on first reference when mentioning them as a group. Thereafter, use core facilities, research cores or cores.
- When formal names include ampersands, retain them in headlines/titles. It is fine to replace them with “and” in body copy/main content.
Identity
MU’s identity is an integral part of our brand and is effectively the “face” of the university. It consists of:
- Stacked MU logo paired with a unit/department name (referred to as a signature).
- Mascot and tiger marks.
- Primary and secondary colors.
- Official stationery (business cards, letterhead, e‐letterhead and email signatures).
Signatures
Always use an official university logo (signature) on print and digital materials and on apparel, merchandise and promotional items. Signature examples:
Primary signature
Unit signature
Secondary unit signature
Do not re‐create any part of the signature, including the wordmark. We encourage you to “brand up” and use the University of Missouri primary signature when possible because it is more recognizable than individual department names, especially with students and external audiences. If communicating with faculty and staff, use the RII signature or the unit signature that is most recognizable to your audience. Signatures:
- University of Missouri (download)
- Research, Innovation & Impact (download)
- NextGen Precision Health (download)
- Other signatures, including core facilities (download)
Stationary
When you are re‐ordering or replacing letterhead, envelopes, business cards, labels and signage, please use the following resources:
- University letterhead, e‐letterhead, business cards
- Name badges
- Guidelines for ordering apparel, merchandise and promotional items
Download Research, Innovation & Impact e-letterhead. (All units within the division can use it.)
Use MU’s email signature generator to ensure your email signature meets identity standards and content requirements.
Templates
Download PowerPoint templates with the RII signature. MU’s Brand & Identity website also has a wealth of University of Missouri graphics, slides, flyers and other templates available for your use. Email the research division communications team for assistance with custom projects.
Graphics
On occasion, the research communications team designs on-brand graphics to promote special events and programs.
- These graphics are not considered logos. University and unit signatures are the only logos that represent departments, centers and other units within MU.
- Any time a graphic is used, a signature must be present. For example, the graphic could go at the top of a flyer and the signature at the bottom or on the back.
- More on logos versus graphics
Photo/video releases
No photo, video, audio recording or other multimedia projects may be published, posted online or shared publicly without the express written consent of all participants. Photography, video and audio release forms
Partnerships
MU thrives on collaborative partnerships. Successful co‐branding of these partnerships should always uphold the university’s identity and brand and recognize external partners appropriately. Use these guidelines to co‐brand your internal and external partnerships across different applications. Please email the research division communications team if you need co-branded logo signatures, graphics or materials.