Update on new university branding
In response to the November 2018 campus consultations regarding the university’s name and the proposed ONTechU 'moniker,' the Communications and Marketing department has developed concepts for a new visual identity for the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
Clarifying and focusing our brand plays a critical role in supporting our strategic priority to position the university and tell its story. This work will create a clear and consistent moniker for the university while maintaining the current university name for all official purposes (the formal University of Ontario Institute of Technology name cannot be changed, as per the 2002 Ontario legislation that created the university). We would adopt a similar approach to that of some other universities, such as Western (official name: University of Western Ontario) and Virginia Tech (official name: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University).
Based on feedback from the consultations, the new identity will be:
- Simple, unique and identifiable: Must stand out in a crowded academic landscape.
- Convey ‘tech’: Suggest the school is an innovative and leading-edge institution in technology (as opposed to being 'technical').
- Modern and relevant: Should be approachable, untraditional and confident.
- Flexible: Must work across multiple applications that range in scale and touchpoints.
A Brand Advisory Group has been established to advise the Communications and Marketing department in this process. Members include:
- Scott Barker, Director, Athletics
- Michael Bliemel, Dean, Faculty of Business and Information Technology
- Andrea Kirkwood, Associate Professor, Faculty of Science
- Emily Laverty, Academic Advisor, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
- Brad MacIsaac, Assistant Vice-President, Planning and Analysis
- Debbie McGarry, Executive Director, Advancement
- Susan McGovern, Vice-President, External Relations and Advancement
- Jessica Nguyen, President, Student Union
- Joe Stokes, Registrar
- Sheldon Williamson, Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
The advisory group will provide feedback on the visual identity concepts; the university will consider this feedback as the identity is developed.
The campus community will have the opportunity to provide feedback and insights on the selected concept through an online survey developed by an external research company. The university will also hold further consultations with the campus community through informal brand update and feedback sessions to gauge reactions and collect further feedback. The university will communicate timing details in the coming weeks (expected in February).
Please visit the Branding update page on the university’s new Brand Central website regularly for updates and more information on this project. If you require any further information in the interim, please contact Richard Seres, Executive Director, Communications and Marketing, at ext. 6736.
