Event/celebration banner artwork guidelines

Most, if not all, event/celebration banners will be installed on Madison Street for a limited period of time. These banners should adhere to the following basic principles and meet the specified requirements.

Adhere to brand guidelines

All banner requests must follow brand guidelines. This includes the use of any messaging, logos, color, and other visual assets. To maintain a consistent look, temporary banner designs must use a black background and will be paired with an institutional banner featuring the block IOWA logo on a gold field. 

Ensure high-quality design

Banners must be designed to meet high-quality standards. It is essential to involve someone with strong design skills, knowledge of brand standards, and experience in preparing files for production. While the Office of Strategic Communication can offer guidance, they are not responsible for designing banners. A list of preferred vendors is available for units without a qualified designer. 

Keep it simple and legible

Most banners will be read from a distance and should be quickly readable for people passing by in vehicles. Keep text to a minimum and scale design elements larger. Avoid unnecessary elements that may add clutter or take away from your message. 

Unit identification

The name or lockup of the sponsoring university unit or college may be included but should not compete with the primary message. Consider plain text identification when necessary to ensure legibility. The Block IOWA logo will appear on the adjacent banner.