One image for the University of Göttingen

Projecting a consistent image is an important factor in the public´s perception of an institution. Being quickly identifiable both to the outside world and in internal communication means associating certain graphic elements with a corporate design. The University of Göttingen is successful in public relations, marketing, and fundraising. This goal presupposes the development and purposeful application of one image of the University to all its separate constituencies.

The corporate design project, which is competently handled by the Press and Public Relations Office, started with a modernization of the University logo and the determination to use the house color, HKS 41, a dark blue, and combine it with shades of grey and white. Together, logo and house color represent Georg-August University´s profile: tradition and innovation, excellence and variety, interdisciplinarity and internationality. A language of forms and colors conveys an authority built on reputation and clarity, which is at the base of our self-image.

In a first step, this new image is conveyed via the publications of the Press and Public Relations Office published by the President: the University papers uni/in/form and uni/reform, the calendar of events, and the magazine ‘Georgia Augusta’. Publications on the subject of study and research, the new internet presentation and general publications as well as nearly all documents relevant to the University leadership and the central administration were redesigned. There are many new advertising media like posters, invitations and greeting cards, conference folders, linen carryalls, pads of paper, pens, and merchandising products like neckties and cups.

Introducing the new corporate design to departments and institutes is particularly sensitive. The idea of a corporate identity beyond a subject of a Faculty and extending to a common representation for the University is not an idea that is sure to find guaranteed acceptance. The corporate design project must, therefore, convince by the service and quality of products associated with it.

There are concrete financial advantages for the Faculties and the administration in using the professionally produced materials as elements of a modular information system. It is quite clear that since the new matched concept was introduced, Georg-August University is more easily and more frequently identified at both national and international student and transfer fairs.

Faculty, Institute, and study course information has been published in the new University design almost without exception by this time and the first Faculties are shaping their Web presentations using the new Göttingen Content-Management System. They are, thus, using the University´s new corporate design.