Our Logo
Our logo is the key component of our visual identity and acts as our signature and stamp of quality. It should be used correctly and consistently to reinforce and protect our brand on all communications and promotional materials, as well as on all of our digital properties. Cal Poly's marks and logos must comply with the university's use rules.
Anatomy of Our Logo
Our logo consists of two components: the shield plus the wordmark.
Shield
The shield was inspired by the university seal and designed to represent our core philosophy, Learn by Doing, as well as our iconic location. It pays homage to our legacy of excellence and makes Cal Poly instantly recognizable.
Wordmark
Our wordmark is custom-designed artwork to reflect both the historical and modern facets of our brand. It cannot be replicated through typesetting nor separated from the shield.
Correct Use
Clear Space
Safe area refers to the clear space required surrounding the logo. The safe area for our logo is measured using the height of the “Y.” Using this system, the safe area distance will always scale with the logo.
Minimum Size
In all print applications, the shield should never be less than .4" tall.
Color Variation
One-Color Version
The first format of the university logo is one color using Poly Green. This logo should be used on white or light-colored backgrounds.
Two-Color Version on Dark Background
The second format of the university logo is a two-color version using Poly Green and a white "fill." This is called the reversed logo.
Two-Color Version on Photo
The reversed logo may also be used on photographs or images, especially those with a dark or an uneven light background.
Other Marks
Logo Lockups
Cal Poly colleges, divisions, departments, centers and other affiliates have versions of our logo, built upon our shield and wordmark. We also call these "lockups."
The University Seal
Since Cal Poly's inception, our seal has evolved over the years to represent Cal Poly's history in the CSU system. It is reserved for our most important and official documents and communications.
Athletic Logo and Marks
Cal Poly Athletics has a distinct sub-brand based on the history and tradition of the Mustangs sports teams. These are reserved for the athletics department and should not be used in lieu of our primary logo or as the brand identifier of Cal Poly.
Incorrect usage
Do not recreate or modify the logo in any way. Please avoid these violations to ensure the logo is used consistently across all platforms.
⊗ Do not attempt to manually recreate the logo.
⊗ Do not tilt the logo.
⊗ Do not stretch or skew the proportions of the logo in any way.
⊗ Do not apply the logo directly over a busy background pattern.
⊗ Do not alter the color of the logo.
⊗ Do not apply drop shadows or special effects to the logo.
⊗ Do not rearrange the shield and wordmark.
⊗ Do not manually reverse the university logo, use the reversed university logo for dark backgrounds.
Accessing Cal Poly Logos
Required for Campus Communication
The Cal Poly logo must appear on all forms of communication and can be downloaded by faculty and staff. When appropriate, an official lockup may be used in print or on merchandise (but not on websites).
Follow Trademark Licencing Guidelines
Anyone who uses our logos and brand marks must read and accept our trademark licensing guidelines. The Cal Poly logo may be used by Cal Poly faculty, staff and students for officially approved campus uses only. The logo should always be reproduced from official university artwork. Do not attempt to create Cal Poly logos. The Cal Poly logo is not for personal use.
