Web and Digital

UC San Diego communicates to audiences in a number of ways through web and digital media. Following the guidelines listed here will ensure accessibility and consistency, which are critical in reinforcing our identity in the digital sphere.

Our websites in particular are a major point of communication for both internal and external audiences, making them a prime location for our branding to shine. While showcasing our messaging and visual brand, it is also key to maintain professionalism and consistency. Above all else we must strive to provide an excellent user experience inclusive of accessibility to all platforms.

Logo

The UC San Diego logo must appear in the masthead on all campus websites, this is referred to as the logo header. In most cases, the site name should be in the top left and the campus logo in the top right. The consistent presence of this header allows for the audience to recognize that they are on a page that is part of the greater UC San Diego site. This header is required for all academic, administrative and research units within UC San Diego.

The logo should also appear at the top of all designed email communications and on all digital graphics not housed on a branded UC San Diego website.

Accessibility

Accessibility is essential for all UC San Diego websites and digital communications. Ensuring accessibility is not only in accordance with the mission of UC San Diego, it is also the law. For more information and resources related to electronic accessibility, visit accessibility.ucsd.edu.

Ample color contrast is key for legibility. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2) recommends a type/background contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal sized text to meet Level AA requirements. This excludes large text (18 pt text and larger or 14pt bold and larger), logotypes and incidental elements, such as those that are not interactive.

To ensure proper color contrast, use only approved color combinations as identified in the chart below.

Typography

UC San Diego’s primary typeface, Brix Sans, is available as a webfont from MyFonts.com. If you are unable to purchase a license for Brix, the recommended substitute for web is Roboto. Roboto is available for free through Google Fonts. It is also the font used in the latest campus web templates provided by IT Services. A traditional webfont stack (e.g. Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, or other sans-serif) is also acceptable as a backup.

Campus Content Management System (CMS)

IT Services offers a free content management tool to manage your campus website. The templates, based on the image-rich ucsd.edu site, feature an easy-to-use modular design and are fully responsive. Learn more about available templates.