Gryphon Logos

NOTE: Guelph Gryphon brand assets can only be used by the Department of Athletics. Unless your unit/initiative is directly managed by the Department of Athletics, you are not allowed to utilize Guelph Gryphon brand assets in any context. Occasional exceptions may be granted, but must receive explicit permission from brandguide@uoguelph.ca.  All units/initiatives that are not managed by the Department of Athletics should refer to the University of Guelph Brand Guide.

On This Page:

• Primary Assets
• Secondary Assets
• Sport-Specific Assets
• Jr. Gryphon Assets
• Lockups
• Logos: Clear Space and Sizing
• Incorrect Usage
• Folder Structure, File Naming And File Types

Primary Assets

Overview

Our logo is the visual representation of our brand, embodying our values, personality, and identity. As such, it should be central to all branding efforts and plays an integral role in building our brand equity and recognition.

The Gryphon graphic connects us with U of G’s heritage and legacy, while evolving to meet the needs of our future. Supporting the Gryphon is our wordmark. This emphasizes our primary identifier (Guelph) with customized typography that complements the style of the Gryphon. Together these elements create a unique and recognizable asset that epitomizes our brand values.

Download Brand Assets

Primary Assets

Having five different primary assets ensures our visual identity is versatile and offers optimal performance within any application.

NOTE: It is always best to utilize the Gryphon and stacked/horizontal logos when possible. Avoid using the stand-alone wordmarks unless necessary.

1. The Gryphon: Best for applications that don’t require the context of the wordmark.
2. Stacked Logo: Best when centred within a design.
3. Horizontal Logo: Best when left-aligned within a design.
4. Stacked Wordmark: Best for small applications in which the Gryphon may be difficult to reproduce, or within restricted sizing that would be best fulfilled by the proportions of the wordmark.
5. Horizontal Wordmark: Best for restricted sizing that requires long horizontal dimensions.

Secondary Assets

Overview

Secondary assets should never overshadow or replace our primary assets and are mainly intended to improve the versatility of our brand. Secondary assets will not garner the same level of brand recognition as our primary assets and should be used sparingly. Use these assets to complement our primary assets or in places where the brand is already very clearly established (i.e. if the primary Gryphon is prominently featured on the chest of a jersey, use a secondary asset on the shoulder).

Download Brand Assets

Secondary Assets

1. G: Our wordmark condensed into a single letter. As our most minimal brand asset, this is a great option for smaller applications in which the Gryphon may be difficult to reproduce.
2. Disc: Our primary logo restructured into a versatile emblem. This perfectly balanced circle works great within restricted dimensions that would be best fulfilled by the disc’s even proportions.
3. Gryphon G: Our primary Gryphon condensed within our “G”. Another minimal counterpart to our primary assets, this Gryphon G is a great option for smaller applications or restricted dimensions that would be best fulfilled by the asset’s proportions.
4. Heritage Gryphon: As a nod to the 60-year history of our original Gryphon logo, this asset is best for targeting specific demographics (i.e. alumni with a strong connection to the original logo). Use of this asset must be approved by athletics.brandguide@uoguelph.ca. It should be used sparingly and with clear intention. Note that this logo does not include any text. We no longer possess the proper licensing to utilize typefaces that were previously apart of our brand. This newly polished Heritage Gryphon is the only historic asset that should be utilized.

Sport-Specific Assets

Overview

Sport-specific assets allow individual teams and clubs to better promote their unique initiatives and accomplishments. These should be used for targeting internal communities and should never overshadow or replace our primary assets within external communications.

Download Brand Assets

Sport-Specific Assets

1. Stacked Logo: Simple, clean and effective. This is the primary option for promoting your sport.
2. Wordmark: Best for small applications in which the Gryphon may be difficult to reproduce, or within restricted sizing that would be best fulfilled by the proportions of the wordmark.

Jr. Gryphon Assets

Overview

As an integral component of the Gryphon community and brand, our Jr. Gryphon organizations have access to unique assets. These assets assist in both connecting and differentiating the Guelph Jr. Gryphons and Guelph (“Sr.”) Gryphons. Jr. Gryphon organizations are restricted to using our primary assets along with the unique Jr. Gryphon assets listed below.

NOTE: Jr Gryphon associations must not utilize secondary, sport-specific, or any other brand assets that are not specifically addressed within this section.

Download Brand Assets

Jr. Gryphon Assets

1. Primary Assets: Jr. Gryphons are welcome to use any of the primary Guelph Gryphon assets.
2. Disc: A versatile emblem. This perfectly balanced circle works great within restricted sizing that would be best fulfilled by the disc’s even proportions.
3. Sport-Specific Disc: Offers the same usability as the standard disc but allows individual teams to better promote their unique initiatives and accomplishments.

Lockups

Overview

Lockups allow individual units to better promote their unique initiatives and accomplishments. Lockups are typically used in place of our primary assets, using them alongside primary assets should be avoided where possible.

To request a lockup, please email brandguide@uoguelph.ca with the name of your unit, and if applicable the name of your sub-unit. 

Technical Details

Colour: Each lockup is produced in 4 colour variations, following the same system as our primary assets. Learn how to utilize these colour combinations.

Clear Space: Clear space is already built into the provided PNG files. SVG files require manual measurement. Lockups use "line” spaces to determine proper clear space. This is the height of 1 section of the dividing line, or 1/3 height of the full dividing line.

Minimum Size: 0.5 inch

Logos: Clear Space and Sizing

Clear Space

Surrounding our brand assets with defined clear space helps balance design work and reduce competition from nearby elements.

When aligning components, be sure to use the boundary of an asset file, not the graphic itself. The asset file and included clear space optimizes the visual centre of an asset (what looks and feels like the centre) rather than the geometric centre (mathematical centre).

Clear space is already built into provided primary asset files. Just ensure that nothing impedes the bounds of an asset file, and you’re good to go!

Minimum Size

These assets should never be reproduced below the following minimum sizes. Some specific applications may require smaller sizing (i.e. custom pens), please connect with brandguide@uoguelph.ca prior to producing logos below the following dimensions.

Primary Assets

1. Stacked Logo: 1 inch tall
2. Horizontal Logo: 0.5 inch tall
3. Stacked Wordmark: 0.5 inch tall
4. Horizontal Wordmark: 0.25 inch tall
5. Gryphon: 0.5 inch tall

Secondary Assets

1. G: 0.25 inch
2. Disc: 1 inch tall
3. Gryphon G: 0.5 inch tall
4. Heritage Gryphon: 0.5 inch tall

Sport-Specific Assets

1. Stacked Logo: 1 inch tall
2. Wordmark: 0.5 inch tall

Jr. Gryphon Assets

1. Stacked Logo: 1 inch tall
2. Horizontal Logo: 0.5 inch tall
3. Wordmark: 0.5 inch tall
4. Disc: 1 inch tall
5. Sport-Specific Disc: 1 inch tall

Logos: Colour

Full Colour

Our assets come in multiple full colour variations, allowing for use on white, black, and/or light (includes white, red, gold or light gray) backgrounds. Do not utilize assets on any background colour that is not specifically stated within the file name and/or folder structure.

Single Colour

Our assets are also available in single colour variations, allowing for use on white, black, and/or light (includes white, red, gold or light gray) backgrounds. Again, do not utilize logos on any background colour that is not specifically stated within the file name and/or folder structure.

Photo Backgrounds

Any colour variations can be used on photographic backgrounds, so long as they meet AODA standards for colour contrast. Single colour options offer more consistent colour contrast and often integrate more cleanly into photographic backgrounds.

Learn about our colour palette and associated AODA requirements.

Finding the Correct Asset File

All assets are primarily organized by colour and background colour. To find the correct asset, you’ll need to know which asset you’d like to use, whether you’d like to use a full colour or single version and which colour background you’ll be placing the asset on top of.

Different Assets for Different Results

You may assume that some assets are identical between white and black background variations. This is not the case. Each asset has been carefully optimized for its unique use-case.

For example, the weight of the Gryphon outline has been thinned for black backgrounds. An optical illusion might make it appear identical to the white background version, but again, this is not the case. Be sure to only use assets for their specific, indicated use-cases.

Incorrect Usage

General Rules

Misuse of our brand assets damages the strength and unity of our visual identity. Altering these assets in any way can significantly damage the impact and perception of our brand.

• Guelph Gryphon brand assets can only be used by the Department of Athletics. Unless your unit/initiative is directly managed by the Department of Athletics, you are not allowed to utilize Guelph Gryphon brand assets in any context. Occasional exceptions may be granted, but must receive explicit permission from brandguide@uoguelph.ca.  All units/initiatives that are not managed by the Department of Athletics should refer to the University of Guelph Brand Guide.
• Primary brand assets should be a focal point of all marketing and communication materials.
• Brand assets must not be modified in any way (changing colour, size, rotation, transparency, etc.).
• Assets should always be clearly legible, align with AODA requirements, and avoid distracting or low-contrast backgrounds.
• Assets should be bold and impactful, not crowded, overused, or competing with one another.

The following are examples of how our assets should not be used. Please note this is not an exhaustive list of incorrect usage. Although these examples utilize our horizontal logo, these principles apply to all brand assets.

If you see an asset being used in a way that violates brand guidelines, please report your concern to athletics.brandguide@uoguelph.ca. No existing brand violation can be used as justification for similar or further violations.

Do not manipulate an asset file in any way or (re)create your own asset file. If you are ever uncertain about how to utilize our assets or require assistance in creating branded materials, please reach out to athletics.brandguide@uoguelph.ca.

Folder Structure, File Naming and File Types

File Naming Structure

Each asset file utilizes the following naming convention:

Sport (if applicable)_AssetName_AssetColour_BackgroundColour.FileType

Folder Structure

The folder structure is built to maintain intuitive navigation while ensuring that assets are used correctly.

All assets are organized by asset type (i.e. Primary Assets), asset name (i.e. Stacked Logo), Colour (i.e. Full Colour), Background Colour (i.e. Light Background), and file type (i.e. PNG).

File Types

All asset files come in PNG and SVG formats. These each have their own strengths and weaknesses, but both formats can be used for building print and digital materials.

SVG files are vector graphics with infinite scalability. No matter the dimensions, these files will look crisp and detailed. They also offer smaller file sizes than PNGs and most other image file formats. SVGs are ideal for most situations.

PNG files are raster images with designated pixel dimensions. These can scale down in size very effectively but will become blurry and pixelated if enlarged past their set dimensions. This format is ideal for situations in which SVG files are incompatible (i.e. social media avatars).