The Acadia brand is more than logos or colours — it’s the shared story of who we are and how we’re experienced by others. It lives in every interaction, message, and moment that connects people to Acadia.
Each of us plays a part in that story. Every communication and visual expression is an opportunity to inspire — to show the pride, purpose, and sense of belonging that define who we are at Acadia.
By following these guidelines, we help ensure every expression of the Acadia identity is clear, consistent, and confident. Together, we strengthen recognition, build trust, and reflect a university defined by purpose, connection, and care.
Brand Guide
The Brand and Communications Toolkit is your resource for putting Acadia’s brand into action. Located on SharePoint, it provides the official tools and guidance to help you create clear, consistent, and professional communications.
Inside the Toolkit
- Templates for email signatures, letterhead, and business cards
- Logo options, including the Acadia “A” and department identifiers
- Writing and editorial guides for tone, style, and standard formatting
- Colour resources featuring secondary and tertiary palettes
- Additional direction for imagery, accessibility, and digital design
Using these tools ensures every message, design, and document reflects the same Acadia character — thoughtful, connected, and confident.
Logos
The Acadia logo is an evolution of the original crest and wordmark. Still rooted in heritage and tradition the refreshed illustrated elements, such as the axes, open book, and wolf head on the Acadia University Shield, are simplified for consistency and clearer digital display. The Acadia University wordmark uses the ‘A’ from the Monogram Icon and pairs it with custom letterforms for the C, D and I.
In the interest of unity throughout the Acadia brand, no department, program, or faculty may develop a unique or distinct logo without consultation. Acadia employees can visit the Brand and Communications Toolkit for additional logo options and guidance.
Horizontal
Compressed (.zip) folder includes full colour, one colour (monochrome), and reverse (white for dark backgrounds) variants in PNG format.
The horizontal version of the primary logo is also available in variants with the tagline; website URL; and faculty, school, and department designations.
Vertical
Compressed (.zip) folder includes full colour, one colour (monochrome), and reverse (white for dark backgrounds) variants in PNG format.
The vertical version of the primary logo is also available in variants with the tagline and website URL.
Dos and Don'ts
It's important to follow standards to maintain the integrity of the brand. Examples of incorrect uses of the logo are listed below. Please contact us if you have a need for a school/department logo or if you have any questions.
Colours
Acadia Red and Acadia Blue are equally important for identifying the University. Our official brand colours are powerful elements that promote consistency across all communications and applications.
The Marketing and Communications team can also provide guidance for tints and secondary colours for your project.
Acadia Red
CMYK
0 100 90 20
RGB
196 20 36
Web
C41424
Pantone
186 C
Acadia Blue
CMYK
100 60 0 40
RGB
0 64 119
Web
004077
Pantone
294 C
White
CMYK
0 0 0 0
RGB
255 255 255
Web
FFFFFF
Fonts + Typography
Communicate using Acadia's official typography choices. Please refer to our Brand and Identity Toolkit for more information about font weights and styles.
Arial
Arial is a widely recognized sans-serif typeface that was originally designed in 1982. It has been included in all versions of Windows since 1992, making it available to virtually everyone. It should be used for all day-to-day campus communications, such as email, letters, university reports, etc.
Avenir Next
The primary typeface used for marketing and communications is Avenir Next. Standard styles range from Ultralight to Heavy, giving Avenir Next a clean, straightforward design style that works brilliantly for blocks of copy and headlines alike, and offers excellent screen readability.
Avenir next is included in macOS, but not in Windows or Android smartphones. Web-safe similar fonts include Google Fonts' Lato and Montserrat.