Merchandise & Promotional Items
Putting a logo on it? Heed trademark licensing requirements for apparel, promotional items and more.
Branded and promotional items like jackets, white coats, table throws and sticky notes are a fun way to represent your WashU group. The university’s trademark licensing and fair labor guidelines present complex requirements for getting branded and promotional products right. The Trademark Licensing Program makes it easy.
Good to know: Trademark licenses apply to any name or symbol representing Washington University or its schools, departments, offices, labs and other units.
A few important requirements
To produce apparel, promotional items or other products representing Washington University or its schools, departments, programs and other units:
1. Use a licensed supplier
- Our licensed suppliers are authorized to produce merchandise with Washington University trademarked names and symbols. They are familiar with our brand and trademark requirements and will take care of the hard part for you.
2. Develop official artwork
- Work with your licensed supplier to develop artwork that meets the university’s licensing requirements and the School of Medicine guidelines below.
3. Get the artwork approved
- Your chosen supplier will submit the artwork for approval.
Guidelines for School of Medicine artwork
The guidelines below supplement universitywide licensing guidelines provided University Marketing & Communications. Work closely with your chosen supplier early on to develop high-quality artwork that will sail through the approval process.
Use official school and unit names
For text references, use either “Washington University School of Medicine” or “Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.” See the editorial style guide for more official center and department names.
Include brand elements
Represent at least one of the following brand elements:
- One of the three official logos. Minimum size and spacing guidelines apply. If an item is too small to meet these guidelines, use text only.
- A brand font. It is permissible to use a non-brand font as long as either the official logo or brand color is used.
- A brand color. The visual brand guide provides details about the primary and secondary color palettes.
For typical classroom and lab materials, use only brand elements.
Avoid university-level symbols
For School of Medicine products, do not use the university seal, the Brookings Hall circle, the WashU type treatment or the university monogram. Use of the Outline Shield is permitted. Use the solid version for artwork under one inch and the open version for artwork larger than one inch.