Branding & Design

Branding (MSU, CANR, MSU Extension)

The MSU Extension brand is a distinctive and memorable representation of the organization that:

  • Announces our presence
  • Builds the credibility of our programming with audiences and partner organizations
  • Reinforces the sense of trust and loyalty that audiences have for our programming

Learn more about MSU and CANR branding.

Graphic Design

Why use a professional designer?

  • To help you get your projects noticed and read.
  • To help your readers understand and retain information through visual unity and organization.
  • To give your high quality information the most polished and professional appearance.

What does a designer do for you?

A professional designer begins by assessing your project needs, taking into account your timeline and budget and the audience, purpose, projected shelf life, and visibility of the final product. They translate the tone and the structure of the content into fonts, colors photos and graphic elements. They will also consider the environment where a design piece may be displayed and how it needs to be reproduced or distributed.

Design tasks include:

  • Developing layout structures
  • Developing color, font and graphic themes
  • Providing typography that makes reading easier
  • Selecting or creating visually consistent images that are appropriate for the intended audiences
  • Understanding and using corporate brand standards
  • Preparing artwork and documents for a variety of uses – web, print, signage, and more.
  • Adding accessibility features to web documents

Editing and design projects:

  • Ads (print, web)
  • Banners, Bannerstands, Displays
  • Bookmarks
  • Brochures
  • Clothing Graphics (T-shirts, hats, polos)
  • Curriculum (Adult, Youth)
  • E-vites (Constant Contact and other e-news)
  • Flyers (single page promotional)
  • Folders (pocket folders)
  • Forms
  • Graphic Identity (programs, events)
  • Infographics
  • Mailers (postcards, folded mailers, save the date cards)
  • Marketing Items (magnets, notepads, buttons)
  • Newsletters (print, web)
  • Packaging Design
  • Press Releases
  • Programs (events)
  • Publications (bulletins, booklets, books, manuals)
  • Reports (grants, annual reports, legislative reports, campaign case statements, impact sheets, "white paper" research reports)
  • Signage
  • Single-concept sheets (FAQ’s, fact sheets)
  • Templates (activity sheets, brochures, PowerPoint presentations, reports/newsletters, single-concept sheets)

Meet our design team:

MSU Extension Branding & Bookstore Management

Michigan State University
  • Spartans Will.
  • © Michigan State University

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.

We comply with the Federal Trade Commission 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).