University of Southern California

Incorrect Usage

The seal, shield, monogram, wordmarks and logotypes should not be altered in any way, such as extending, condensing, outlining, adding borders, special effects or drop shadows, or attaching other words or graphics. The graphics on these pages are a few examples of incorrect usage and alterations of the USC seal, shield, monogram, wordmarks and logotypes.

• Don’t vertically scale the seal.
• Don’t horizontally scale the seal.
• Don’t crop the seal.
• Don’t reproduce the seal in more than one color. Don’t fill parts of the seal with color. All transparent parts of the seal should show background.
• Don’t reproduce seal in unapproved color.
• Don’t create additional art for use around seal. Seal should stand alone or be paired with approved wordmark.
• Don’t vertically scale the shield.
• Don’t horizontally scale the shield.
• Don’t reproduce shield in unapproved color.
• Don’t align the wordmark in a centered configuration.
• Don’t align the wordmark in a flush-right configuration.
• Don’t stack the wordmark on three lines.
• Don’t vertically scale the monogram.
• Don’t horizontally scale the monogram.
• Don’t add any outlines, strokes or drop shadows to the monogram.
• Don’t track the letterforms out within the monogram.
• Don’t alter the typeface within the monogram.
• Don’t stack the letterforms vertically.
• Don’t arch or otherwise distort the monogram.
• Don’t alter the size of any of the letterforms within the monogram.
• Don’t reproduce the monogram using outlined letterforms.
• Don’t center the seal under the monogram.
• Don’t center the seal over the monogram.
• Don’t change the proportion of the monogram to the seal or shield.
• Don’t place the seal or shield to the right of the monogram.
• Don’t stack wordmark in three lines beneath monogram.
• Don’t place monogram beneath wordmark.
• Don’t center the seal under the wordmark.
• Don’t place the shield to the right of the wordmark. Don’t align wordmark in a flush- right configuration.
• Don’t combine shield with any formal academic unit logotype.
• Don’t combine shield with any informal academic unit logotype.
• Don’t center the shield over the wordmark. Don’t stack the wordmark on three lines.
• Don’t string wordmark in one line when combining with monogram.
• Don’t use unapproved typeface for wordmark. Don’t place monogram to right of wordmark.