Student Life at the University of Toronto oversees 13 departments responsible for the non-academic programs and services that shape the student experience, but its communications were fragmented across more than 2,200 yearly touchpoints with no unifying visual system. Students tended to value only the areas they directly interacted with, without understanding the full breadth of support Student Life provided.
After a comprehensive audit and engagement sessions with all departments, the solution established Student Life as a distinct umbrella brand supported by clear sub-brands for each unit, creating a cohesive brand architecture that clarified roles and strengthened recognition. A flexible design system built around the “interconnecting frames,” a new iconography suite, program sub-brands, and full AODA compliance, brought consistency to print, digital, ambient, and promotional applications while dramatically improving production speed and clarity. The system enabled departments to express their individual identities within a unified structure, ultimately improving communication efficiency and elevating the visibility of Student Life’s broader value across campus.
After a comprehensive audit and engagement sessions with all departments, the solution established Student Life as a distinct umbrella brand supported by clear sub-brands for each unit, creating a cohesive brand architecture that clarified roles and strengthened recognition. A flexible design system built around the “interconnecting frames,” a new iconography suite, program sub-brands, and full AODA compliance, brought consistency to print, digital, ambient, and promotional applications while dramatically improving production speed and clarity. The system enabled departments to express their individual identities within a unified structure, ultimately improving communication efficiency and elevating the visibility of Student Life’s broader value across campus.
