This Is the ACLU Design Handbook
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This is the ACLU Design Handbook. A Introduction Edition 1.2, October 2017 2 Introduction Foreword Michele Moore Chief Communications Officer This handbook is the next step in the ACLU’s ever-evolving journey as we dare to create a more perfect union. Our new visual identity is an expression of who we are and how we want to change our country. We express ourselves visually as well as verbally. This handbook gives us visual tools we all can use to communicate effectively. Its companion, the tone of voice guide, offers verbal tools to do the same. This work is for everyone, no matter who you are or what you do. With these resources, everyone at the ACLU will be able to share our messages and tell our clients’ stories like never before. 1 Contents 4 Introduction 12 IDEAS What our visual identity means 14 We Are Resolute 16 We Are Patriotic 18 We Are Historic 20 We Are Serious 22 We Are Layered 24 We Are Together 26 EXAMPLES The visual identity at work 28 Social Graphics 38 Campaigns and Series 42 Videos 46 Reports 50 Newsletters 52 Advertisements 56 Posters and Protest Signs 60 Direct Mail 62 Merchandise 66 DETAILS How to make things 68 Logos National and affiliate logos, brand architecture 92 Color Palette, suggested combinations 108 Typography Typefaces, text boxes, tagline 130 Tone of Voice Quest, tagline, and brand voice 134 Images Photos, illustrations, and information graphics 154 Layout Layering and composition 162 Campaigns and Series Creating print, digital, and video series 172 INDEX INTRODUCTION We are living in the Divided States of America. Political, economic, and cultural divides are widening. Fatalism is rampant. Enter the ACLU. 4 Introduction Our Story The ACLU is an organization of peo- ple who believe in the power of action. Whether in the courts, statehouses, or Congress, we fight to defend the rights that the Constitution guarantees to all of us — regardless of who we are, where we come from, whom we love, or what we believe. Together we take up the toughest civil liberties challenges of our time. We seek to be the place where people can come, no matter their political affiliation, to courageously take action. We seek to inspire those who want change to be- come the ones who make change. Today, people who are interested in supporting the ACLU do so primarily donating money. And while money is obviously important, people want Introduction 5 to do more. People don’t want to just support our actions; they want to take their own. And we want that too. Because of this, we’re expanding what it means to be an ACLU member and supporter. We’re evolving from an organization of lawyers and advocates fighting for the people into a larger coalition of people fighting for what’s right together — for all of us. We seek to be the place where people can come, no matter their po- litical affiliation, to courageously take action. We seek to inspire those who want change to become the ones who make change. This isn’t about one person. It isn’t about one party. It’s not about taking sides. It’s about all of us, coming to- gether to make change happen. We the people dare to create a more perfect union. 6 Introduction MIDDLE LEFT: DAVID MORIYA; BOTTOM RIGHT: ACLU OF MICHIGAN; ALL OTHERS: ACLU NATIONWIDE ACLU OF MICHIGAN; ALL OTHERS: ACLU RIGHT: BOTTOM MORIYA; DAVID MIDDLE LEFT: Introduction 7 Design and the ACLU The ACLU is a group of people working to make change. We are not a corporation. It makes sense that for many years, the ACLU had no marketing, no advertising, no design, and not even a logo. The Statue of Liberty was our only symbol. Why do we — a team of lawyers, policy advo- cates, and communicators working to advance social change — need to think about branding and marketing? THTHEE A ACCLLUU BRAND BRAND THTHEETH AACCELL AUUC BRANDBRANDLU BRAND A Abrand brand is isa apromise. promise. The The American American Civil Civil Liberties Liberties Union’s Union’s promise promise is is AA brandbrandA isbrandis aa promise.promise. is a promise. 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