Originally a component of the Emory coat of arms, the Emory shield, with its purposefully cut upper left corner, is the core holding shape of our visual system and our primary storytelling asset.
Shield Element Roles
The following graphic elements each play a specific and unique role in our design system.
Photo Frame
The shield used as a photo frame should be the hero of its composition. Use it specifically and intentionally—and not in every composition. Bleeding the photo frame off compositions makes the shield feel contemporary and prevents it from feeling cliched.
The photography/footage used here should feel distinct to Emory. Whenever possible, use the monotone image treatment. Compositions should properly fit the shape and not crop people in odd places.
Print Layout
Digital
Social Media
Text Box
We use the shield to house text at specific moments. It can contain short headlines and small quantities of body copy. This treatment should largely be used for smaller compositions and shouldn’t be used to contain large amounts of complex content.
Invitation
Campus Poster
Layout Example
Photo Overlay
Because our visual system is centered on the use of negative space, using the shield as a photo overlay creates an interesting and ownable holding shape for imagery. The photography/footage used here should feel distinct to Emory. The shield overlay should not crop imagery or people in odd places.
Social Media
