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Brand Messaging

Brand Messaging

Telling Our Brand Story

Every story we tell is an opportunity to connect, inspire, and share what makes our students, faculty, and staff extraordinary. The Nevada brand has a universal messaging principles designed to help us speak with clarity, authentic warmth, and one united voice.

Naming and Copy Guidance

Consistency in how we refer to the institution is critical to building a recognizable national brand.

 
Primary Naming

91ԭƬ

The official primary name of the University.

When to Use

This is our clear and specific primary name. Use this for all broad awareness efforts, and specifically for audiences with little-to-no awareness (such as those residing out-of-state or in Southern Nevada).

Why

It clarifies our location and institutional identity, distinguishes us from other universities, and grounds the University in a clear sense of place. (It is also what most people use to find us through Google and AI platforms.

Primary Name Shorthand

UNR

The preferred shorthand once the full University context is clear.

When to Use

Use when character counts are limited and to aid in online discovery (and search engines).

Applications

Social media copy, digital advertising, web copy, and general external communications (after the first full mention).

Rule

Only use in copy after the primary “Name” name has been established.

Internal Name Shorthand

University of Nevada

This shorthand is reserved exclusively for internal, localized use. *See Nevada Athletics use rules

When to Use

Use this version only for on-campus communications where the context and location of the University are already firmly established among those who already know about, go to, or work at the University, or live within Reno.

Applications

On-campus environmental signage, internal faculty/staff communications, internal operational documents, and on-campus student life materials.

Rule

This shorthand must never be used for external marketing, advertising, or off-campus communications. Using this externally creates campus/system confusion because the audience doesn't understand "where" we are first.

Lake Tahoe Campus Naming

University of Nevada at Lake Tahoe

The primary name for our campus at Lake Tahoe.

When to Use

When referring specifically to programs, events, or initiatives at the Lake Tahoe location in written copy.

Why

Including both "Reno" and "Lake Tahoe" in the same string of text causes geographic confusion. Dropping "Reno" in this specific instance provides immediate clarity.

University of Nevada Athletics Naming Guidance

Athletics naming conventions distinguish our athletics programs from our academic identity and optimize our brand consistency and market presence across all mediums.

 
Primary Name

The University of Nevada

The official primary name for Athletics at the University.

Why

It distinguishes the University of Nevada Athletics from the academic institution, 91ԭƬ. It is also what most people use to find Nevada Athletics through Google and AI platforms.

When to Use

Use on all references associated with Nevada Athletics, except in cases where secondary references may be applied.

Rule

Do not use 91ԭƬ or UNR when referring to anything athletics.

Secondary Name

Nevada

The secondary name for Nevada Athletics at the University.

Guidance
  • Nevada may be used in references to Athletics
  • Nevada Athletics is plural (e.g., athletics department, not athletic department).
  • Must be capitalized when used as a proper name or a team reference (e.g., Nevada Softball, Nevada Football).
Rule

Do not overcapitalize when referring to internal elements of Nevada Athletics when common terms are used (e.g., athletics program, football program) or athletic programs (e.g., Wolf Pack women's basketball team).

Nevada Athletics Shorthand

Wolf Pack

The official nickname of the University of Nevada athletics teams.

Guidance

Wolf Pack is two words, is capitalized, and is singular (e.g., the Wolf pack is ranked 25th this week).

Applications

Used when referring as a shorthand for Nevada Athletics (e.g., Wolf Pack Softball) or when space constraints are present (e.g., on scoreboards, box scores, etc.)

Rule

This shorthand is trademarked and is not to be used by the University's club or recreational sports.

Second Reference Name

Pack

An official short-hand reference for Wolf Pack.

When to Use

Use this version only on second reference when referring to athletics teams after the University of Nevada or Wolf Pack has been established.

Rule

This shorthand must never be used in place of University of Nevada or Wolf Pack for athletics on first reference.

 
Brand Messaging

Our Brand Voice

If our logos and colors are the visual face of the University, our brand voice is its conversation. It dictates how we tell our stories, invite collaboration, and express the drive and character that define our campus community.

The Accelerator

Driven by Purpose

Our brand promise anchors every student experience and discovery.

We speak with clarity and conviction.
Every promise earns its place.
Every promise is specific.
We show the work, prove the value, and move people forward.
01

Own the Setting

We're proud of where we are. Nevada is an advantage and we speak like it.

02

Proof Over Poetry

We deal in specifics. We show real work and real outcomes.

03

Confidence, Earned

We demonstrate. Every claim is backed by something real.

04

Action-First

We sound like people who get to work. Clear. Direct. No filler.

Up Next

Visual Identity

Explore the visual toolkit that powers our story — from the dynamic new logo to spirit-filled secondary marks, our refreshed color palette to bold typography.