UNK desires deliberate repetitive and consistent use of its brand marks and creative elements to share UNK and Loper athletics’ story. Every t-shirt, other garment or promotional item developed to promote or communicate about UNK athletics, worn by student-athletes or coaches, should adhere to the brand guidelines (appropriate use of logo, brand colors, styles). Additionally, every item should have at least ONE athletic brand element, either a Loper head
or the slanted UNK “athletic logo:”
Notice the R in a circle with the logos. As registered trademarks, the UNK logo/art must include the Circle R ® unless using the symbol so small that it is rendered unreadable (contact Kelly Bartling for questions about needing to use the ® symbol). The word Lopers should have a TM next to it the word Lopers is trademarked, not the art/logo treatment below.)
Again, a Loper head, OR the slanted UNK art elements are required on athletics garments.
UNK logos, marks and indicia are property of UNK. UNK logos are never to be changed: No alterations to color, no shading, outlining, stretching, squeezing, and no substituting colors. The UNK marks will never be conveyed in yellow/gold. Only white, black or blue (+gold metallic). The Loper head will never be conveyed in yellow or black. Only white or blue. The Loperhead and the slanted UNK should not be superimposed on top of another element, or another element placed on top of it. The Loper head always faces right. The UNK athletics slanted/italic logo always slants right.
Logo “lockups,” or co-branded logos, have been developed for each sport (see the brand/art sheets, where they are called “extension marks”). Promoting individual sports is great. You are asked to use the co-branded marks that have already been developed. All marks on the art sheet referenced are always approved for use.
Repetition and consistent use of the athletics marks is so important. We understand that personal and individual style and flair are part of the process of enjoying and appreciating being part of a team, but remember the important attributes of branding and brand recognition. A certain amount of creative leeway can be encouraged, just work with the guideline that a Loper head or UNK athletics logo must be on the shirt or garment front. It’s generally OK to use stylized type that does not change the appearance of the brand artwork, and images that convey the sport, but keep the focus on UNK and/or the Loper head. Visit with athletics equipment manager Phil Noah, and/or a Communications and Marketing designer at the beginning of your design process for guidance.
Ownership of UNK’s marks does not transfer to a student, faculty or staff. If you are intending to use the UNK logo on items that will have wide circulation (off campus), or will be sold, you will need to obtain permission of your artwork and its use through Communications and Marketing. If you are selling your items, they will need to be licensed through our license agent, Learfield.
Sure. As long as they are licensed through Learfield and have access to our university logos. Most Kearney-area material producers are licensees and we work with them often to print or create UNK material. Most seek our approval before printing, so, it would probably be easier to come to Communications and Marketing first to get your design developed, or in the case of athletic department-sponsored team gear, you will need to work with Phil Noah. That will avoid any lost time due to changes. Moonlight and 24 Hour Tees send your designs to us for approval.
These are sent to Kyle Means and Tanner Drew (in the case of team gear) for approval, and approval turnaround is less than 24 hours. If you have questions about whether your design will get approved, talk to Kyle before submitting.
View the Art Sheet. The most recent update is from May 2016. You may notice the K with a Loper head on it, and several antelopes, have been phased out.
Keep in mind the Loper head is a licensed/registered trademark and you are subject to the guidelines above. The Loper head has been used, traditionally, to communicate about UNK athletics. The Loper head is also our school spirit mark, conveying pride, energy, and accomplishment, most often through UNK sport. If you are communicating about UNK team spirit, the Loper head may indeed convey this. Again, it’s best to consult Communications and Marketing before deciding on a design element or mark; context is everything.
We don’t find this offensive, but some people might. Proceed with caution.
Is your sport camp an official UNK camp? If so, please incorporate the athletic logos into your camp logo design. We understand camps are special events and are appealing to youth, so additional freedom and creativity will be allowed in creating camp logos. If it’s for a camp, use the word camp on it. If your camp is not a UNK-sanctioned camp, don’t use UNK name or marks.
The traditions and spirit shared by the students, alumni and friends of UNK have created a demand for products that display our marks, symbols and insignia. We have an obligation to protect and benefit UNK and constituents through licensing. Licensing, through our agent, also returns revenue through royalties back to the Athletic department. Our licensing agent assists us with increasing our market by contacting retailers and encouraging them to sell our merchandise, it advises us on marketability of products and increasing demand for our products, and it gathers the royalties from retailers selling and making money off our marks.
Contact Communications and Marketing.
Under Board of Regent policy memorandum the campus Vice Chancellors for Business and Finance are responsible for overseeing licensing on the campus level. At UNK and on a number of the other campuses, the vice chancellor directs the campus’s senior marketing or publications officer to execute and process the licensing guides. At UNK, that is Director of Marketing Kyle Means.