Social media is one of the primary touchpoints between the university, its community, and other audiences. It is important that all faculties, schools, and departments present a consistent profile for immediate brand recognition.
Social Media Resources
Official Queen’s profile pictures and cover photo image size information is available to help faculties, schools, and departments represent the university on social channels with consistency.
Visual Identity Guide
The Visual Identity Guide outlines the elements that create the Queen's brand style, as well as the full set of guidelines for the correct and consistent application of the visual identity. It is recommended to view the online PDF to ensure that you are referencing the most up-to-date version.
Account Naming Conventions
To support search engine optimization and brand consistency, standardized social media platform naming should be used across all faculties, departments, and any other Queen’s University groups.
Username (account name):
@queensuunitname
(A shortened unit name may be necessary
to fit Twitter’s small character limit of 15)
Profile Name (appears on page or bio):
Queen’s University Unit Name
or
Queen's U Unit Name
(This option may be required when unit
names exceed channel character limit)
Example Account Naming Conventions
| Profile Name | Username |
|---|---|
| Queen’s University Law | @queensulaw |
| Queen’s University Student Affairs | @queensustudentaffairs |
| Queen’s University Research | @queensuresearch |
| Queen’s University Library | @queensulibrary |
For assistance with naming convention development, contact the University Relations Brand Team.
Profile Pictures
For brand consistency and to support instant recognition across all social channels, profile pictures for all faculty, school, and department accounts must be the Queen’s shield on a white background.
Note that the placement of the shield is different in a square or circle, so choose the right profile picture for each platform.
Download and utilize the profile picture files as they are provided.
Please note that the shield profile picture is reserved for approved units only. If you would like to request use of the official profile picture, contact the University Relations Brand Team.
Square Profile Picture
Circle Profile Picture
Cover Photos
Social media cover photos should be a photograph showcasing the area of study or work. A unit’s building or a relevant detail shot can also be effective.
Ensure your cover photo is cropping well on all devices, including desktop, tablet, and mobile. Reduce the size of your desktop window to test how the image responds at different desktop window widths.
No text, graphics, or logos are to be used as or on the cover photo.
When choosing photos, refer to the photography and videography guidelines. Remember to consider equity, diversity, inclusion, and indigeneity when selecting your cover photo, as well as obtaining the proper consent.
Sizing
Always refer to these cover photo size and specification guidelines as they vary for different social platforms and can change over time.
Post and Story Templates
To aid in the creation of branded social media posts and stories, templates have been created in a free design program. A variety of layouts have been created for all social platforms and new templates will be added over time.
When posting on social media, consider each platform’s grid and feed to ensure variety in the colour and design of the content. Consider including a high proportion of photographic posts.
Access the social media templates.
Queen’s social media accounts are considered “branded environments”. They should always feature the Queen’s shield as the profile picture and the name of the unit as the social media handle above each post. For this reason, it is not recommended to include a logo or lockup in social post creative. For organic posts, it is recommended to keep the copy on the artwork to a minimum. Only display the most high-level information and add the details in the post copy.
DO NOT include a logo or lockup in social post creative.
DO NOT include detailed information in social post creative.
DO retain only the most high-level information in the creative and include the details in the post copy.
Digital Advertising
When creating social media posts or paid digital advertising, the environment in which the communication will appear should determine the branding elements to include.
For organic social media posts, it is recommended to keep the copy on the artwork to a minimum and ensure good legibility of the type. Organic posts may feature more photography with details in the post copy, while paid posts may contain high-level information in the creative.
By contrast, a Queen’s logo or lockup should be included in paid DV360 ads that appear in an unbranded environment to ensure strong brand recognition.
Organic Instagram social post in a branded environment.
Paid Instagram advertisement in a branded environment.
Paid advertisement in an unbranded environment.