Strategic Communications and Brand Department
The strategic communication and brand department conceives, designs and creates printed and digital communications that stand out in a crowded marketplace. We produce magazines, newsletters, brochures, ads, invitations, programs, digital assets, fliers — from the initial concept for the project through to the final product.
To view the department’s Projects Planning Guide, or to submit a request for print or digital advertisements, please see below.
Projects Planning Guide
Requests for new or updated print or digital pieces are initiated using the Project Planning Guide (PPG). The PPG requests important information, including target audience(s), goal of the piece, tone, look and feel. This information will help our design team create effective creative concepts that meet communication goals. Upon submission, both the design and marketing teams will be notified of your request.
After submitting the PPG:
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Arrange a planning meeting between the strategic communications and brand department and your school/department/program.
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Summarize the agreements and direction from the meeting in writing and share with brand department via email.
Print and Digital Advertising Requests
Advertising of Seton Hall schools, colleges and programs is developed in coordination with our marketing team. Seton Hall ads are often based on templates that align with the look and feel of our brand. We work to incorporate consistent type and design elements that help create a unified look for the University.
Use the forms below to initiate your request. Upon submission, both the design and marketing teams will be notified of your request.
How We Work
With its deep understanding of the Seton Hall brand and best practices for communicating the Seton Hall story through content, images, design and experiences, the strategic communication and brand department is well positioned to advise you and help you meet your goals effectively.
- Brand Identity
- Uphold the University’s graphic standards
- Administer the use of logos and University symbols on all public-facing materials
- Design
- Provide graphic design expertise
- Provide art direction for photography and publication design
- Recommend freelance designers, as needed
- Editorial
- Provide writing and editing support for select projects
- Recommend freelance writers, as needed
- Maintain University style
- Printing and Production
Identify cost savings through:
- Careful selection of paper type and printing methods
- Effective bidding of projects to select vendors
- Perform color checks on proofs and inspect quality of final materials
- Coordinate with printers and mail houses on the mailing of materials
- Ensure adherence to current postal regulations and standards
What We Do
We offer a variety of services that show Seton Hall to its best advantage in order to enhance its reputation and support its mission.
- Your Role
Project Sponsor
A “project sponsor” (someone who works with the brand department and who is a member of a department that does not have a designated marketing liaison) is responsible for the following:- Schedule meeting with the strategic communications and brand department / web teams (at same time, if possible) to review project
- Fill out a Project Planning Guide (PPG), supplying a creative brief, indicating budget and distribution information
- Whenever possible, supply sample publication(s) for comparison (paper, color, look, etc)
- Provide copy for the project, keeping within recommended word count maximums
- See Templates for word count guidelines
- Review layouts, then provide feedback and direction, as well as any copy edits
- Review paper selection and ink choices and sign off on them
- Approve print estimate
- Show materials (as needed) to management within the sponsoring department for review
and approval
- Select audience and create mailing list
- Contact and work with selected mailing house for mailing
- Ensure that enough money for postage is in the appropriate postal account
- Sign off on final version of work
- Pay invoices and IDT (for design/production work)
- Marketing Liaison
A marketing liaison (someone within the Strategic Communications and Brand Department who is assigned to a specific school/college/department) is responsible for the following:
- Schedule meeting with the brand department / web teams (at same time, if possible) to review project; include campus partner if possible
- Fill out a Project Planning Guide (PPG), supplying a creative brief (page 3 of PPG), indicating budget and distribution information
- Whenever possible, supply sample projects(s) for comparison (paper, color, look, etc)
- Work with campus partner to secure copy for the project, keeping within recommended word count maximums
- See template section for word count guidelines
- Review layouts, then provide feedback and direction, as well as any copy edits, both before and after campus partner has reviewed
- Review paper selection (with paper samples, if necessary) and ink choices, and sign off on them
- Review print estimate with campus partner and get approval
- Show materials (as needed) to executive management within the sponsoring department for review and approval
- Select audience and create mailing list
- Contact and work with selected mailing house for mailing
- Ensure that enough money for for postage is in the appropriate postal account
- Review final version of work with campus partner and obtain signoff
- If necessary, review invoices and IDT with campus partner
- Timeframes for Publications Projects
The average project time frame is 6-8 weeks.
Timeframes for Publications Projects Postcard 5 - 6 weeks (schedule in additional mailing time) Poster/Flyer 5 - 6 weeks Invitation 6 - 8 weeks (schedule in additional mailing time) Program 8 - 10 weeks (depending on complexity of event) Folder (w/o inserts) 6 - 8 weeks (includes three weeks to print) Folder (w/ inserts) 8 - 10 weeks (includes three weeks to print) Brochure/Viewbook (update) 8 - 10 weeks Brochure/Viewbook (new/redesign) 3 - 4 months Print Ad (newly designed or heavily updated) 4 weeks Print Ad (minor edits) 2 weeks Print Ad (resize) 1 week
