Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response

Visual Identity Guidelines

Version 1.0 | July 2012

If you need to use the Sphere Project logo in languages other than English, please visit SphereProject.org/visual-identity.

This document is also available in French and Spanish.

The Sphere Project | Visual Identity Guidelines 1.0

The Sphere Project establishes and promotes minimum standards for use by the global humanitarian community in their response to the plight of people affected by disaster or conflict.

A voluntary initiative encompassing a broad range of humanitarian actors, its goal is to improve the quality and the accountability of humanitarian response.

The new Sphere Project logo expresses in a lively manner the character of the Sphere community: compassionate, professional, global.

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response

Professionalism as well as commitment to quality and accountability are qualities reflected in its simple, clean look.

The font used for the logotype and tagline – Myriad – is a sans serif, humanist typeface derived from handwriting; it conveys a clear and professional yet empathetic look.

Humanity and compassion are suggested by the hand-drawn style of the logomark – the earth globe.

Elements Colours Variations Exclusion zone Minimum sizes Use and misuse

Logo Colour palette Typefaces Downloads

The green and blue are fresh, complementary colours; the gradient representing the sea gives the logomark a contemporary look.

The latitude and longitude lines suggest energy and urgency, recalling the nature of humanitarian response as well as a global network.

The circles encompassing the globe illustrate protection as well as the universality of the humanitarian imperative.

The Sphere Project | Visual Identity Guidelines 1.0

The Sphere Project logo is composed of three elements:

• a Logomark (the globe),

• a Logotype (‘The Sphere Project’) and

• a Tagline (‘Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response’).

The logo design establishes the visual proportions, alignment and spacing of these elements. These specifications should not be modified.

Logomark

Logotype

Tagline

Consistent use of the logo will result in increased brand recognition. Therefore, modifying elements of the logo design should be avoided.

The logomark may be used separately (without the logotype and tagline) as part of a graphic design only if the full version of the logo is also included in the same product.

See also Variations

Elements Colours Variations Exclusion zone Minimum sizes Use and misuse

Logo Colour palette Typefaces Downloads

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response

The Sphere Project | Visual Identity Guidelines 1.0

Cyan 100 Cyan 60 Cyan 0Magenta 72 Magenta 0 Magenta 0Yellow 0 Yellow 90 Yellow 0Black 26 Black 0 Black 80

Pantone 294 Pantone 368 Pantone 7545

Red 0 Red 112 Red 88Green 67 Green 191 Green 88Blue 134 Blue 84 Blue 90HEX #004386 HEX #70BF54 HEX #58585A

Pantone 294 - Pantone Black

The logo may be reproduced in black or Pantone 294. No other colours are permitted for reproducing the logo in a single colour.

CMYK

SPOT COLOUR

SCREEN & WEB

LIGHTBLUEC35M0Y10K0

DARKBLUEC80M50Y0K0

The logo features a gradated fill; because of this, it is best to use the final artwork files rather than try to recreate the logo design.

MONO

Elements Colours Variations Exclusion zone Minimum sizes Use and misuse

Logo Colour palette Typefaces Downloads

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response

The Sphere Project | Visual Identity Guidelines 1.0

Landscape version

A landscape version of the logo may be used where the standard version would not reproduce well because of space constraints or other considerations.

No tagline version

The logo, both in its standard and landscape versions, may be used without the tagline when reproduced in small size. Specific artwork files are available for that purpose.

Reversed versions

When the logo is to be reproduced on a dark background, the reversed logo versions created for that purpose should be used. Only black and Pantone 294 are accepted as background colours. There is no single-colour reversed version of the logo; reversed versions are always full colour.

Where the logo is to be reproduced on a solid background colour other than black or Pantone 294, the regular version of the logo should be used on a white panel with round corners.

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response

Elements Colours Variations Exclusion zone Minimum sizes Use and misuse

Logo Colour palette Typefaces Downloads

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response

The Sphere Project | Visual Identity Guidelines 1.0

The exclusion zone is the area that must be kept clear around the logo. This ensures that the logo has optimal readability and impact.

The exclusion zone should be of at least the same dimensions as the logotype’s capital letters. Headlines, text copy, other logos or graphics as well as images must not appear within the exclusion zone.

Elements Colours Variations Exclusion zone Minimum sizes Use and misuse

Logo Colour palette Typefaces Downloads

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response

The Sphere Project | Visual Identity Guidelines 1.0

Standard version

25 mm wide

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response

50 mm wide

35 mm wide

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response

60 mm wide

Reproductions of the standard logo should never measure less than 50 mm wide (or 25 mm if using the version without the tagline).

Reproductions of the landscape logo should never measure less than 60 mm wide (or 35 mm if using the version without the tagline).

The logo should always be used in such a way that its legibility is preserved.

For print, the minimum sizes allowed for the logo are indicated below.

Landscape version

Elements Colours Variations Exclusion zone Minimum sizes Use and misuse

Logo Colour palette Typefaces Downloads

The Sphere Project | Visual Identity Guidelines 1.0

How not to use the logoThe logo should not be reproduced in any way that alters it or causes its deterioration. In particular, avoid:

• stretching, distorting or condensing it;

• altering the proportions between logotype, tagline and logomark;

• modifying the colour specifications;

• altering or substituting the Myriad typeface;

• reproducing the logo from a photocopy, facsimile, printed sample or anything other than the approved artwork files available alongside these guidelines;

• reproducing it on a busy background, like a photograph, or on a solid background colour other than black or Pantone 294 when using its reversed version.

The Sphere Project logo may be used to identify products and activities related to the Sphere Handbook and developed by the Sphere community – that is, organizations and individuals committed to the Sphere principles and standards.

However, certain conditions apply:

• the authorship of these products needs to be clearly identified and prominently displayed so as not to imply endorsement by the Sphere Project office;

• the logo cannot be used in any way that might suggest endorsement by the Sphere Project office (please consult the Sphere Project office in case of doubt);

• the logo cannot be reproduced alone on the cover of publications (print or electronic) websites or other products (please consult the Sphere Project office in case of doubt);

• the logo cannot be used for commercial purposes nor be displayed on items designated for sale without prior agreement by the Sphere Project office;

• the logo cannot be used in business cards, letterheads or personal websites.

Elements Colours Variations Exclusion zone Minimum sizes Use and misuse

Logo Colour palette Typefaces Downloads

Examples of how not to use the logo

The Sphere Project | Visual Identity Guidelines 1.0

Primary coloursThe two primary colours used on print and electronic materials are the blue and green* specified here. These colours may also be used in other visual elements such as backgrounds, fills, etcetera. Tints of these colours may also be used.

Secondary coloursThese colours may be used in conjunction with the main branding colours to provide other design options. Tints of these colours may also be used.

Pantone:294CMYK: C100/M72/Y0/K26RGB: R0/G67/B134HEX: #004386

Pantone:361CMYK: C68/M0/Y87/K0RGB: R84/G186/B92HEX: #54BA5C

Pantone:187CMYK: C0/M100/Y65/K18RGB: R200/G15/B63HEX: #C80F3F

Pantone:CYANCMYK: C100/M0/Y0/K0RGB: R0/G174/B239HEX: #00AEEF

Pantone:226CMYK: C3/M100/Y0/K0RGB: R228/G2/B140HEX: #E4028C

Pantone:259CMYK: C65/M100/Y0/K16RGB: R104/G32/B125HEX: #68207D

Pantone:144CMYK: C0/M59/Y100/K0RGB: R245/G131/B31HEX: #F5841F

Pantone:7409CMYK: C0/M36/Y100/K0RGB: R251/G173/B24HEX: #FBAD18

Pantone:315CMYK: C100/M0/Y18/K42RGB: R0/G115/B139HEX: #00738B

Pantone:424CMYK: C12/M8/Y10/K60RGB: R112/G115/B115HEX: #707373

Logo Colour palette Typefaces Downloads

* Please note that this green is not the same as the one used on the logo.

The Sphere Project | Visual Identity Guidelines 1.0

Sans serif typefaces The Myriad font family is the primary sans serif typeface to be used in all visual materials produced by the Sphere Project. Myriad is installed as part of the Adobe Creative Suite 3 (and above). It is also available as part of Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0 (and above).

Where there is no access to the Myriad font family, Lucida Sans may be used instead. Lucida Sans is the preferred typeface for use on the website and email communications. Lucida Sans is a standard Windows and Apple font.

Myriad Regular

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

Serif typefacesThe Adobe Caslon Pro font family is the serif typeface of choice. It is used in all products that include large amounts of body text as it makes it easier to read than a sans serif font. It may also be used to achieve contrast with the sans serif font families. Adobe Caslon Pro is installed as part of the Adobe Creative Suite 3 (and above).

Where there is no access to the Adobe Caslon Pro font family, Times New Roman may be used instead. Times New Roman is a standard Windows and Apple font.

Adobe Caslon Pro

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

Logo Colour palette Typefaces Downloads

Lucida Sans

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

Times New Roman

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

The Sphere Project | Visual Identity Guidelines 1.0

Please find below links to several downloadable sets of artwork files of the Sphere Project logo in its different versions.

The print sets contain CMYK and Pantone files in vector format. These are for use in publications, banners and other professionally printed products.

Artwork files

Standard Landscape

Sphere Project logo (with and without tagline)

Print(1.5 Mb)

PC(0.9 Mb)

Digital(0.5 Mb)

Print(1.2 Mb)

PC(0.8 Mb)

Digital(0.5 Mb)

Reversed versions (for use on solid colour background)

Print(1 Mb)

PC(1 Mb)

Digital(1 Mb)

Print(0.8 Mb)

PC(0.7 Mb)

Digital(0.7 Mb)

The PC sets include RGB files in JPG format. These are for use in documents generated with word processors, presentations and the like.

The digital sets contain HEX files in JPG format and are for use online.

All downloadable sets are compressed files in ZIP format. A free-of-charge tool to decompress them is available here.

Logo Colour palette Typefaces Downloads

FontsWe cannot supply fonts for download due to restrictions imposed by license agreements. However, Lucida Sans and Times New Roman are included in most PCs’ standard font packages.

By downloading and using the Sphere Project logo, you agree to its Terms of Use.

The Sphere Project thanks all members of the Sphere community for their compliance with these guidelines.

The latest version of this document and of the high resolution files referred to in it can be found on the Sphere Project website: SphereProject.org/visual-identity

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response

Mail: P.O. Box 372, 1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland . Office: 17, chemin des Crêts, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland Tel: + 41 22 730 4498 . Fax: +41 22 730 4905 . Email: info@SphereProject.org . Website: www.SphereProject.org

The Sphere Project Board: ACT Alliance • Aktion Deutschland Hilft • CARE International • CARITAS Internationalis • DanChurchAid/The Lutheran World Federation InterAction • International Council of Voluntary Agencies • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies • International Medical Corps Office Africain pour le Développement et la Coopération • Oxfam International • Plan International • Policy Action Group on Emergency Response RedR International • Save the Children Alliance • Sphere India • The Salvation Army • World Vision International