2023–2026 | Modesto Junior College

Creative Roles:

• Nicholas Lazar – Graphic Arts & Marketing Specialist
• Joshua Sigman – Front-End Web Developer
• Jeanette Fontana – Director of Marketing & Public Relations

Project Summary: The Modesto Junior College Brand Guide was developed to unify the institution under a single, cohesive visual identity. As a cornerstone community college serving thousands of students across multiple campuses and departments, MJC previously faced “brand fragmentation,” where individual offices and schools operated with inconsistent logos and styles. The Mission of this project was to define the college’s visual identity through the lens of its mission, vision, and value statements, ensuring that every piece of communication—from a student flyer to a presidential report—feels like it comes from one united professional institution.

Constraints: The primary challenge was balancing institutional authority with departmental identity. MJC is a massive ecosystem featuring 10 distinct schools, administrative offices, and external grant-funded programs. The guidelines needed to be rigid enough to maintain brand equity but flexible enough to provide specific sub-brands and logo extensions for internal departments.

Additionally, the guide had to solve for ADA compliance and web accessibility. I had to ensure that the color palette and typography met strict legibility standards for a diverse student population while remaining modern and collegiate.

Outcome: Designed and launched a comprehensive digital brand hub that serves as a living resource for the entire college district. By establishing a clear brand hierarchy, the Office of Marketing & Public Relations successfully centralized the college’s visual assets, significantly reducing the production of rogue logos and inconsistent materials.

Key components of the system developed include:

• Core Visual Identity: Standardized usage of the primary MJC logo, wordmarks, and academic seal.
• Brand Architecture: Created a tiered logo extension system for the 10 Schools and administrative units, allowing for departmental pride without breaking the parent brand.
• Color & Typography Systems: Defined a primary palette supported by a secondary palette to add variety to campus marketing.
• Standardized Assets: Developed clear guidelines for imagery, photography, and external program lockups for designations like HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and TRiO.

The final result is a professional, unified face for Modesto Junior College that empowers staff and faculty to communicate clearly while reinforcing MJC’s reputation as a premier educational institution in the Central Valley.