The Instructure Brand

Usage Rules

Sometimes a vertically oriented logo better fits the space. If you look to the right, you’ll see the minimum logo clear space and minimum size requirements.

• Don’t use old Instructure logos.

• Don’t place the logo on a busy background or use it in combinations that don’t meet AIM accessibility.

• Don’t distort the logo by warping it, stretching it, or scaling it disproportionately.

• Don’t adjust the colors or use gradients.

• Don’t add any components to/remove any components from the logo.

• Don’t add drop shadows, outlines, or textures.

• Don’t do any of the additional “don’ts” illustrated to the right.

Primary Colors

The Instructure brand has three primary colors, chosen for both aesthetic and accessibility purposes. They’re Instructure blue (PMS 2149), red (PMS 1788), and orange (PMS 144).

Secondary Colors

Our secondary colors are for supplementary use—in outlines, buttons, divisions, illustrations, and color accents. The little things. Our handy “Palette Usage” graphic will help you determine usage frequency.

White Space

We give our colors room to breathe. So embrace the white space.

• Don’t use colors that aren’t on our list (even if they look “close enough”).

• Don’t use secondary colors for headers.

• Don’t use color on body copy. However, headlines, subheads, and titles are okay.

• Don’t mix too many colors and gradients, causing a rainbow effect.

Color gradients using primary colors and their tonal neighbors add dimension and variety, and help make our site more accessible. Please use them in moderation.

The Instructure Ed-cosystem graphic provides a snapshot of our product-brand ecosystem. It’s a helpful tool for showing how our offerings work together to amplify teaching and elevate learning, leading to improved outcomes.

The graphic’s hexagon shape, which echoes that of the Instructure logo, can be used on its own as a design element for visual emphasis—particularly as a clipping mask for photography or illustration, or a container for messaging. 
 

We keep our photography simple and strong. Whenever possible:

• Show real people whose lives have been positively affected by Instructure and its products.

• Evoke optimism and highlight humanity through thoughtful lighting and careful composition—even with stock images.

• Represent the diverse backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, ages, etc. of the millions of people Instructure impacts every day.

• Show the technology aspect of our brand when it makes sense, while always keeping humanity in mind.

• When taking photographs that don’t include people, look for unconventional and compelling ways to handle composition and perspective.

• Incorporate brand colors wherever possible.

Photos With Text Overlays

What do you do when you want words on top of a photo? But need it to be accessible so everyone can read it? You desaturate the photo, insert a white transparency layer, and then apply another transparency on top.

• Don’t use just people on white backgrounds. Keep them in their educational or work environment.

• Don’t show subjects looking right at the camera. Photographs should feel candid, not posed.

• Don’t use the kind of composited photos often found on stock image websites.

• Don’t use cliché images (a bunch of people pointing at a laptop screen, a teacher writing a math equation on a chalkboard while students smile too excitedly, etc.).

• Don’t show out-of-date technology.

• Don’t use images that are visual puns or otherwise silly.

We use bespoke character illustrations that amplify and elevate our brand with a distinctive style, subject matter, and color palette.

The diamond pattern, gradient heat map, and abstract geometric backgrounds visually strengthen our brand by repeating the Instructure logo shape, creating unique branded color experiences, and adding texture and depth. 

Our panda spirit mark is part of our Instructure corporate brand, but it’s
not meant to replace our Instructure logo. Instructure branding must remain omnipresent to connect the panda with our overarching mission. Here are a few examples of how to integrate the spirit mark into your design with the combined Instructure logo and wordmark.

Always print Instructure materials on 110-lb matte or satin-paper finish paper. Nothing glossy whatsoever.