Bringing our 60th to life
In 2024, the University of Essex turns 60. We’re stepping into a new era with confidence and pride, backed by a six-decade-strong history to reflect on, draw from, and inspire us in the exciting years ahead.
To celebrate and shout about our achievements, we’ve developed a special 60th anniversary campaign running across two academic years: 2023/24 and 2024/25. A campaign identity with a distinct look and feel that sits seamlessly alongside our University brand identity – staying true to the beating heart of Essex to reflect who we are in this unique moment of time.
The tone we strike in our words and style defines the 60th campaign. Ours is rooted in our core Essex tone of voice: bold, direct, friendly, and proud. We speak clearly with confidence. We are optimistic and full of hope for the future – and not afraid to say so. We are outward-facing, forward-looking and our voice encapsulates the Essex spirit.
We’re always straightforward and clear, and we’re buzzing for the future. Most of all, we believe in the power of change – big and small. It’s what inspired us at the start, drives us today, and shapes our future.
The celebration aims to resonate across audiences – from students past and present, to new partnerships, staff and stakeholders, to the wider community. By encouraging them to share in our joy and pride at marking 60 years here at Essex, we help them see the impact we have, the people we champion and the change we create – today and to come.
Our campaign strapline
The strapline we’ve developed for our 60th anniversary is the ultimate expression of our 60th campaign. Essex is a university for the brave, energetic and eager to learn – where ideas are shared, and initiative valued. Essex has never been about keeping quiet or toeing the line. It’s about taking action. Making a difference. Creating change.
Our strapline encapsulates this ethos…
WHERE – a place, generic for physical and online. Clear to understand. Straight to the point. Leading to something.
CHANGE – a positive and active outcome (impact). Broad enough to carry meaning across all our pillars and audiences. Our brand proposition relates to creating and delivering positive change. Change is at the heart of Essex Spirit ‘home to those impatient for change’, ‘changing lives’ ‘place for people who want change’, ‘change the game’, ‘creating positive change’. Change also frames our 60 stories.
HAPPENS – re-enforces ‘change’ as something that takes place, the tangible outcomes. Straight to the point – matter of fact. Fits with our brand values of making a difference to the lives of our students.
Simple yet bold, our campaign strapline emphasises the adventurous attitude that has kept this University thriving for 60 years. It reflects the progress of our students when they learn at Essex, and the difference we make by tackling difficult questions in research. It underlines the wider impact we can, and are having, on the world around us.
Our 60th campaign logo
Our 60th campaign identity and graphical assets are designed to enable you to effectively communicate our 60th milestone across all touchpoints, large and small, online, and offline.
The 60th logo with strapline lock-up is the primary asset for the campaign and, where possible, it should replace the main University of Essex logo on print and digital communications for the duration of the campaign only.
Sixty Stories at 60
Our focus when celebrating the University of Essex reaching this incredible milestone will be a campaign that conveys how our students, staff, research, and partnerships are creating global impact.
The Sixty Stories at 60 campaign will launch at the beginning of the Autumn Term 2023. Across the next two academic years, we will showcase 60 stories, one per week, that demonstrate and evidence creating change that makes a difference in our local communities, region, country, and across the globe.
The Sixty Stories campaign is designed to distil our often-complex narratives into easily digestible stories accessible for all audiences.
