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House Style

When we choose an organisation or product, the feel-good factor plays an important role. Young people in particular assess organisations, including universities, as ‘brands’. 80% of a brand is formed by people’s experiences with it: in the case of UM this is teaching, research and the organisation as a whole. The remaining 20% is developed through media such as brochures and advertisements. Here, the university’s major characteristics should be strong content and quality.

The House Style Office (Marketing and Communications department) is responsible for centrally coordinating UM's house style. The guiding principles for correct use are set out in this digital manual, managed by the House Style Office and based on a decision laid down by the Executive Board (in consultation with UM's management team) on the basic house style elements.

Mariken van Meteren
Minderbroedersberg 4-6, room 2.119
6211 LK Maastricht
P.O. Box 616
6200 MD Maastricht
 +31  6 34 38 0997
m.vanmeteren
@maastrichtuniversity.nl

View a list of unit level house style coordinators to find our who can help in your unit

  • Reputation

    Maastricht University has quickly secured a strong position in the European academic world. Maintaining and further developing this position depends on many factors, with unequivocal branding continuing to play a prominent role. The UM house style gives shape to this by insuring that faculties, schools, institutes, service centres, and other units belong to UM.

  • 1 organisation, 1 house style

    The UM House style unifies UM’s visual identity and supports its innovative and international character. Positioning the brand clearly and consistently involves presenting and maintaining a strong identity. The main ‘image brand’ element (i.e., the two triangles) combined with the ‘word brand’ (the university’s name) in the UM logo forms the basis for the house style structure.

  • One UM family

    The UM House style is monolithic: one organisation, one name, one visual identity. Thus we must present ourselves as one clear and consistent UM family, all using the same logo and house style elements. Within this context, however, some level of flexibility is required. UM-affiliated A-brands, such as research schools and institutes, may take on an endorsed identity (also see Quadrant model and branding).

  • House style tools

    The house style consists of a number of basic elements such as logo, colour gamut, typography, grids, and style characteristics. Together, they make up the designer’s basic tools, and their application can make or break the house style’s effectiveness.

    As the range of communication media is virtually infinite, it is impossible for us to answer ‘all’ house style questions. UM has opted to further develop its house style based on internal clients’ needs and their specific target groups. We do request that clients follow a set procedure when applying the house style, for example, by using one of the preferred suppliers, designers, photographers, and printers, who are familiar with the latest house style rules.

  • Procedure

    The House Style Office of the Marketing and Communications department coordinates the application of UM’s house style rules, working closely with the non-central coordinators at the faculties, service centres, and the Maastricht University Office, each of whom are responsible for the application of House Style within their units.

    This House Style is composed of decisions of the Executive Board – in consultation with UM’s management team – setting out the house style’s basic elements, including the authorised names list of all UM units are obliged to comply with house style. The list also specifies the extent to which each unit must adhere to house style.

Faculty and service centre house style coordinators

The House Style Office works closely with the 15 faculty and service centre house style coordinators at the faculties, schools, service centres, UM Holding and Maastricht University Office. The role of the latter coordinators is to advise users on how to apply the house style within the relevant unit.

Faculty and service centre house style coordinators:

Brigitte Custers
School Office GROW
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
brigitte.custers@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Tara de Koster
Bedrijfsbureau CD, School for Cardiovascular Diseases (CARIM)
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
t.dekoster@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Peggy Bisschoff
Bedrijfsbureau MHN, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs)
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
p.bisschoff@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Sandra Zimny
RNL (Radio Nucliden Laboratorium)
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
s.zimny@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Ruben Beeckman
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
ruben.beeckman@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Erik Verheij
Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE)
erik.verheij@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Maria Kalivas
Finance
m.kalivas@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Mariëlle van Well
Student Services Centre /Language Centre
m.vanwell@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Thom Frijns
Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN)
thom.frijns@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Pauline Heinrichs
Student Services Centre
pauline.heinrichs@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Eva Durlinger
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
e.durlinger@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Thomas Soplanit
Faculty of Law
T.Soplanit@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Dana Hehalatu
University Library
d.hehalatu@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Bente van Melick
School of Business and Economics
b.vanmelick@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Loes Pustjens
School of Business and Economics
m.pustjens@maastrichtuniversity.nl