Albuquerque Academy Graphic Standards

This guide was designed to help members of the Academy community create, produce, or reproduce the numerous printed items associated with the Academy. All materials carrying the Academy name – from print publications to spirit clothing and gift items to electronic communications – have an impact on the overall image of the school and should be part of a unified look. The most important factor in developing a cohesive image for the Academy is consistency. Adhering to these guidelines, which have the support of the school’s administration, will help the Academy achieve consistency and clarity in its graphic image and presentation to various audiences.

The Official Albuquerque Academy Nameplate

The purpose of the Albuquerque Academy nameplate is to present a unified, consistent representation of the school name. Adopted in 1999, modified in 2016, and updated in 2021 with a graphical mark, the nameplate is based in Gill Sans fonts and converted to a graphic image. Because the font has been modified from its original form and custom spaced for optimal visual appeal in the nameplate, it cannot be recreated using the Gill Sans font. Do not try to simulate the Albuquerque Academy nameplate with the Gill Sans font or any other font.

The nameplate is available in full color and Academy red, black, and white and in a horizontal or stacked version. The nameplate can be used in print and electronic publications and on various gift and spirit items. It is not to be modified or embellished with additional graphics or wording.

Artwork for the Albuquerque Academy nameplate is available to download below. These files can be used for low-resolution electronic purposes. If you need a nameplate for print or for a high-resolution electronic format, please email the communications office. Please specify how it will be used as well as details such as size and file type.

Use of the Albuquerque Academy Nameplate

• The nameplate is a stand-alone design element and must appear separate from other elements. For example, it may not be placed in a box or circle or used in conjunction with the Academy seal.
• No words or images may crowd, overlap, or merge with the nameplate.
• The nameplate may not be placed on a photo or on a design that obscures legibility.
• The nameplate may not be shaded, screened, used in outline form, or filled with a texture or photo.
• Do not use a re-proportioned or otherwise modified version of the nameplate.
• The nameplate may not be cropped, rotated, titled, or altered in any other way.

Albuquerque Academy Official Seal

The Academy seal was adopted in 1965, modified in 1987, and updated in 1999. The Latin motto, scientia ad faciendum, was retained from an earlier seal. The literal translation, “knowledge for the sake of doing,” suggests that the Academy continually strives to achieve knowledge that is actionable.

Considered by many to be the Academy’s official graphic identifier, the seal is reserved for formal documents, such as diplomas and commencement materials. It may also be used for a limited number of specialty items with permission from the head of school.

Use of the Academy Seal

Unless an item is being produced for historical purposes, only the most recent version of the seal should be used. The same guidelines as given above for the nameplate also apply to the seal. In addition, the following guidelines should be followed:

• The seal should not be used on clothing items.
• Use of the seal in specialty and promotional items should be limited to those items that incorporate the circular graphic in an attractive fashion.
• The seal is not to be used in print advertising, flyers, or other printed publications without consulting the communications office.
• Reproduction of the seal smaller than one inch in diameter should be avoided since the motto becomes impossible to read at this size.

The Academy Charger

There have been many versions of the Academy Charger over the years. However, no one version has ever been adopted as the “official” Charger. Some versions depicted a horse and a rider, although historically, a “Charger” refers to the horse only. As part of the Academy’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2004-05, a committee of Academy faculty and staff had a new “Charger” designed. To meet the needs of many users, there are multiple versions that incorporate Charger red into the black-and-white design. Multiple versions of the Charger logo are posted below for download. For a print-ready version, please email the communications office.

Use of the Charger

• The Charger may be used on spirit clothing, specialty items, and athletic signage.
• Do not use the Charger with the Academy nameplate or seal.
• The Charger may not be altered in any way. A number of versions of the Charger graphic, incorporating the words “Albuquerque Academy” and “Chargers” are available below or from the communications office.
• The Charger should not incorporate any wording inside the graphic image without permission from the communications office.

Colors

The Academy’s traditional spirit colors are red and black. These colors may be used freely in clothing, spirit and gift items, athletic uniforms, signage, invitations, decorations, etc. When printing, the preferred Charger red is Pantone (PMS) Color #1797 – CMYK 12-95-83-3. If PMS color options are not available, ask the vendor to provide a best match to PMS #1797.

Display Fonts

The Albuquerque Academy font palette consists of the Adobe Gill Sans family. This is the preferred font family for print publications and other communication pieces. Camera-ready and electronic artwork for various graphics, incorporating these fonts, is available from the communications office.