Creative Communications
Student Life Creative Communications Guidelines and Procedures
The Creative Communications team oversees all Student Life design and multimedia projects and The Egg, Student Life's student marketing agency.
Designs type descriptions:
- Art: art curation, exhibitions and displays
- Digital: designs such as logos or illustrations, digital signs and web graphics to be displayed on a screen or monitor
- Environment: designs that are large formats, such as banners, clings, interior semi-permanent and permanent signage and wayfinding
- Print: designs that will be printed, such as flyers, posters, postcards, booklets, t-shirts, promotional items, etc.
Notes about design:
- Currently, we only support digital graphics for the media channels supported by Student Life:
- @UDStudents Instagram account
- Blue Hen Life newsletter
- Student Life Employee Newsletter
- All digital and print advertising space reservations must be reserved and confirmed before design.
- Student Life design projects are limited to three revisions and must be approved before printing, allowing for one round of design feedback.
- SL Comm retains oversight of all designs.
- Please adhere to semesterly submission deadlines.
Print Items
All Student Life print projects follow a tiered production model. Some projects are managed directly by SL Comm, while others move to guided self-service ordering after final design approval.
Please be sure to reserve space for your print materials in advance.
Printing ownership is determined by project tier. For Tier 2 self-service projects, departments place orders directly with recommended vendors after receiving printer-ready files.
If you request print items, your department is responsible for ordering, billing, pickup, distribution and any installation or removal unless SL Comm explicitly manages the project as Tier 1.
Print Items Distribution
Departments are responsible for the distribution of all print materials. Printing does not include posting permission or advertising placement approval.
All postings must follow Student Life advertising policies and location-specific guidelines.
New Print Production Policy
All Student Life print projects follow a two-tier production system. This policy defines who manages printing and when.
Tier 1 — SL Comm Managed Print
SL Communications coordinates vendor selection, specifications, billing, production, delivery and installation or removal when applicable. Tier 1 projects require centralized coordination to protect brand standards, advertising compliance and facilities installation requirements.
Applies to:
- Divisional priority projects
- Large-scale events
- Advertising placements
- Large format signage
- Specialty fabrication
- Complex installations
- University Student Centers advertising
Departments may not self-order Tier 1 print materials.
Tier 2 — Guided Self-Service Print
After final design approval of either
- An approved self-service template design (submitted for review), or
- An SL Comm-generated design, departments receive printer-ready files.
You may place orders directly with recommended vendors.
SL Comm provides education and instructions, but billing, ordering, pickup and distribution are managed by the client department.
Applies to:
- Simple flyers
- Posters
- Handouts
- Basic tabling materials
- Small promotion packages
This tier is asynchronous and education-driven. SL Communications does not coordinate the print order.
Tier Adjustment
If a project exceeds standard size, cost, quantity or complexity thresholds, SL Comm may reclassify the project as Tier 1. This ensures quality control and prevents foreseeable production errors.
Production Standards
All files released for print must pass a standardized print readiness review, including bleed, trim, resolution, color mode, export settings and accessibility compliance.
Files are archived for reorders and future use.
Your design is complete—now what?
Your project is approved, completed and print ready. This section walks you through the next steps so you can confidently move from final design to finished materials.
Whether you’re placing a simple flyer order yourself or coordinating a larger print project with the Student Life Communications, this section explains who handles what, where to print and how to avoid common mistakes.
Think of it as your quick guide to getting your materials produced smoothly, on time and within campus guidelines.
What You Receive
- Printer-ready PDF*
- Preview JPG/PNG (these should not be printed and are for approval only)
- Print instructions email (automated in Asana ticketing for promotional packages)
- Recommended vendor links
*Note: This file is already formatted for printing. Please do not resize or edit.
Recommended vendors:
- University of Delaware Printing for standard jobs
- DMD Printing for specialty production (coordinated through SL Comm)
- Promotional item or giveaway ordering outside of the SL Storefront is at the discretion of the department, and must be coordinated and billed through the department; any issues arising are the responsibility of the department.
- All designs not created by SL Comm must be reviewed for branding and accessibility before printing. OCM will also review designs on the vendor side if University trademarks are used.
Note: If your project involves banners, clings, apparel, giveaways or large format, contact SL Comm before ordering.
Step-by-step checklist:
- Download printer-ready file
- Confirm size and quantity
- Request physical or digital proofing (highly recommended)
- Submit order to University Printing
- Use your department billing info
- Schedule pickup
- Inspect the print before leaving
Note: Pickup and distribution are the responsibility of the client department.
Warning: Reprints due to incorrect ordering are billed to the client department.
Printing does not equal permission to post.
Print Advertising Policies by Student Life Location:
- University Student Centers print advertising policies
- Residence Life and Housing posting policies
- Residence Life and Housing Posting, Mass Mailing, and Chalking Guidelines
- Wellbeing Center advertising policies
Note: Print advertising reservations are required in the University Student Centers, and printing coordination is required by all other departments, as listed in the policies and guidelines above. Posting locations, quantity limits and timelines are regulated. Printing extra materials does not override advertising guidelines.
Clients should not self-order if the job includes:
- Large format
- Installations
- Campus-wide campaigns
- Specialty fabrication
Note: These projects require vendor coordination and compliance review by the SL comm team, OCM and facilities.
Promotional Item Ordering (External Vendors)
Promotional items follow the same tier model. SL Comm may coordinate specialty production when required, but departments may order approved self-service items directly.
Tier 2 - Self-Service Promotional Ordering
Step 1: Receive final printer-ready design from SL Comm or seek design approval from SL Comm.
- Design must be approved before any vendor order is placed.
Step 2: Department places vendor order
- Department confirms:
- Quantities
- Budget
- Billing method
- Delivery timeline
- Shipping address
- SL Comm does not manage billing for self-service promotional orders.
- Departments may request vendor recommendations, but ordering responsibility remains with the department.
- Design approval must occur before ordering. Vendors should not modify approved artwork, but can assist in developing artwork submitted to the SL Comm team for review and approval. Once approved should not be changed.
- Departments place and manage payments directly with vendors. Any billing errors, vendor delays or production issues are handled by the ordering department.
- Completed orders, proofs and invoices should be retained by the department for records and future reorders.
DMD Printing is reserved for Tier 1 specialty projects coordinated by SL Comm. Departments should not independently initiate DMD production for signage, environmental graphics, clings or installations.
Tier 1 projects follow centralized coordination through SL Comm to ensure facilities compliance, vendor alignment and brand oversight.
Departments will be notified when a project requires Tier 1 coordination.
Important Notes:
- Departments must follow University procurement policies when ordering from external vendors.
- SL Comm does not automatically place vendor orders unless the project is classified as Tier 1.
- Self-service ordering is the default for Tier 2 projects.
- Specialty fabrication, environmental graphics and installations require SL Comm coordination.
Promotional Materials Guidelines
- Promotional items with an imprint area under three inches will only have the UD monogram and Student Life due to the limited spacing.
- Promotional items will follow brand guidelines:
- Vertical stack: UD monogram - STUDENT LIFE - space - Department Name
- STUDENT LIFE - all capital letters
- Department Name - upper and lower case
- Reorders for promotional items will be handled by the SL Comm Project Coordinator
- Promotional items are subject to Office of Communications & Marketing (OCM) approval