While it’s true that every word conveys a message, the visual impact of our words is equally powerful. Typography infuses the Waterloo brand with personality, expressing our tone and values.
Innovative, bold and original, our brand fonts add a layer of meaning, telling audiences who we are. Using them consistent signals to audiences that what they’re reading is from Waterloo.
We use the following three typefaces consistently across all University communications:
- Bureau Grotesque
- New alternative: Barlow Condensed
- Le Monde Livre
- Alternative: Georgia
- Typ1451
- Alternative: Verdana
Each typeface serves specific purposes as described by its primary and secondary usages (although its use is not limited to these applications). Follow the guidelines on this page to properly apply the brand typography.
Key considerations
Access and licensing
All three brand fonts are centrally licensed for WCMS responsive websites. Le Monde is also available with an Adobe Cloud subscription. If you need access to the brand fonts, contact Creative Studio for more information.
Legacy fonts
Gotham is a former Waterloo brand font. It is still used in signage and logos. To get access to Gotham, submit a request to Information Systems and Technology.
Bureau Grotesque
Primary use
Headlines
Secondary use
Body copy and lead-in copy
Typesetting
Upper case or title case
About this font
Bureau Grotesque is a bold and expressive sans serif font that embodies the exploratory and courageous spirit of Waterloo. It speaks to our unstoppable drive to tackle global challenges, whether through entrepreneurship or impact-driven driven research.
The font is available in 27 different styles and weights, but we use condensed bold wherever possible.
Alternatives
If Bureau Grotesque isn’t available, you can use the following typefaces instead.
| Platform | Typeface |
|---|---|
| PC and Mac |
Barlow Condensed (view in Google Fonts)
Barlow Condesed will be installed on all IST-managed computers. Please follow these instructions to install the font on unmanaged systems. |
| iOS |
Avenir Condensed Heavy
|
| Android |
Droid Sans
|
Sample typography
Brand fonts - social media post
This sample typography application shows use of the brand font Bureau Grotesque in a brand campaign headline.
Alternative fonts — social media post
This sample typography application shows the use of the alternative font Impact in the brand campaign headline.
Le Monde Livre Std
Primary use
Body copy and lead-in copy
Secondary use
Headlines and titles
Typesetting
Sentence case or title case
About this font
Le Monde Livre is a contemporary, readable serif font that conveys the University’s reputation for excellence. The typeface expresses a bright, inspiring tone that reinforces our status as one of the most relevant, connected and innovative institutions in the world.
Le Monde Livre is available in the following weights and styles:
- Regular (preferred weight)
- Italic
- Book
- Book italic
- Demi
- Demi italic
- Extra demi italic
- Bold
- Bold italic
Alternatives
If Le Monde Livre isn’t available, you can use the following typefaces instead.
| Platform | Typeface |
|---|---|
| PC and Mac |
Georgia
|
| iOS |
Georgia
|
| Android |
Droid Serif
|
Sample typography
The examples show the brand fonts and alternative fonts in a newspaper ad
Brand fonts — newspaper ad
This sample application shows the brand fonts being used. In this sample, Bureau Grotesque is used in the headline; Le Monde Livre Std is used in the body copy; and Typ1451 is used in the caption.
Alternative fonts — newspaper ad
This sample application shows the alternative fonts being used. In this sample, Impact is used in the headline; Georgia is used in the body; and Verdana is used in the caption.
Typ1451
Primary use
Captions and labels
Secondary use
Body copy
Typesetting
Upper case or title case
About this font
Typ1451 is a pragmatic but future-forward typeface that communicates our identity as creators, explorers and boundary-pushers, driven to discover real-world solutions. It is grounded in the challenges of the present, while looking to a future of discovery.
Typ1451 is available in the following weights and styles:
- Light
- Regular
- Medium (preferred weight)
- Bold
Alternatives
If Typ1451 isn’t available, you can use the following typefaces instead.
| Platform | Typeface |
|---|---|
| PC, Mac, iOS |
Verdana |
| Android |
Droid Sans
|
Sample typography
The examples show Typ1451 and an alternative font on merchandise.
Brand fonts - merchandise
This sample shows the brand font Typ1451 being used for content.
Alternative fonts — merchandise
This sample shows the alternative font Verdana being used for content.
