The Network

UQ blitzes communications award

A UQ communications strategy, with a cumulative global reach of 7.4 million people for a total budget of $1.30, has blitzed the competition to win a gong at the Universities Australia Marketing and Communications Development Awards in Melbourne.

A small project team of staff from OMC and QAAFI took out the Best Proactive Communications Award at the awards last week, for a media campaign highlighting wheat speed-breeding research.

The judges commended the team for the success of the shoestring budget campaign.

“It’s a hard ask to make wheat-breading sound interesting – let alone newsworthy. But that’s exactly what this in-house communications team from The University of Queensland did with this communications piece. Their framing of this research breakthrough as a ‘NASA-inspired idea’, strong visuals, comprehensive planning and media packaging of materials including video grabs and timing for their release for the sleepy news period from January 1 ensured this story clicked up the metrics,” the judges said.

Congratulations to the team, comprising Carolyn Varley, Belinda McDougall, Dr Lee Hickey, Dean Law, Margaret Puls, Hannah Hardy, Tyne Hamilton and Matthew Taylor.

“This is a great example of what can be achieved when communication staff from across the University work hand-in-hand with scientists to deliver effective media campaigns,” Carolyn said.

And, in case you’re wondering, the $1.30 was for Vision6 media distribution. All other work was done in-house.

Update on the brand project

It’s been an incredibly busy month on the brand project since the launch of the new brand guidelines in early October. Thank you for your support of the guidelines and for sending your artwork to the brand team to check for compliance. We appreciate your patience while we deal with the high volume of enquiries. We will continue to provide important updates via the Network or COMNET each month when applicable.

Templates
Since launch, some new templates have been added to the brand site and others have been updated, as outlined below. If you downloaded one of the updated versions on the first day, you may want to visit the site to download the latest version.

What's new?

• Video end plate and supers
• Name badges
• Place cards

Updated

• Brochure
• Flyer
• Report
• Powerpoint

We will be adding more templates to the site this month, including academic posters, eDM templates, meeting minutes and non-award certificates.

Social media
As a continuation of consistent brand integration across all channels, we have developed a Social Media toolkit containing assets for use across existing social media accounts. This includes extending the use of the UQ shield to all UQ accounts.

Initially, the kit contains brand-aligned assets by platform, including approved logo files for profile images and brand-aligned cover art. The kit will be updated in future to include bio descriptions (aligned with tone of voice), additional artwork, guidelines and tools to assist you in effectively managing and growing your existing profiles.

Any significant changes, including updated content and additions, will continue to be shared with you via The Network.

We welcome your feedback and suggestions on these assets and your requirements for social media – please send any social media-related questions, queries and requests to marketing@uq.edu.au. Please continue to any direct brand-specific requirements to brand@uq.edu.au.

Gotham font
One of our most popular enquiries! We are doing everything we can to push this purchase through as quickly as possible. In the interim, acceptable font alternatives are outlined in the guidelines, or our Design team can create artwork for you.

Other items
We are close to finalising videography guidelines and hope to release these in November. Work is continuing over the next few months on brand photography and tone of voice guidelines, with more information available in due course.

Please direct any brand enquiries to brand@uq.edu.au.

Marketing and communications staff update

Jessica Marshallsay has returned to the OMC Publications team in a Publications Editor role after 12 months parental leave. She is the new point of contact for the 2020 UQ Guides. Contact Jessica at j.marshallsay@uq.edu.au or 336 52339.

New to UQ? Just moved to a new unit, or leaving us soon?  Let us know for next edition.

UQ Written Style Guide

The online guide to written style at UQ is an authoritative guide for staff when writing any internal or external communications and marketing materials across all print and digital media.

To ensure the guide remains current, usable and relevant, a working group of staff members from units across UQ meets regularly to discuss style issues and queries that arise in their day-to-day work.

If you are interested in joining the working group, email the Publications team – new members are encouraged.

Further reading

• Does your website pass the readability formula?
• Who is the most Instagrammed writer of all time?
• There’s a wonderful world out there beyond our devices, and its a creative's job to get out there and explore it, says James Welch.

View previous editions of The Network on the OMC website.

OMC welcomes your feedback on The Network. Send your comments or suggestions to publications@uq.edu.au. Send any stories or ideas by the second Thursday of each month.