Soaring Ducks Pattern

Full Version
Variable Version
Breakaway Element
Best Practices
 
Soaring Ducks Use Example
What to Avoid
Merchandise Guidelines
 

Full Version

The full version of the soaring ducks pattern represents the forward-thinking and driven students, staff, and faculty across campus. Our ducks are going somewhere. Our ducks soar together. Use this pattern to create a sense of unity.

white background with green soaring ducks silhouettes pattern

Variable Version

The variable version of the soaring ducks pattern represents that same same dynamic and forward-thinking campus community but allows for a clearer emphasis on the different paths our ducks take to get here. Use this pattern to create a sense of community.

variable soaring duck pattern

Breakaway Element

The soaring ducks breakaway element may be used as a supplemental design element. The breakaway element allows for a consistent use of the soaring ducks when they are pulled out of the pattern. 

Limit the use of the breakaway to one application per layout.

The breakaway element follows the same guidelines as the soaring ducks pattern. Do not alter the arrangement of the ducks, apply a stroke to the ducks, adjust the scale or spacing of individual ducks, or combine the breakaway element with the swimming ducks pattern or wave element. To emphasize the idea of community, never use a single duck.

breakaway example of the soaring ducks pattern

Best Practices

Color Combinations

While the soaring ducks pattern and breakaway element may be used in most UO brand colors, use the color combinations below most frequently, with UO Yellow and UO Green being the dominant colors. 

Never apply the ducks on or in dark blue, black, light blue, or berry.

example of color combinations of the soaring ducks pattern

Masking

example of what not to do when masking soaring ducks pattern
DO NOT: Leave small elements of overlap when the soaring ducks pattern is behind an image.
example of how to mask the soaring ducks pattern
DO: When applying the soaring ducks pattern around objects or images in a layout, mask ducks for a clean look. Otherwise, do not remove or hide duck elements within the pattern.

Cropping

example of how not to crop the soaring ducks pattern
DO NOT: Partially crop the ducks as the pattern transitions to white space in the layout.
example of how to crop the soaring ducks pattern
DO: If there is a transition between the pattern and an area of white space, crop the pattern so that the ducks are shown as full ducks, rather than partially cropped.
example of how to crop the soaring duck pattern for full bleed
DO: Partially crop ducks when the pattern is used as a full-bleed background pattern or for screen applications where there is less control over the crop of the pattern.
example of soaring ducks pattern cropped at an angle
DO: Always follow the angle of the pattern when removing ducks to crop at an angle. The soaring ducks pattern is set to an angle of 30 degrees.

DO: Crop the pattern so there are at least seven ducks showing at a time to avoid confusion with the breakaway element.

Subtle Background Textures

Subtle background pattern textures are used primarily for the web, where the pattern may interact with text. When using subtle background pattern textures for print, work with your print vendor to ensure they resemble the examples shown. Only use the color combinations shown when creating textures with the patterns. 

Stated opacity values are for screen applications only.

green background with soaring duck silhouettes in darker green
BACKGROUND COLOR: UO Green
PATTERN COLOR: UO Green
EFFECTS: Multiply Effect, 10% Opacity
yellow background with soaring duck silhouettes in lighter yellow
BACKGROUND COLOR: UO Yellow
PATTERN COLOR: UO Yellow
EFFECTS: Screen Effect, 30% Opacity
white background with soaring duck silhouettes in light gray
BACKGROUND COLOR: White
PATTERN COLOR: Light Gray
EFFECTS: 25% Opacity

Subtle pattern textures are one of the few times we use opacities of color in our brand. Take care to use them as intended and refrain from using opacities or tints of UO brand colors elsewhere.

Opacity values may change depending on paper stock, vendor, or whether the application is for print or screen. When printing, use the given values as a starting point and work with your vendor to ensure the patterns are printing appropriately.

Gradient Background Textures

For a bolder approach, gradient textures leveraging UO brand colors can be used to seamlessly transition the pattern into the background. Only use the color combinations shown when creating textures with the patterns.

green background color gradient with soaring ducks in lighter green
BACKGROUND COLOR: UO Green/Legacy Green Gradient
PATTERN COLOR: UO Green
EFFECTS: None
green background color gradient with soaring ducks in darker green
BACKGROUND COLOR: UO Green
PATTERN COLOR: UO Green/Legacy Green Gradient
EFFECTS: None
green background color with soaring ducks in yellow-green gradient
BACKGROUND COLOR: UO Green
PATTERN COLOR: UO Gradient
EFFECTS: None
green-yellow background color gradient with soaring ducks in green
BACKGROUND COLOR: UO Gradient
PATTERN COLOR: UO Green
EFFECTS: None

Soaring Ducks Pattern Use Example

Shown are examples of how the soaring ducks pattern can be used. Note how the ducks crop around photography and how the pattern transitions to the white space.

example flyer featuring a person sitting in the grass on a sunny day and the soaring ducks background
example banner featuring soaring ducks patterns on a gradient background

What to Avoid

  • Do not add ducks to the breakaway element.
  • Do not rotate or flip the patterns or breakaway element.
  • Do not use a single duck on its own.
  • Do not apply a stroke to the ducks.
  • Do not use both the soaring ducks and swimming ducks patterns in the same layout.
  • Do not combine duck patterns with any other pattern.
  • Do not scale the ducks within the pattern or alter the pattern by removing or adding ducks.
  • Do not change the colors of individual ducks within the patterns.
  • Do not use colors outside of the UO brand color palette. Additionally, never apply the ducks on or in dark blue, black, light blue, or berry.

Merchandise Guidelines

  • All duck pattern guidelines apply to merchandise.
  • When placing the patterns on merchandise, always include the UO primary logo or a UO secondary logo to leverage the UO brand.
  • Review the University Trademark and Licensing Policy when applying patterns on merchandise.

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