Imagery
NC State photography, videos and illustrations reflect our drive and optimism — and the world-changing impact of our work.
Image Content
NC State chooses images with care. We attend to both the main subject and any other elements in the foreground, middle distance or background. Whenever possible, we portray the real-world applications of our programs and research.
A single person or small team engaged in real work in real places instantly tells a story — and is usually the most compelling image choice.
Venturing beyond the classroom emphasizes the “Do” in Think and Do, giving viewers a fresh perspective on the work being done at NC State.
Labs and work spaces sometimes contain background clutter that can distract from the focus of the image.
Simplifying the background and other elements of an image can help the main subject to stand out.
As with still imagery, our videos strive to express a singular story to a broad audience. We allow our subjects to tell the story, but we encourage them to do so in a concise, direct manner that feels genuine and is easily understood.
Image Style
We embrace a wide range of approaches to photography, video and illustration. This variety of look and feel is intended to support the breadth of the university’s communications and marketing needs. Regardless of the style of an image, it should always express NC State’s brand — bold, modern and practical.
The way video footage is edited can be as expressive as the footage itself. Pacing, transitions and music selection have a dramatic impact on a video’s tone.
NC State Photos
Photo Editing
The goal of our photography is to reflect what can be seen with the naked eye on our campus and in our community. While it is easier than ever to alter the appearance of a photo, we seek to preserve a strong degree of authenticity, particularly when it comes to people and landmarks.
Changes that enhance the mood of a photo are allowed. This is often achieved through contrast adjustments, color grading or tweaks to background elements such as foliage or sky.
Do not alter the appearance of campus by adding or removing buildings or other key landmarks.
You can use generative fill or similar tools to add additional, nonspecific background to an image or to subtly change its dimensions.
Do not add or remove identifiable individuals from a scene or environment. Never use AI tools to generate people or otherwise undermine the human authenticity of a photo.
You can remove corporate logos, copyrighted material or potentially controversial elements from a photo, provided doing so does not dramatically alter the image.
Icons and Spot Illustrations
Icons and spot illustrations can be used to add visual interest to a simple or type-heavy layout. We offer a branded NC State icon set for this purpose, but custom-made elements may be used.
Icons should not be locked up with a unit’s name to create a psuedo-logo.
Icons can be used to make design work more engaging or clearer in purpose.
Do not use icons in ways that could lead to them being mistaken for logos.
Icons can be used with facts and figures to create more robust infographics.
The NC State icon set is available in red and white colorways by default. Icons can also be displayed in any appropriate, on-brand color.
Icons from the NC State icon set can be placed inside other simple shapes (including circles), if this convention works in layout.
The Circle Wolf
The NC State circle wolf is available as a graphic element for use in any official university communications or marketing. The use of the circle wolf is never required, and it is typically used with the NC State brick logo.
The circle wolf can be used in isolation only with approval from the university’s chief communications and marketing officer, most often in cases where space is limited (for example, on a lapel pin).
Before seeking approval, consider whether your audience will recognize the circle wolf as an NC State mark, especially if they are external to the university.
The circle wolf is available in red, white and black, each with opaque and transparent wolf-shapes. Other colorways or variations are not permitted.
The circle wolf may be placed anywhere in a layout and used at any scale, but it must be at least one N-space (the width of the rotated letter N in “NC State”) away from the NC State brick logo.
Image Resources
Official NC State photography and icons are free to use for all staff, faculty and students doing marketing and communications work on behalf of the university. They are protected by copyright and should not be used for personal purposes. For questions about specific use cases, contact ncstatephotos@ncsu.edu.
If you photograph a person for use in NC State marketing or communications, that person must sign and date an NC State photo release form.
