Merchandise
Merchandise transforms everyday items into branded touch points. Use existing standards for logos, colors, and typography alongside merchandise-specific guidance, including product selection and imprint methods, to ensure consistent application.
Clear Space, Scale, and Alignment
For broad guidance on logotype usage, see Logos.
Maintain proper clear space around the logotype.
Ink imprints have a minimum height of ⅛ inch (or ⅓ cm) while embroidery has a minimum height of ¾ inch (or 1¾ cm). As imprint methods vary, check with your supplier on recommended minimums and request samples.
Color Combinations
Choose imprint methods that best suit the medium. For tonal color combinations, choose screen printing, foil, debossing, etching, or embroidery.
When imprinting the logotype, use solid colors when possible rather than process colors. Always match Morningstar Red as closely as possible, working with suppliers to ensure accurate ink, thread, or other imprint colors. For general guidance on color, see Color.
On Red
Neutral 0 (White) on Morningstar Red
Morningstar Red on tonal
On Dark
Morningstar Red on Neutral 85 or darker
Neutral 15 or lighter on Neutral 85 or darker
Tonal on Neutral 85 or darker
On Light
Morningstar Red on Neutral 15 or lighter
Neutral 50 or darker on Neutral 15 or lighter
Tonal on Neutral 15 or lighter
On Gray
Neutral 15 or lighter on Neutral 50
Neutral 85 or darker on Neutral 50
Tonal on Neutral 50
Avoid red on neutrals as the colors tend to vibrate.
On Unfinished Surfaces
For mediums like glass, clear, metal, leather or wood. For guidance on other substrates, contact the Design Foundations team.
Tonal on opaque, unfinished surfaces like metal, leather, or wood
White on clear materials like plastic or glass
Tonal on clear materials like plastic or glass
Avoid red on clear or metallic surfaces as they tend to vibrate.
Additional Considerations
Functionality is essential to any product, but merchandise also imparts our brand identity. Focus on quality even if it results in smaller batches.
Exacting Quality
Prioritizing quality reflects the sophistication of our design choices and showcases the enduring nature of our brand. Select retail-quality products over lookalikes, refined matte or satin finishes over sparkly or glossy finishes, and subtle textures or patterns over noisy textures or patterns. Choose solid inks, vinyl, or screen printing over digital printing to give our logo and designs the precision they deserve.
Refined Minimalism
Using simple or elegant forms over complex shapes and solid or tonal colors over multicolor illustrates our commitment to clarity. Similarly, minimal decoration over unnecessary flourishes allow our logo, and the meaning behind it, to stand on its own.
