Web & Style Guidelines

CU Boulder’s web standards help us ensure a seamless user experience across sites and devices. These guidelines promote compatibility and accessibility on the university website, enhancing our overall reputation. Learn how to use your header, footer, font, colors, URLs and more to make our web brand consistent, predictable and user-friendly.

Web Brand Standards

Use the web brand identity standards on all official university websites. The web standards comprise four key areas: header elements, footer elements, web font and color palette. It’s important to follow the requirements exactly as outlined because the university has tested the web elements to ensure content is easily readable for all audiences. Explore brand guidelines and other considerations for your university site.

Read the Web Standards
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Applying Web Standards

Depending on where you host your site, you may need to take some extra steps to ensure the proper web brand header, footer, colors and font are in place. For Web Express websites, the brand changes will apply automatically. Learn how to determine whether you are on the campus-supported platform.

How to Apply Web Standards
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Mobile Application Standards

Applications branded with CU Boulder’s name in the app stores can either enhance or detract from the university’s reputation. Anyone creating an app for CU Boulder must comply with the visual identity and branding standards and seek approval before launch. Read about how to make your app look professional and align with the university brand.

Requirements for Mobile Apps
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Exceptions to Web Standards

Some websites, such as the Leeds School of Business and Fiske Planetarium, have received approved exceptions to the web brand standards. View examples of the approved exceptions, and learn how to submit your own questions to the brand board.

Approved Brand Exceptions
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URL Standards

At CU Boulder, we design our URLs to be clear, user-friendly and predictable. We use URL patterns that group similar websites under a common structure to make it easy for users to find what they’re looking for. Our URL standards show you how to provide your audience with the most effective access to information.

URL Principles and Standards