UM-Flint University Relations

Color is an important aspect to a brand’s identity. Most people in this country, and even around the globe, recognize that Michigan is synonymous with maize and blue, just as much as Target is identified with the color red. Color evokes emotions and creates perceptions. Blue conjures up feelings of authority, success, power, and serenity, […]

When you think about it, each individual’s UM-Flint story is a multi-layered, multi-faceted, and overlapping combination of people, passions, and pursuits that come together to form a totally unique experience.

I recently attended the PantoneView Colour Planner Fall/Winter 2012/13-Refocus webinar. Though this presentation was a bit lengthy, I thought there was some great upcoming color and style trends that I thought would be fun to share. Below are the highlights and some of my interpretations. Color reports always get me excited and inspired for the […]

This summer is the season of change in the Office of University Relations at UM-Flint. The 5th floor of the Northbank Center is a bit emptier as we bid farewell to three staff members. All wonderful contributors and good friends, off to pursue excellent opportunities and leave their mark in the world. Now it’s time […]

Is there anyone out there who works for a university that doesn’t have diversity as a core value? I didn’t think so. Chances are, your university is full of councils and task forces devoted to diversity. Diversity is in your institution’s mission statement. Your leadership heralds diversity in nearly every speech and official document. So […]

If you’ve ever been in a meeting with our Front End Developer Chad Hietala, you know that he likes to draw out his explanations of complex web thoughts.  For those of us who consider technology speak to be a legitimate foreign language, Chad’s hieroglyphic drawings are greatly appreciated. One day, we were talking about Chad’s […]

I was at a meeting recently where someone accused a group of not engaging in “Thought Leadership.” My first reaction was, “What the heck does that even mean?” I have never been a proponent of business jargon.  I don’t advocate for synergy, I detest the notion of thinking outside the box, and I shudder at […]

Where do we get our inspiration from in University Relations? It turns out we all have different resources that help us to think creatively, strategically, or just make us laugh out loud.  Here’s our list of things we find useful, and they are categorized for your convenience.  Happy clicking!

Ever wonder what goes into designing a brochure, laying out a billboard, or creating a website? Believe it or not, there’s no “Easy Button” when it comes to effective and strategic design. The process is often long and always well thought-out. Here are the steps to producing a successful design project: