U.S. Department of State brand guidelines
The U.S. Department of State Brand System provides comprehensive visual identity standards, bureau lockup specifications, and an extensive searchable digital asset library.
Homepage presenting the brand policy overview and contrasting visual brand chaos with brand harmony.
Domestic branding guidelines detailing flag and seal rules, typography choices, and document templates.
Searchable asset library showing filterable collections and thousands of seal and bureau lockups.
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I find the frankness of this brand center refreshing. Right on the homepage, the U.S. Department of State addresses what it calls brand chaos, showing how disparate marks across bureaus are replaced by structured flag-and-seal lockups. The guidelines delve into practical specifications for flags, seals, and bureau identifiers, alongside clear type hierarchies featuring EB Garamond and Open Sans. I appreciate the massive, searchable asset library holding thousands of assets and organized collections, giving diplomats and offices worldwide direct access to official assets and office templates.
At a glance
- Sections
- Home · Guidelines · Asset Libraries
- Downloads
- DOTX, POTX, SVG
- Tone
- Direct, structured, and civic-minded, emphasizing order and clarity across diverse domestic and overseas operations.
What I noticed
- The portal contrasts disparate historic marks under a 'Brand Chaos' heading with standardized seal lockups labeled 'Brand Harmony'.12
- Primary typefaces are documented as EB Garamond and Open Sans, with standard Microsoft fallbacks including Garamond, Times New Roman, and Calibri.3
- The asset library features thousands of downloadable visual assets alongside 51 curated collections for specific bureaus and initiatives.45
- The site provides downloadable templates in Microsoft Word (.dotx) and PowerPoint (.potx) formats alongside Google Drive links.6
Numbers refer to the screenshots above.
What I could not see
- Could not inspect the full contents of the overseas branding guidelines or multilateral organizations guidelines from the provided captures.
- Could not view individual asset download dialogs or license restriction details.
Ideas to borrow
Quick answers
What typefaces does the U.S. Department of State specify?
The primary typefaces are EB Garamond and Open Sans, with Garamond, Times New Roman, and Calibri listed as Microsoft-friendly alternatives.3
What template formats are available for domestic branding?
The guidelines offer domestic Word templates (.dotx), PowerPoint presentations (.potx), and links to Google Drive versions.6
Reviewed on 25 September 2026. Request a correction · I built this