Vrije Universiteit Brussel brand guidelines

Freedam's take

When I looked through the Vrije Universiteit Brussel visual identity page, I noticed how directly it maps out its sub-brands. Rather than building a deep, multi-page brand portal, the university presents an accessible single-page hub. It outlines three house styles, including joint initiatives like VUB-ULB and The World Needs You. The site serves mainly as a central directory, routing visitors outward to an external Issuu guide, a DIY template platform, and an internal MarCom catalogue. It feels like a straightforward, practical entry point for internal staff and external collaborators alike.

At a glance

Sections

Three brands, three house styles · ... each with an accompanying logo · VUB Merchandise & gadgets · MarCom catalogue · Contact

Downloads

Digital logo, House style guide (external link)

Tone

Clear, institutional, and functional guidance for university branding.

What I noticed

1. The identity overview highlights three distinct brand house styles: VUB, VUB-ULB, and The World Needs You.¹²
2. The full house style guide is hosted externally on Issuu.³
3. The page displays various logo lockups including VUB, VUB-ULB, departmental sub-branding, and the EUTOPIA European University alliance.⁴
4. Dedicated cards route users to download the digital logo and access a house style DIY platform for communication templates.⁵⁶⁷

Numbers refer to the screenshots above.

Ideas to borrow

1. Provide a single-page overview that clearly defines distinct sibling or campaign brands alongside standard institutional lockups.¹⁴

Quick answers