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Swag (Promotional Products)

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Promotional merchandise – from t-shirts and hoodies to water bottles and tech accessories – is one of the most visible ways we share our Diplomat pride. Every item carrying our name, logos, or colors represents Franklin & Marshall to the broader public.

Use the guidelines below to design merchandise that looks sharp, stays on-brand, and complies with our licensing rules.

Design and Layout Boundaries

When designing custom apparel or merchandise, it is easy to get carried away with complex layouts. To ensure the highest production quality and protect our visual identity, follow these design rules:

  • Don't Warp the Wordmarks: Never manually stretch or compress the "Franklin & Marshall" or "F&M" logos to fit a specific imprint area. If space is tight, use an approved alternate layout rather than forcing a primary mark.

  • Color Matching Matters: Silk-screening and embroidery can cause color shifting. Always tell your production vendor to match our official brand colors exactly. 

  • Contrast is Key: Never print a dark logo directly onto a dark fabric (e.g., F&M True Blue ink onto a navy t-shirt). Always ensure clear contrast by using white ink or reversing the logo out.

Choosing Your Identity: Institutional vs Athletic

Before starting your design, determine the correct identity path for your specific student group or project:

Academic and Institutional Swag
  • Who it's for: Academic or administrative departments, official student clubs and organizations, admissions ambassadors, and professional campus conferences.

  • Approved Marks: The primary Franklin & Marshall logo, standalone "F&M" acronym logo, or department-specific lockups.
Athletic and Spirit Swag
  • Who it's for: Club sports, varsity athletic teams, recreational organizations, and general fan gear.

  • Approved Marks: The official Diplomat shield, the stylized athletic wordmark family, or the text layout "Diplomats."

Mandatory Licensing Policy

Franklin & Marshall College strictly protects its names and visual marks under federal trademark law. You may not print merchandise using official F&M assets without going through our authorized licensing framework.

Every Order Must Use an Approved Licensed Vendor!

Whether you are purchasing 12 shirts for a small club or 500 water bottles for a campus-wide giveaway, you must manufacture your items through a certified, licensed vendor.

Unlicensed vendors are legally prohibited from printing F&M marks. Licensed vendors have direct access to our official, high-resolution vector assets, know our exact color targets, and ensure compliance with institutional standards.

The Production Process

  1. Select a Vendor: Choose a production partner from our official Licensed Vendor List.

  2. Submit Your Layout: Work with your vendor to apply the F&M logos cleanly to your chosen merchandise templates.

  3. Automatic Review: Once your design is locked in, the vendor will automatically submit the design to the F&M Office of Communications and Marketing via our licensing portal for rapid approval.
Swag Toolkit and Vendor Assets

Ready to start production? Access our authorized vendor directories and download pre-formatted merchandise assets below.

F&M Brand Guide