Hey there folks:

I just wanted to share with you some standards issues that have arisen in the last month or two. I am going to start updating you regularly (depending on amount of new information) on issues relating to Meatball use and graphics standards policy.

1) Logo Directive

Peggy Wilhide just wrote up a memo directive on the use of the Meatball. We are striving for a "Meatball Only" policy which will ensure that the Meatball is the primary visual identity for the Agency. The directive is below. It has already been distributed on her distribution list but I thought that in case any of you missed it, here it is.

2) Electronic Letterhead

The NASA Administrator in the coming months will be reviewing the issue of getting rid of pre-printed letterhead and going electronic. Dan Mulville, the Deputy Administrator recently had a meeting with the Deputy AA for Public Affairs among others about whether or not to go electronic. There are some issues that are being considered. (Paper quality is a big concern since people would probably be less apt to use stationery stock.) The Meatball quality on what we have seen from Glenn Research Center (thanks to Jim Lucic and Dennis Dubyck) has been excellent. It would be great to go electronic but the issue is being settled at a higher level than here in Public Affairs.

3) It's come to our attention that the NASA Insignia is being used incorrectly on a few color pubs. Please remember that a full color Meatball should only appear only against a black, white or gray (or silver) background. There are also alternatives to using a full color Meatball (black or in some cases the same color as the background). All this is covered in the standards. See the graphics standards site for more info. If there is a problem with getting into the Interactive version, press on text only and you'll pull up a less elaborate version of the standards. Check out the site at: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/insignia/

The best way to navigate around the interactive version is to go directly on the Site Map. It's easier than clicking on the planet graphic.

4) We have realized that the full color Meatball used on the standards site is showing an errant orbit which is not encircling the vector properly. This is being corrected. Sorry, our fault.

5) We will be converting the NASA graphics standards to an NPG (NASA Policy Guidelines). Logo Policy is currently covered in the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR 1221) but they are not easily accessible at all.

If you have any further questions or comments about these or any other issues, please don't hesitate to contact me at 202/358-1713 or by e-mail. Feel free to share this info or forward this e-mail to any appropriate individuals. Also, if you feel that anyone else should be added to this list, please send those individuals to me with a subject heading "Add to Graphics List." My e-mail is bert.ulrich@hq.nasa.gov

Here is the directive:

TO: Officials-in-Charge of Headquarters Offices, Directors, NASA Centers, Director, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

FROM: P/Associate Administrator for Public Affairs

SUBJECT: Logo Policy

Logos are an important part of an organization's public image. Common sense and standard industry practice dictate that maximum public impact can only be obtained through the consistent use of a single, recognizable logo. NASA is fortunate to have a logo (the NASA Insignia, more commonly referred to as the it meatball") that is readily identified by the public. However, its impact is being diluted by the use of program logos, project logos, office logos, and Center logos. Every time a different logo appears, the power of the "meatball" is diminished and the Agency misses an opportunity for public recognition. In addition, the general public does not recognize program, project, or office logos. This has been a particular problem on spacecraft and NASA hardware, which are highly visible in the media. Rule number one in any corporate identity class is to have one recognizable logo.

Mr. Goldin recently tasked me to write a directive to improve the use of the Agency identity. In-an effort to give the Agency one identifiable symbol, I am authorizing a more efficient logo policy. In order to maintain a unified look throughout the Agency, the Office of Public Affairs has developed the following simple guidelines:

1) Astronaut mission logos are an important part of NASA activities. They should continue to be used as they have been, since they are an established form of visual identification for a particular mission. However, in terms of media awareness and overall visibility to the public, the use of the "meatball" should take precedence over the use of mission logos.

2) Program and project logos can be used internally as team-building efforts, but they should not appear in any type of NASA publicity, commercial merchandise, external publications, or on any hardware, vehicles, or spacecraft.

3) Center logos, which have never been officially recognized as Agency identifiers, are only to be used for efforts that are Center specific. The "meatball" should be used to represent efforts involving more than one Center.

4) When the Center logo appears, the "meatball" should appear beside it. Alternatively, Centers may use the "meatball" with simple Helvetica type underneath displaying the Center's name. For more information, please see the NASA Graphics Standards site under Center Identification at http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/gao/insignia/

5) Office logos should not be used as Agency identifiers. Therefore, they should not appear on hardware, vehicles, or spacecraft. If there is a need to identify a certain office, the "meatball" should be used with the office name underneath, according to NASA graphics standards. For more information, please see the standards Web site under Program Office Identification at: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/insignia/

6) The NASA Seal is reserved for the Administrator's use only and on literature containing his signature (such as awards and certificates). It is not to be used as the primary Agency identifier, except on NASA flags.

Please refer any questions you may have to Bert Ulrich in Headquarters Public Affairs at 202/358-1713.

[Signed by]

Peggy Wilhide

Bert

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