About the Client

Pathway to Practice NC supports North Carolina Residency License Teachers on their path to a full teaching license. A unique partnership between North Carolina’s top public universities—North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill—Pathway to Practice NC is the state’s most flexible teacher licensure program for residency license teachers.

This project received a Silver Davey Award in 2021 for Corporate Identity-Brand Identity.

Logo & Brand Mark

The Pathway to Practice NC brand mark evokes a brick pathway—hallmarks of both NC State University and UNC-Chapel Hill physical campuses. Wolfpack Red and Carolina Blue bricks form two interlocking P’s to form the notion of a pathway. The modular quality of the mark expresses the program’s value in it’s students ability to progress at their own pace.

Typography

The Pathway to Practice NC audience is comprised of experienced professionals interested in becoming K-12 educators. Therefore, the select typefaces speak to the alternative, yet first-rate quality of the program—all while feeling approachable and reliable.

Colors

Pathway to Practice NC adopted the primary colors from each institution as a part of its own identity—Wolfpack Red and Carolina Blue. Considering their bold nature and the need for both colors to hold equal weight within the program, we paired them with a neutral set of colors to create balance and quiet moments. This allows for two prominent colors to exist within the same brand.

Brand Elements

The Pathway to Practice NC brand mark doubles as a graphic element, photo frame, and brand pattern to promote the brand’s ‘Pathway’. The simplicity and modularity of the pattern gives the brand unique ways to utilize their assets.

Branded Example

Folder with the notable Pathway photo frame on the cover. Additionally, an official statement with both University logos is required on all promotional collateral. Finally, the design keeps the use of bold colors to a minimum, allowing the Pathway photo frame to become the point of interest, while maintaining an air of professionalism.

Web Design & Digital Accessibility

After successfully working with the NC State College of Education and UNC School of Education to brand Pathway to Practice NC, UNC Creative was asked to design a custom website that would adopt the look and feel of the newly established brand identity.

As a program from a public institution, this website was required to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA.