Brand guidelines

Epicenter brandIdentity & usage

Guidelines for partners, press, and team members using the Epicenter name, logo, and visual system. Epicenter is a product of the National Charter Schools Institute (NCSI).

Logos

Logo system

Use the primary logo on light backgrounds. On dark or photographic backgrounds, use the reversed (white) mark. Always maintain clear space equal to the height of the “E” icon around the logo.

Primary — light background

Epicenter logo

Reversed — dark background

Epicenter logo (white)

Co-brand lockup

Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute

Use the “Powered by the Institute” mark when Epicenter appears alongside NCSI branding. Do not alter proportions or replace the Institute wordmark.

Do

Place the logo on white, off-white, or pale sky backgrounds. Keep the full color gradient on the icon intact.

Don't

Stretch, rotate, recolor, add effects, or place the primary logo on busy imagery without a solid backing.

Colors

Color palette

Core colors align with the NCSI style guide. The coral-to-orange gradient is the primary brand signature. A brighter social palette is available for campaigns and illustrations.

Main brand colors

Social & campaign palette

Brighter accents for social graphics, event materials, and data visualization. Not for primary UI chrome.

Typography

Type system

Epicenter uses Neue Haas Grotesk Text for body copy and UI, with the display cut for marketing headlines. Do not substitute Arial, Helvetica, or system fonts in branded materials.

Marketing display

Display extrabold

Section bold

Subsection semibold

Product & body

Section title (h2)

Subsection (h3)

Standard body copy for paragraphs, forms, and help content.

Large intro body for lead paragraphs.

Web fonts are served from /fonts/ (regular, medium, bold, black). Licensed use is limited to Epicenter and NCSI properties.

UI elements

Buttons & surfaces

Primary actions use the brand gradient. Secondary actions use ghost buttons. Cards use a soft shadow (2px 4px 12px #00000014).

Label chip

Light card

Default surface for content blocks on off-white pages.

Dark card

Contrast blocks, footers, and emphasis panels.

Usage

Voice & naming

Product name

Write Epicenter as a single word with an initial capital only. Do not abbreviate to “Epi” in formal materials.

Organization

Epicenter is powered by the National Charter Schools Institute. Use the full name on first reference; “the Institute” is acceptable afterward.

Tone

Clear, confident, and educator-first. Lead with outcomes for schools and authorizers. Avoid jargon where plain language works. Epicenter is a success system — not just software.