WMO corporate visual

identity guidelines

Version 3.3 – January 2008

Contents

Section Topic Page

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

A1 WMO logo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

A2 Fonts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

A3 Publications: general rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

B1 Constituent body reports, basic documents and guides: CD and Digipak . . . . 9

B2 Binder covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

B3 Brochures: covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

B4 Brochures: interior layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

B5 Press kits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

B6 Posters and travel kits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

B7 Integrating partner logos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

B8 DOs and DON’Ts (overall look of publications) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

B9 PowerPoint presentations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

C1 Bilingual A4 letterhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

C4 Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

C5 Business cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 

Introduction

The corporate visual identity guidelines are aimed at strengthening the Organization’s
identity through branding.

The guidelines are presented in three separate volumes. This volume sets out corporate
visual identity guidelines for printed products, multimedia presentations and audiovisual
material. They have to be applied systematically in all WMO products. Two other volumes
set the WMO editorial guidelines and Internet identity guidelines.

Technical Documents (TDs) are produced directly by Departments. The editorial guidelines
contain specifications about their preparation. This volume sets the rules regarding their
visual identity.

It should be noted that the logo with the windrose in gold and the acronym or full name of
the organization (see page 5), as approved by Fifteenth Congress, aims at strengthening the
distinctive identity of WMO as a specialized agency of the United Nations.

These corporate visual identity guidelines are developed and updated by the Linguistic
Services and Publications (LSP) Department (contact e-mail address: publications@wmo.
int). Any deviations from the present corporate visual identity guidelines are subject to the
approval of the Publications Board.

Version 3.3, January 2008

World Meteorological Organization

7 bis, avenue de la Paix
P.O. Box 2300
CH-1211 Geneva 2
Switzerland
www.wmo.int
© World Meteorological Organization

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 

 A1

WMO logotype

Logo variations

WMO

Logo with abbreviation Logo with full name

______________________________________________________

Logo colours

Black logo Medium blue White and gold logo

and gold logo (for use on a dark background)
such as WMO dark blue

WMO medium blue (United Nations blue): Pantone 279. CMYK equivalent:
69% cyan / 34% magenta.
WMO dark blue: Pantone 541 (to be used as a background colour only).
CMYK equivalent: 100% cyan / 60% magenta / 50% black.
Gold wind rose: Pantone 1235. CMYK equivalent: 40% magenta / 100% yellow.
The wind rose can, in certain cases, be printed in real gold.

Both shades of blue can be used in lighter tones, for example:

WMO medium blue 80% 60% 40%

WMO dark blue 80% 60% 40%

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 

WMO logotype (continued)

Logo size

24 mm

The minimum printed logo height is 24 mm.

______________________________________________________

WMO logo with abbreviation in English, French, Russian and Spanish

WMO OMM BMO OMM WMO OMM

English French Russian Spanish Combination

In Arabic and Chinese, abbreviations are not permitted. Combination of the WMO logo with
abbreviation in English and French is allowed.
______________________________________________________

WMO logo with full name in the six official WMO languages

English French Russian Spanish Arabic Chinese

______________________________________________________

DON’Ts

DO NOT distort the logo. DO NOT use the logo on a busy DO NOT place the logo
background or in any way near other graphic
that would make it hard to read. elements.

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 

WMO logotype (continued)

WMO horizontal logo

WMO’s horizontal logo is to be used only when the layout does not allow the usage of
the standard vertical logo.
______________________________________________________

WMO logo with “Weather, Climate, Water” themes

Resolution 24 (Cg-XIV) established the use of the WMO themes “weather, climate, water”
on all official documentation, correspondence and publications. It may be placed below the
logo but can also be placed anywhere else, as long as it is clearly visible (see page 15).
______________________________________________________

All requests for the use of the WMO logo should be sent directly to [email protected].

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 

 A2

Fonts

WMO font for documentation and constituent body reports: Arial

All PCs in the Secretariat are set by default to Arial font. Arial, in point size 11, is to be used
for all documentation. Templates for constituent body session documents are available.
______________________________________________________

WMO font for publications:

a) Brochures and other public information materials

Titles:
Univers Regular (55) | Bold (65)
Univers Light Condensed (47) | Condensed (57) | Bold Condensed (67)

Body text:
Univers Regular (55) | Bold (65) | When space is sparse: Univers Condensed (57)

Posters or large displays:

Univers Black (75) | Extra Black (85)

Note: Univers Ultra Condensed and Univers Extended are never used.

b) Basic documents and guides

Titles and body text:

ITC Stone Serif Medium | Semibold | Bold

Graphs, tables and charts:

ITC Stone Sans
______________________________________________________

WMO font for logo (to be used only for WMO logos and subtitles):
Gill Sans Bold
______________________________________________________

Substitutes for non-Latin fonts:

Russian:
Univers Cyrillic family (where Univers is used)
Bastion (where ITC Stone is used)
Arial (where Arial is used)

Arabic:
Al Bayan (where Univers, ITC Stone and Arial are used)

Chinese:
Sim Sun (where Univers, ITC Stone and Arial are used)

These rules also apply to text within a linked Adobe Illustrator file. For example, a chart within
a constituent body report will use ITC Stone Sans Serif. If a graphic has been provided by
another organization, the fonts will be adapted to match the WMO visual identity.

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 

 f
agencies facilitates the sharing more effectively.
of experiences, technologies and Appropriate risk-management W
human resources. strategies to address current and n
Agrometeorological applica- future climate change and climate N
tions in the sectors of agriculture, extremes should be formulated t
forestry and fishing have tremen- and promoted through improved a
dous socio-economic potential for communication and more targeted a

Fonts (continued)
all developing countries. applications. s

FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE FOR CENTRAL AMERICA

The US National Aeronautics and Space

Administration (NASA) has established the
Central American Flash Flood Guidance
System (CAFFGS) at the Costa Rica Meteorologi-
cal Service in San José . The Centre is co-
located with the weather forecasting centre .
It has been installed on a limited-access,
high-security computer system . Costa Rica
receives data from the GOES satellite (five
channels, including infrared information)
directly onto a dedicated server .
Precipitation estimates are made in Costa Rica, making use
of an algorithm already installed on the system of the Meteo-
rological Service . Imagery is stored for the previous seven
days with a selective archive of images prior to the previous
ten days .
Meteorological input is provided by high-resolution models
provided by the US National Weather Service and run on a
workstation at the San José office . Three domains with three T
Gill Sans, as used in WMO logo and Univers Regular is used for body text.
different grid sizes—regional, national and local—can be used . t
subtitle font. Standard
Currently, size
the for Englishweather
numerical is 10 pt. Other
prediction output tends to
languages may reduce the body text12
overestimate the rainfall . Data from to real-time raingauges
9 pt if space is needed.
can be accessed . Bias is adjusted, using all the data across
Central America, which may not allow for local influences . d
Layers in the geographical information system used include p
the output from the soil-moisture model and basin mean areal a
precipitation (based on the satellite data) . An antecedent I
moisture index is then calculated . N

 | WMO MeteoWorld - June 2006

Meteoterm
June 2006

Univers Condensed integrated into an

WMO_CD_Meteoterm1.indd 1 6/2/06 12:48:48 PM
image. Font distortion must be used
with restraint.

Univers Condensed used in a title.

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 

 A3

Publication general rules

WMO themes: “Weather, Climate, Water” communicate the branding

WMO coordinates worldwide efforts to monitor, understand and predict weather, climate
and water for safety and well-being. Therefore, the themes can be enlarged on ther cover of
certain publications such as guides and periodicals.

Weather • Climate • Water

WMO number, copyright and job number

The WMO number appears on the front cover below the logo and the subscript and is repeated
on the verso of the title page, above the copyright and ISBN number. The job number, which Perspectives on social and
economic benefits of weather-,

appears on the bottom right-hand corner of the back cover, is for internal use only. climate- and water-related
information

Perspectives on social and

TITLE OF THE PUBLICATION

Weather • Climate • Water

WMO/TD - No. ????

economic benefits of weather-,

climate- and water-related
information

For more information, please contact:

World Meteorological Organization

Communications and Public Affairs Office

Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 83 14/15 – Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 80 27
E-mail: [email protected]

World Climate Programme Department

WMO NUMBER

Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 82 68 – Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 80 42

123234-843881

E-mail: [email protected]

7 bis, avenue de la Paix - P.O. Box 2300 – CH 1211 Geneva 2 – Switzerland

Weather • Climate • Water
www.wmo.int
WMO/TD - No. ????

Logo, themes and WMO The back cover contains the

number (or WMO/TD number) contact information and the job
must appear on the cover number (the latter for internal
use only)

When the spine of a publication is 4 mm wide or

more, the WMO number and publication title must
appear. A vignette of the front cover, at the top of
the spine, is recommended

See the editorial guidelines for the exact phrasing of job number, copyright and ISBN number
on the cover and verso of the title page.

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 

 B1

Constituent body reports, basic documents

and guides: CD and Digipak
General layout

Digipak is the name of the A5 folder in which the CD-ROM is inserted. All covers of constitu-
ent body reports, documents, manuals and guides are printed in two colours: WMO blue
(Pantone 541) and an additional colour, according to the type of publication.

Beijing
3–10 November Commission for Climatology
2005

Abriged final
report with

resolutions and
recommendations Fourteenth session

123234-843881
www.wmo.int

The back cover contains the web

address and the job number.

WMO-No. 996
Digipak, inside: a descriptive text
about the CD-ROM appears in all
The text is always placed around the vertical line. languages on the left. The CD-ROM
is inserted on the right.

The colours used in addition to dark blue are:

Yellow (Pantone 108) for Executive Council and Congress reports

Pink (Pantone 196) for regional association reports

Red (Pantone 187) for World Weather Watch manuals

Bright green (Pantone 368) for technical commission reports

Dark green (Pantone 342) for guides

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 

 B2

Binder covers

Binders exist in two widths: 40 mm and 70 mm.

Text to be placed here

Text to be placed here

Subtext (optional)
Subtext (optional)

www.wmo.int WMO - N° 1001 WMO - N° 1001

Binders for manuals: red (Pantone 187). Logo, subtitle and WMO
The text is always placed around the number (or WMO/TD number)
vertical line. to always appear on the cover

WMO - N° 1001 WMO - N° 1001 www.wmo.int WMO - N° 1001 WMO - N° 1001

Binders for guides: green Binders for Education and training:

(Pantone 342). blue (Pantone 300).

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 10

 B3

Brochures: covers

General layout

Format: A4, vertical: other formats are allowed in some instances. The general aspect must
always remain uncluttered and compelling. Ideally, a single image should convey the general
message.

Title in
Univers Condensed

Main colour:
WMO blue
(Pantone 541)

Main visual:
Large photo;
additional photos
may be added when
necessary. Sources
and copyright
must appear on
verso of front page

Logo: Always at the

same place on the
cover

WMO number.
Themes can be
placed here or else-
where, as long as
they remains visible

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 11

 B4

Brochures: interior layout

General layout

A global look and feel of simplicity must prevail. Images should never compete for atten-
tion. Page design must always keep the reader’s attention in mind, with a clear information
hierarchy.

Top of page is always kept clear for the title, which

is always written in Univers Condensed, dark blue
(Pantone 541)

Layout grid is based on one, two or three columns.

The one- and two-column grids can be squeezed
sideways to fit in a margin column (see press kit on
page 25 of this styleguide)

The only element that may be positioned out of the

grey zone that is defined by the columns is an occa-
sional large photo (see above)

Folio is Univers Condensed Regular, dark blue

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 12

Brochures: interior layout (continued)

Maps and graphs

All maps and graphs must be easy to read and compelling. They will be redrawn if one or
more of the following occur:

- The colour scheme does not match WMO colours (Pantones 279 and 541);

- The map or graphic is not vectorized and editable. If the figure is not to be translated into other
languages, it can remain as an unvectorized image provided the resolution is high enough
(300 dpi at 100%);

- The map or graphic contains more information than is revelant to the text and can be
simplified.

35 New Delhi
II 45
20
33 300 40
33 I
33
33
III 33
250 30
33
20
45 IV
35
Precipitation (mm)

Temperature (°C)
200 20
V
35
45 VI
20 150 10

20
45 100 0
35 VII 35
45 VIII
20
50 -10
Percentage probability
A Above normal
N Normal
0 -20
B Below normal JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

A map and a graph that comply with WMO’s global look and feel. Colours as follows: black
and grey in combination with variations of WMO medium blue (left, Pantone 279) and WMO
dark blue (right, Pantone 541), eventually highlighted with touches of a bright colour if a key
element needs to stand out:

Pantone 187, Pantone 021,

If more colours are needed, preference will be given to shades of aqua, green, purple and earth
tones. The following colour examples may be printed at 100%, 80%, 60%, 40% and 20%.

Pantone 322, Pantone 361, Pantone 384,

Pantone 259, Pantone 160, Pantone 1545.

______________________________________________________

Layout imperatives

All WMO brochures, reports, basic documents and guides include a title page. Exceptions
can be made for publications containing 24 pages or less.

A foreword or message by the Secretary-General is illustrated with his photo unless space
does not permit. The Secretary-General’s signature is unique to every publication. It is scanned
and inserted into the layout, and must never be used for any other purpose.

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 13

 B5

Press kits

General layout

The event for which the press kit is designed is attributed a key visual, which must appear
on all items within the kit, thus creating a visual family that distinguishes the kit from other
WMO products.

C4 Envelope, poster and brochure: three

documents from the World Meteorological
Day 2007 press kit. The introduction of a
distinctive picture sets these apart from
other WMO publications.

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 14

 B6

Posters and travel kits

General layout

In order to avoid having a prominent blue area on the left, the strip can sometimes be split into
two parts. Splitting is systematic for documents larger than A3 (297 x 420 mm), such as posters
and travel kits. The logo will always appear in the top part of the strip and the web address in
the bottom part of the strip. The themes may be placed below the logo or enlarged.

• Climate • Water
Weather • Climate • Water

250 mm
(1/4 of poster width)

Weather
425 mm
(1/2 of poster width)
Weather • Climate • Water
www.wmo.int

Poster layout: the logo can also be placed in the bottom

left-hand corner. If the logo is white on a split blue strip, the
wording can appear below, in blue, for improved visibility.
Themes can be placed horizontaly or veticaly.

www.wmo.int

Travel kit
(usually 850 x 2150 mm)
Weather • Climate • Water Weather • Climate • Water
Photos: Alex Stroshane / Ullal Harin (NREL) / David Parsons (NREL)

Hydropower and wind, solar and

geothermal energies are climate resources.

Travel kit examples: a single image Etr Climate information for the

(which can be accompanied by sec-
ondary pictures) and a short catchy Education and training
best use of renewable
text should work together to grab the for improved services in
WEathEr • ClimatE • WatEr energy resources and a
attention of passers-by.
Charts and tables should be clean environment
avoided on posters and travel kits.
www.wmo.int www.wmo.int

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 15

 B7

Integrating partner logos

WMO as the major partner

All partner logos are aligned with the bottom of the WMO logo, but are smaller in size.
Several logos will look better on a white background. If the logos must appear on a photo
background, a single white box is to be used to display them rather than multiple small boxes.
Logo displays are subject to negotiation with partner organizations.

WMO - No. 1000

WMO - No. 1000

Partner logos on a white background (left) and on a photo background (right)

______________________________________________________
WMO as an equal partner

All logos, including the WMO logo, appear aligned at the bottom of the page. The WMO logo should
be first whenever ISBN number is WMO’s.

Any deviations are subject to negotiation with partners and the approval of the
Secretary-General.

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 16

 B8

DOs and DON’Ts (overall look of publications)

1. Simplicity

A powerful image and a short well thought-out text are much more
effective than a compilation of random images, no matter how
striking each photo is. When several images appear together, it is
important to keep a strong visual hierarchy. Photos must always
be used as a means to get a message across, and never to fill up
space.

______________________________________________________

2. Flexibility

All WMO published material must be imediately recognizable as part of the WMO family.
However, too much of the same can become tedious. The WMO identity is flexible enough
to allow publications to be presented in many different ways, and yet always belong to the
same family.
______________________________________________________

3. Harmony

The patchwork look is to be avoided. Many graphics from different sources will give an image
of disparity. If necessary, certain graphics can be redrawn. Is every graphic necessary or
have some just been “thrown in”?
______________________________________________________

4. Conviviality

All WMO communication products in term of communication

must look fresh and contemporary. Ask yourself: “Would I read
it unless I am forced to?” Equally, posters and travel kits must
attract attention simply, quickly and efficiently. People’s atten-
tion will be drawn away from a design that looks cluttered and
complex.

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 17

 B9

PowerPoint presentations

First page and following pages of WMO’s PowerPoint presentations.

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 18

 C1

Bilingual A4 letterhead (210 x 297 mm)

World Meteorological Organization Secrétariat

Organisation météorologique mondiale 7 bis, avenue de la Paix – Case postale 2300 – CH 1211 Genève 2 – Suisse
Tél.: +41 (0) 22 730 81 11 – Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 81 81 60 mm
[email protected] – www.wmo.int
WMO OMM
TeMps • CliMaT • eau
WeaTher • CliMaTe • WaTer

TEXT ZONE

The templates are directly accessible in Microsoft Word:

File > Templates

15 mm
39 mm

30 mm

WMO_letterhead_A4_240807.indd 1 1/15/08 10:38:45 AM

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 19

 C4

Envelopes

Envelopes have a small wind rose

printed on their flap

World Meteorological Organization

Organisation météorologique mondiale

Case postale 2300

CH 1211 Genève 2 – Suisse

WMO OMM
TeMps • CliMaT • eau
WeaTher • CliMaTe • WaTer

C6/5 envelope
WMO_envelope_C5_240807.indd 2 1/15/08 10:39:40 AM

World Meteorological Organization

Organisation météorologique mondiale

Case postale 2300

CH 1211 Genève 2 – Suisse

WMO OMM
TeMps • CliMaT • eau
WeaTher • CliMaTe • WaTer

C5 envelope
WMO_envelope_C5_240807.indd 2 1/15/08 10:39:40 AM

World Meteorological Organization

Organisation météorologique mondiale

Case postale 2300

CH 1211 Genève 2 – Suisse

WMO OMM
TeMps • CliMaT • eau
WeaTher • CliMaTe • WaTer

C4 envelope
WMO_envelope_C5_240807.indd 2 1/15/08 10:39:40 AM

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 20

 C5

Business cards (85 x 55 mm)

Name Surname to be placed here

Job title to be placed here

World Meteorological Organization

Organisation météorologique mondiale
7 bis, avenue de la Paix Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 81 11
Case postale 2300 Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 81 81
WMO OMM CH 1211 Genève 2 [email protected]
Suisse www.wmo.int
TeMpS • CliMaT • eau
WeaTher • CliMaTe • WaTer

WMO_cards_85x55_240807.indd 1 1/15/08 10:38:11 AM

Front and back of WMO business cards.

The use of titles, including academic ones, is 1/15/08
WMO_cards_85x55_240807.indd 2
not permitted.
10:41:28 AM

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 21

Glossary

Compliment slip/compliment card

A compliment slip or card is used for hand-written notes when sending documents, parcels
or other items.

Flyer
A flyer is an unfolded sheet of paper printed on one or two sides.

Folder
A folder is a piece of thick paper folded in such a way that papers and other documents can
be inserted and held inside. A folder is not a binder.

Foldout
A foldout is a document of four or more pages without any staples or binding.

Poster
A poster is a paper surface larger than A3, destined to be displayed on a wall. Its goal is to
communicate a short and powerful message.

Press kit
A press kit is a set of various materials issued for a specific event (hardcopy, CD-ROM or
both), usually enclosed within a folder.

Travel kit
A travel kit is a fabric surface (usually 85 x 215 cm) that is delivered with a supporting free-
standing structure.

WMO corporate identity – January 2008 | 22