The Office of Strategic Communication oversees a wide-ranging portfolio of award-winning work. We create content for UW–Madison’s news page and social media, manage central websites and branding, launch marketing campaigns, work with national media, and much more.
Brand and visual identity
The UW brand website hosts the creative platform — messaging, logos, colors, fonts, and graphic elements — and an always-expanding resource library.
Campus map
The digital campus map is interactive, up-to-date, and full of information (e.g., parking, building descriptions) for visitors and the campus community alike.
Campus news site
The UW news page publishes the latest happenings on campus as well as compelling stories about student life, research advances, and alumni contributions.
Experts database
The UW experts database connects media to faculty and staff members who have agreed to comment on news and trends in their areas of expertise, on deadline.
Inside UW newsletter
Inside UW curates timely campus news for faculty and staff. Distributed twice weekly, it keeps our campus audiences informed and engaged.
On Wisconsin magazine
On Wisconsin is one of the largest-circulating alumni magazines in the country. It’s won “best magazine” from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
The Weekly newsletter
The Weekly shares timely news and engaging story packages with UW students, helping them feel connected and make the most of their time on campus.
Today events calendar
The today.wisc.edu events calendar is the central hub for activities happening on the UW campus. Faculty, staff, and students can submit and tag events.
UW Photo Library
The UW Photo Library hosts some 24,000 images capturing life at the university through a professional lens. The high-resolution photos are free for campus use.
UW Theme
The UW Theme unifies the look and feel of campus websites through an all-inclusive, easy-to-use WordPress platform with full UW branding.
Video channel
The UW YouTube channel is home to more than 1,000 videos showcasing the vibrancy of campus life, with recurring features and event live-streaming.
Wisconsin Ideas newsletter
Wisconsin Ideas highlights stories of how the UW works every day in communities throughout the state, keeping our external audiences connected to the university.
Feature Story Packages
We regularly produce feature storytelling projects on major research discoveries, campus initiatives, and historical events. These multimedia pieces have earned industry awards and brought UW–Madison achievements in front of national audiences.
Tomorrow’s Yellowstone
Climate change is threatening the landscapes of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. UW–Madison researchers reveal how a warming world is changing the places we love.
Seed by Seed
As part of the UW’s 175th anniversary celebration, Bascom Hall’s new banners honor the connections and traditions of the Ho-Chunk Nation.
UW Mysteries, Secrets, and Hidden Places
We venture down into tunnels, up into attics, and even out into the woods in search of legendary UW–Madison spots.
The Blast That Changed Everything
Fifty years after the life-altering event, UW–Madison alumni reflect on the bombing of Sterling Hall.
Origins
The quest to understand our beginnings — of our universe, of life on Earth, of our species — inspires people all over the world. UW researchers have forged partnerships in South Africa to uncover the answers.
13 Demands: The Black Student Strike of 1969
In February 1969, Black students at UW–Madison, propelled by longstanding grievances and fresh flash points, called for a campuswide student strike until administrators agreed to 13 demands.
October 1967: A Turning Point
Fifty years after campus protests against Dow Chemical Company, UW–Madison asked six alumni to reflect on how the protests altered their lives.
2024 awards
College of Engineering Building Campaign
CASE Circle of Excellence Award | Marketing Initiatives | Grand Gold
In fall 2023, we launched a campaign to secure legislative funding for a new College of Engineering building after years of setbacks. The campaign used paid, earned, and owned media to rally public support. The results: five million impressions, 1,000 emails to lawmakers, and, ultimately, a new engineering building.
Institutional Print Ad Campaign
Hermes Creative Awards | Print Media: Advertising Campaign | Gold
Our print ad series “Can’t Stop a Badger” told a story of the UW’s vast educational opportunities through visual and messaging juxtaposition. Intentional in the way they used wit, scale, and color, the ads were deeply rooted in UW–Madison, yet unconventional — and unforgettable — in presentation.
On Wisconsin Magazine: The Future Issue
CASE Circle of Excellence Award | Magazines: Single Topic/Special Editions | Gold
Our “Future Issue” of On Wisconsin showed the institution addressing the challenges of a rapidly changing world. The issue provided a forward-looking vision on a sweeping array of subjects, with a design reflecting the futuristic theme. The connecting thread: hope for the future, based on UW innovations.
On Wisconsin Magazine: “Creating the Badger Brand”
Milwaukee Press Club | Best Feature Design | Gold
Milwaukee Press Club | Best Long Soft Feature Story | Bronze
“Creating the Badger Brand” combined prodigious research with a playful approach to the subject of UW–Madison’s iconic logos. The story explored the surprising origins of the mascot Bucky Badger, the athletic department’s Motion W, the academic W Crest, and the mysterious seal known as the Numen Lumen.
UW Brand Website
CASE Circle of Excellence Award | Marketing: Micro-sites | Silver
Our redesign of the UW brand website emphasized self-service, enabling campus partners to quickly find the resources they need. We overhauled the information architecture, redesigned page layouts, and refreshed content. The new resource library has become the most-visited page on the site.
UW School of Nursing Centennial Brand Campaign
CASE Circle of Excellence Award | Marketing: Branding (Department or Subunit) | Bronze
Our brand campaign for the School of Nursing’s centennial year expanded the view of nursing beyond the bedside, emphasizing science research, cutting-edge technology, policymaking, and community engagement. Our ultimate message: UW’s School of Nursing is poised to lead the charge over the next 100 years.
