Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (KCU) received “Best in Show” at the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) 2016 Excellence in Communications (EIC) Awards for its brand refresh. The new brand standards were incorporated into the design of the KCU 2015 Annual Report: A Time of Transformation, which received first place in the competition.
KCU implemented the brand refresh following an assessment by key stakeholders to determine perceptions of the university’s identity both locally and nationally. Working with Willoughby Design Group and Morningstar Communications Company, the university implemented a full brand-identity rejuvenation program, which was unveiled to the university’s board of directors, faculty and staff, then rolled out to the community during 2015.
“As part of the brand refresh, KCU took part in a comprehensive process of determining not only the perceptions of the university, but also the opportunities available to shape opinions moving forward,” said Marc B. Hahn, DO, president and chief executive officer, KCU. “That knowledge, coupled with the strategic design guidance provided by Willoughby, is allowing KCU to move into its next 100 years with an identity that accurately reflects both our university’s heritage and its prominence as a leading institution of medical and scientific education.”
AACOM presents the 2016 EIC Awards in honor of exceptional communications and marketing, media relations, public education and promotion exhibited by entrants. This year’s EIC Awards Program received more than 100 high-quality entries, which were adjudicated by an expert panel of judges, including accomplished editorial, design and production professionals from the Washington, D.C., metro area.
The 2016 EIC Awards were presented at the AACOM 2016 Annual Conference held April 6 – 9 in Washington, D.C.
