Brand Guide Requirements
Please visit the new ACC Brand Guide for the most up-to-date information regarding ACC’s Brand and requirements.
Welcome to ACC’s New Digital Signage System
Beginning in Fall 2026, Austin Community College District transitioned to Rise Vision, a modern digital signage platform that provides a more flexible, scalable, and effective way to communicate with students across all campuses.
This transition represents more than a technology upgrade—it reflects a new, student-first communication strategy designed to deliver timely, relevant information that supports student success and strengthens the campus experience.
Content Strategy
Digital signage is one of ACC’s primary on-campus communication channels. Every message should help students navigate college life by providing information that is timely, useful, and easy to understand.
Digital signage content should:
- Support ACC’s North Star 2030 goal
- Align with Theory of Change (TOC) initiatives
- Promote student success, belonging, and engagement
- Increase awareness of College resources, services, and opportunities
- Reinforce a consistent ACC brand experience
Because of this renewed focus, digital signage content may look different than it has in previous years. Messages should be shorter, more focused, and designed for quick viewing in busy campus environments.
Purpose of the Digital Signage Network
The district-wide digital signage system exists to:
- Increase safety and operational awareness
- Support student success through timely communications
- Promote important deadlines, resources, and services
- Build campus belonging and engagement
- Provide a consistent institutional communication experience across all ACC campuses
Submission Process
OCRM reviews and manages all digital signage content.
Weekly Timeline
- Friday, 8 a.m. — Submission deadline
- Friday — OCRM reviews submitted slides
- Monday — New playlists are published district-wide
While OCRM encourages you to submit digital signage requests as early as possible, all submissions are reviewed on Fridays.
If you’d like your signage to run within your desired run date, we recommend submitting your request well in advance.
Please note:
- OCRM reviews and approves all submissions.
- OCRM does not edit or redesign submitted slides.
- Submission does not guarantee placement.
- Display dates and duration are determined by OCRM based on programming priorities.
Event Promotions
To improve consistency and reduce duplicate messaging, ACC is changing how events are promoted on signage.
Upcoming Events Feed
Campus events should first be submitted to the ACC Events Calendar on austincc.edu/events.
Approved events will automatically populate the Rise Vision Upcoming Events ticker displayed across campus.
Event Slides
Custom event slides may still be approved for display during the week of the event, based on available playlist space and institutional priorities.
Design Specifications
File Requirements
- File type: JPG or PNG
- Size: 1920 × 1080 pixels
- Orientation: Landscape (16:9)
File Naming Convention
Department_EventName_Semester_Year.png
Example:
Drama_CurtainFall_Fall_2026.png
Design Requirements
Every slide should communicate one message and encourage one action.
Include:
- Event or announcement title
- Date
- Time
- Location (if applicable)
- A call to action
- Contact email, shortened URL, and QR code (optional)
If using a QR code, include the written URL for accessibility.
Limit text to 30 words or fewer.
Remember:
One screen. One message. One action.
Writing Standards
Use language that is:
- Clear
- Concise
- Student-focused
- Easy to understand in 3–5 seconds
Follow ACC Style Guide standards, including:
- Spell out all months.
- Use numerals for dates (e.g., August 15).
- Use lowercase a.m. and p.m.
- Avoid all caps. Use mixed case.
- Include full campus and building names or room numbers when needed. (IE: ACC Highland Campus, Building 3000, Room 2151)
- Spell-check and proofread all content before submitting.
Accessibility & Design Best Practices
“Digital signage is not a flyer. It’s a billboard.”
Your slide should:
- Be readable from approximately 10 feet away.
- Use large, legible fonts.
- Use high contrast between text and background for accessibility, per WCAG 2.0 requirements.
- Avoid placing text over busy images.
- Keep graphics simple and uncluttered.
- Leave adequate clear space around text.
- Avoid excessive logos, decorative elements, or visual clutter.
Internal department logos are not necessary with the new digital signage system, as the ACC District logo will be displayed consistently on screen.
ACC areas that primarily serve external audiences, such as incubators and other external-facing centers (e.g., ACC Fashion Incubator, ACC Center for Government & Civic Service, AAPI Center, etc.), should include their area logo on digital signage.
When appropriate, identify the sponsoring department in text (for example, Presented by ACC Student Life, Financial Aid, International Programs).
Submission Limits
- A maximum of two slides may be submitted at one time.
- Only official ACC departments, offices, and organizations may submit content.
- Personal, commercial, or non-ACC content will not be accepted.
Slide Design: Dos and Don’ts
DO
- Keep text under 30 words.
- Avoid all caps. Use mixed case.
- Design for readability from 10 feet away.
- Focus on one message.
- Include a clear call to action.
- Include all essential event details.
- Use high-contrast colors.
- Proofread carefully.
- Use a shortened URL or QR code.
DON’T
- Fill the slide with paragraphs.
- Use small or decorative fonts.
- Overcrowd the design.
- Use low-contrast colors.
- Forget the event date, time, or location.
- Submit slides with spelling or grammar errors.
- Include unnecessary logos or graphics.
- Use a QR code without an accompanying URL
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when I submit my slide?
OCRM reviews each submission to ensure it meets design standards, accessibility requirements, and digital signage guidelines. Approved slides are scheduled according to programming priorities.
You’ll receive feedback explaining why the slide was not approved. After making the requested revisions, you may resubmit it before the submission deadline.
No. Because OCRM receives a high volume of submissions each week, departments are responsible for creating and revising their own graphics.
If additional creative support is needed, submit a Marketing Service Request. Project timelines will apply.
Where can I find the ACC Style Guide?
The style guide can be found on the OCRM web here: ACC Style Guide: Bookmark me.
Can I submit a slide after the Friday 8 a.m. deadline for the following Monday?
No. Weekly playlists are finalized on Friday for publication the following Monday. Late submissions will be considered for a future playlist.