University Park

Penn State University Press celebrating 60 years with new direction, branding

Bold redesign, fresh approach to publishing honor a 60-year legacy

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In celebration of its 60th anniversary, Penn State University Press reaffirms its commitment to excellence and innovation in scholarly publishing with a reinvigorated brand that reflects the exciting changes taking place in the world of publishing and speaks to Penn State Press’ values, mission, and future.

“Twenty-first-century publishing calls for 21st-century thinking about the rapidly changing, complex, and global environment of scholarly communications,” said Patrick H. Alexander, director of Penn State University Press. “Our new branding effort signals the Press’ commitment to being a progressive and dynamic force in that shifting environment.”

In embracing this new era while maintaining its core focus on foundational, peer-reviewed scholarship, Penn State Press has made a variety of changes to its publishing program. These include publishing a larger number of titles of interest to nonacademics, continuing to expand its journals program, and introducing PSU Press Unlocked, an open-access initiative featuring scholarly digital books and journals in the humanities and social sciences.

“We’ve pushed our book lists in exciting new directions,” said Editor-in-Chief Kendra Boileau. “We’ve added innovative new series, launched a widely reviewed line of graphic novels about issues of health and medicine, and rejuvenated our regional Keystone imprint. It has been an exciting time for book acquisitions at Penn State University Press, and I’m happy to see that our new branding reflects that.”

Penn State Press’ internal design team collaborated with Brad Norr Design to create a new mark and visual identity, which will be seen across multiple platforms, from catalogs, books, and journals to a fully redesigned website. The new mark, a stylized “P” and “S” evoking a stack of books, is paired with a classic typeface, reflecting Penn State Press’ respected history as well as its fresh outlook as a publisher of learned, relevant, and enduring books and journals.

Founded in 1956, Penn State University Press is the publishing arm of the Pennsylvania State University and a division of the Penn State University Libraries and Scholarly Communications. Penn State Press publishes peer-reviewed books and journals of the highest quality, with an emphasis on the humanities and social sciences.

Credit: Penn State University Press / Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated December 20, 2016

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