What began 15 months ago with the start of a branding and marketing study -- and journeyed through the opinions and ideas of more than 3,000 existing and prospective students, parents, faculty and staff, and community members -- culminated today in a college-wide celebration, on all six campuses, as Central Piedmont Community College launched its new branding, which includes new college colors, logo, and website.

“We hope this brand transformation will excite all of those in our Central Piedmont family, energizing and propelling them forward to do the passionate work needed to help our students not just wonder, ‘what if,’ but set an academic goal and achieve or surpass it,” said Central Piedmont President Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer. “Central Piedmont calls on all its employees, students, board members, and community supporters to now be brand ambassadors, helping to tell the college’s story to the community.”

The college’s “brand” is the emotional and psychological connection people have with Central Piedmont; its personality. The college’s logo, website, marketing materials, faculty, staff, and students – all are important parts of its brand.

The brand study results also emphasized the need for Central Piedmont to elevate its visual standing in the marketplace to match the caliber of education and services it provides. The “Central Piedmont green” has been replaced with a new color scheme: gold and gray. The old “green box” logo is gone and replaced with a cleaner, more collegiate and modern design. During the logo-design process, multiple students groups expressed their desire for a logo that stands well with the corporate and other institutional marks in Charlotte and conveys the seriousness in which Central Piedmont students approach their programs of study and pursue life-changing credentials.

As the final piece of the branding/marketing process, the college has launched a totally new website to focus more on its visitors – mainly, future Central Piedmont students and their families – inviting them to easily explore and connect with the college.

The college partnered with Pittsburgh-based Barkley REI to create the new website at cpcc.edu. More than putting a new face put on the old website, Central Piedmont teams plowed through the nearly 30,000 pages of content on the old website to create a thoroughly modern, audience-focused way to present the information site visitors need to know. The look and feel, functionality and voice of the new website were created with intense input from hundreds of faculty, staff, students (prospective and current) and community members.

At a celebration event today on Central Campus that was streamed live to all campuses, the college revealed the new branding – including the new logo, college colors, initial advertising campaign concept, and redesigned website – and also had “reveal” parties for students at every campus, as well.