University Creative Services functions as a full-service creative agency for academic and administrative units within the University of South Carolina. Our staff writes, designs, and produces over 700 projects annually. These publications and periodicals reach university audiences that include prospective students and their parents, potential donors, alumni, faculty and staff and the off-campus community.

The staff has more than 175 combined years of experience in communications at the university and has created award-winning work recognized locally, regionally and nationally by organizations such as the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the University and College Designers Association (UCDA), and the American Advertising Federation.

Services offered include consultation and planning, editorial, design, photography and production services. Projects are accepted according to priority status and current workload. These services are provided to faculty and staff at no charge, but clients are responsible for printing costs associated with their project.

University Creative Services staff members meet with clients early in the process to ask questions and plan the creative strategy for each project. Before we begin writing, editing, or designing, we ask our clients to consider some basics:

Purpose (Why do you need this communication and what do you want it to accomplish?)
Audience (Who are you trying to reach?)
Budget (What is your price range?)
Shelf life (How long can you use this piece and it still be effective?)
Quantity (How many do you need for current and future uses?)
Distribution (How will you get this piece to your audience?)
Schedule (When do you need the piece?)

These technical questions will help determine the form of the communication and the types of services needed to make it a success. University Creative Services requires that you complete a printing request form before work begins on your project.

As part of the initial planning session, the staff does a lot of listening, especially about the background of the project and the client's ideas and concepts of the final piece. Clients are expected to be the experts in their particular discipline and, in most cases, provide the core information for the communication.

Call 803-777-8161 and ask for the director of University Creative Services for more information or to begin planning your next publication.