Getting Started with the Durham Webspace Platform

A WordPress theme is a tool to change the layout and design of your website. Themes customize the appearance of your site, including the layout, typography, color, and other design elements. Learn about how to customize your theme in the WordPress documentation.

When a new Webspace site is set up, the site is assigned a WordPress theme by the Marketing and Communications Brand Team based on the purpose and usage of the site. There are five themes – Masterbrand, Endorsed, Co-Brand Lead, Co-Brand and Off-Brand. An overview of these themes is covered later in this document. While you cannot change your theme, there are many options to customise it to suit your needs.

Let’s take a closer look at the five WordPress themes used at Durham University.  These themes provide all the front-end styling of your WordPress site – they provide the overall design or style of your site, font styling, colours, widget locations, and more. 

Each site on the Webspace platform is assigned to one of these WordPress themes depending on the site’s purpose and usage. All themes have the same functionalities but have different customisation and styling options.

Overview of all Webspace Themes

Masterbrand Theme

The Masterbrand template is for organizations most closely associated and aligned with the core university brand. Therefore many design decisions have been set by the University and customisation is limited to specific areas.

Overview of Master Brand 

• Site Font: Open Sans
• Colours: Site owners can choose from the five University branded primary colours. A light or dark font colour will be automatically set based on your primary colour choice. 
• Logo and Header: Uses Durham University’s primary logo with a white background. 
• Applies To

Departments Durham Inspired Award Durham Student Theatre Faculties Music Durham Research Centres Research Institutes Schools

Volunteering Chancellor’s Circle (not branded) Dunelm Society (not branded) Dunelm Circle (not branded) 4schools / Collections Outreach Musicon (not branded)

CDT (Centre for Doctoral Training) Event Durham Faculty Students (Research Related) Team Durham Academic personal pages Research Projects

Endorsed Theme

The Endorsed Template is for organisations that are very closely associated and aligned with the core university brand, but where the “sub-brand” has similar prominence to the overall University brand. Many design decisions have been set by the University but there is greater customisation around colours and logos.

Overview of the Endorsed Theme

Site Font: Open Sans

Colours: Site owners can set the primary colour using a colour picker (infinite options), and choose between a light and a dark colour option for text. 

Logo and Header: Site owners are able to upload their own custom logos, to be used on a white background.

Applies To:

• Colleges (incl. crest)
• Botanic Garden
• Museums
• Palatinates
• Assembly Rooms Theatre

Co-brand Lead Theme

The Co-Brand Lead Template is for research projects where Durham University is the lead partner. As such, the template is closely associated and aligned with the core university brand. Many design decisions have been set by the University and customisation is limited to specific areas.

Overview of the Co-brand Lead Template

• Site Font: Open Sans
• Colours: Site owners can choose from the five University branded primary colours. A light or dark font colour will be automatically set based on your primary colour choice.
• Logo and Header: Site owners are able to add the name of their organizations, to be used on a white background next to the Durham University logo.

Applies To:

• Research Projects (Lead Partner)

Co-Brand Theme

This Co-Brand Template is for organisations that are less closely associated and aligned with the core university brand, as such, it is customisable with many options available to the site owners.

Overview of the Co-brand Theme

• Site font: Site owners may select a font from the approved collection of Google Fonts.
• Colours: Site owners can set the primary colour using a colour picker (infinite options) and choose between a light and a dark colour option for text.
• Logo and Header: Site owners are able to upload their own custom logos and set header background colours.
• Sites will include a Durham University logo in the pre-footer.

Applies To:

Archaeological Services IBRU Study Group (not part of the community) Friends of… (museum volunteer + fundraising groups)

Partnered Research projects/groups/collaborations Doctoral Training Centres Durham Residential Research Library E3B Research Collaboration

Off-Brand Template

This Off-Brand template is for organisations that are less closely associated and aligned with the core university brand, as such, it is highly customizable with many options available to the site owners.

Overview of the Off-Brand Template

• Site font: Site owners may select a font from the approved collection of Google Fonts.
• Colours: Site owners can set the primary colour using a colour picker (infinite options) and choose between a light and a dark colour option for text. 
• Logo and Header: Site owners are able to upload their own custom logos and set header background colours. 
• Sites do not include any mention or Durham University logo in the pre-footer.

Applies to:

• Funded
• Durham University Pension Scheme
• Retail Catering
• Independently run, funded and organized Student Groups i.e. DSU
• Dunelm USA