USU Announces New Visual Identity Program
Utah State University has implemented a new visual identity program to help refine and define the university’s image.
“Utah State University is a high-quality research institution that deserves more recognition than it receives,” said John DeVilbiss, executive director of Public Relations and Marketing. “A visual identity program can help marshal our communication forces and provide a unified front. Without it, we spread ourselves thin and leave visual uncertainty and confusion.”
USU has had some 1,200 logos in circulation over the past 15 years. This proliferation of marks and symbols has hurt the university’s cause, he said. It has forced students, donors and others to wade through a mix of messages and logos that appear to compete against each other for space and attention.
“When we begin pushing on the same pedal and steering from the same wheel, it enables us to head in one direction instead of going in circles and creating our own identity gridlock,” he said. “Just as it is important to find a common message we can verbally deliver, a common presentation of that message is also essential. A visual identity program helps us accomplish that.”
The identity program unveils a new logo that features the university’s iconic Old Main Tower. Created by USU graphic design student Loni Pilcher, the logo reflects the symbol of our rich academic heritage rising prominently from the mountains.
“It engenders pride and passion,” DeVilbiss said. “It provides a sense of place and reflects quality and class. It is a brand — our university symbol — that we can rally around and use often and consistently to unify our communication efforts and bolster much-deserved recognition for Utah State University.”
The identity program provides guidelines on the use of the logo and ways it can be paired with other university names. This helps to create a more unified look by eliminating the need for colleges, departments and others to create their own logos. The result is a stronger, unified image that recognizes Utah State University first and foremost, DeVilbiss said.
To review the 50-page identity manual and to download various formats of the new logo and templates, go to the pdf document in the Public Relations and Marketing Web site.
Related link:
There are five variations of the new university mark, including this vertical version on a blue background.
SHARE
TRANSLATE
Comments and questions regarding this article may be directed to the contact person listed on this page.
