University of Illinois consolidates to single logo

[FinalFour88]

I've never loved the shield logo (yet I've never hated it either), but I love this USA Soccer logo. It's somewhat similar, yes? I feel like the Illini shield logo would be much better if it were a little cleaner, like this one. Maybe take off the things at the top.

 

[Illinois88]

Really? Wow. I just bought an column "I" magnet just a few weeks ago. I thought, out of all the UIUC logos, it was the most classiest and creative. I understand wanting to keep it to just one logo for a more consistent brand, but I don't see that as a good enough and persuasive reason to eliminate it.

The the block "I" could be used strictly for athletics while the column "I" used for academics. It's nice to receive an acceptance letter with that column "I" - it fits the occasion. I think it'll be real classy for ceremonies like the Phi Beta Kappa chapter or academic conferences.

I'll be in the minority in expressing my dislike, at best indifference, for the shield "I." As one pointed out it seems forced. I'll add it even looks corporate-esque. At first glance it looks unrecognizable to those not really familiar with it; to me it sort of resembles a jumbo pencil. At least for me, my eyes have to concentrate on the shield "I" to appreciate it and be cognizant of what it stands for. I do like the block "I" given its simplicity but even last year, after seeing it over and over again on campus, it became old real quick, as if the university was trying to compensate for the lack of another logo (Chief). "Okay, I get it. We attend the University of Illinois." Then again I'm a fan of the slanted "Illinois" with the block "I" logo.

As implied, if I were in charge I'd keep the column "I" while using the simple block "I" for athletic purposes. Both can live in harmony and represent the same university but with difference concentrations.

I suppose the good in this is that it'll make me appreciate the now retired logos of the university, so I'll be going on e-bay to purchase the column "I" decal for my laptop and vehicle.

 

[Illinois88]

(cont.)

The fact that the public is presented multiple versions of a campus logo represents a significant problem and creates needless confusion, Chancellor Robert J. Jones said.

I don't believe this is entirely true. Yes, in the past Illinois has had multiple logos, but even in my short life I have recognized most of them., usually through athletics. Slanted "Illinois" with block "I"; the simple block "I" and the Chief. I'm the least familiar with column "I" which could be the reason this decision seems ill-thought. I rarely see it used but when it was used it was breath of fresh air. It was a change from the block "I." If professors need clarification on which logo to choose for presentations there should be a note declaring which "I" to use in such cases. It's really that simple.

 

[homesickalien]

This is a great move. The university has struggled with branding for awhile now. And no it's not as simple as knowing what logo to pick where. I'm involved in a lot of rebrands and you'd be surprised where and what a logo, colors, etc touches. To build a brand you have to know you're brand first and this is a step in that direction.

 

[IlliniMed]

Wrong. You keep one logo for the entire school. Absolutely stupid to have multiple ones.

(cont.)

I don't believe this is entirely true. Yes, in the past Illinois has had multiple logos, but even in my short life I have recognized most of them., usually through athletics. Slanted "Illinois" with block "I"; the simple block "I" and the Chief. I'm the least familiar with column "I" which could be the reason this decision seems ill-thought. I rarely see it used but when it was used it was breath of fresh air. It was a change from the block "I." If professors need clarification on which logo to choose for presentations there should be a note declaring which "I" to use in such cases. It's really that simple.

 

[Illinois88]

Wrong. You keep one logo for the entire school. Absolutely stupid to have multiple ones.

Okay. If you say so.

One of a couple reasons why I rarely post here anymore.

 

[icengineer]

Okay. If you say so.

One of a couple reasons why I rarely post here anymore.

If you come to a fan forum expecting a consensus for anything other then winning you will always be disappointed.

 

[The Galloping Ghost]

If you come to a fan forum expecting a consensus for anything other then winning you will always be disappointed.

So I'm not Illinois88, but I think he was talking about IlliniMed's tone, which was needlessly combative, while also managing to bring nothing to the discussion.

Wrong.

This isn't a discussion based on facts, it's one based on opinion. Cool, you disagree with Illinois88. Show some evidence and contribute to the discussion. Simply saying "Wrong" with nothing to back it up makes you look foolish.

You keep one logo for the entire school. Absolutely stupid to have multiple ones.

Many schools have multiple logos, both in athletics and between athletics and academics (as shown in bigtiny's post on the second page), without suffering from our identity issue. This indicates that rather than multiple logos being the issue, it might be something else.

Possibly a combination of factors contribute to our issue, like: our most recognizable logo no longer existing, our current primary logo being an incredibly boring letter that also happens to be the starting letter of multiple other states, and our athletics having been awful since the inception of our newest primary logo.

But hey, I'm also open to other arguments. IlliniMed, rather than calling somebody "wrong" and saying how "absolutely stupid" multiple logos are, show some schools with one singular logo for their school (and no secondary logo for either athletics or academics) that you believe bolsters your argument.

 

[IlliniDent]

Wrong. You keep one logo for the entire school. Absolutely stupid to have multiple ones.

Really? Ok then cut out the shield etc too.

I personally don't like the shield but the column I was absolutely fine as it was used purely for academic purposes.

But sorry for having a different opinion than you, must be wrong as a result

 

[IlliniMed]

TL;DR your post ... One logo that everyone recognizes moving forward for brand recognition. Shield is also stupid. Pretty simple. Would I know alabama's logo if it wasnt for their football team? No. Start winning and our problem is solved; Which our current administration has put us on the right track. Pretty simple.

So I'm not Illinois88, but I think he was talking about IlliniMed's tone, which was needlessly combative, while also managing to bring nothing to the discussion.



This isn't a discussion based on facts, it's one based on opinion. Cool, you disagree with Illinois88. Show some evidence and contribute to the discussion. Simply saying "Wrong" with nothing to back it up makes you look foolish.



Many schools have multiple logos, both in athletics and between athletics and academics (as shown in bigtiny's post on the second page), without suffering from our identity issue. This indicates that rather than multiple logos being the issue, it might be something else.

Possibly a combination of factors contribute to our issue, like: our most recognizable logo no longer existing, our current primary logo being an incredibly boring letter that also happens to be the starting letter of multiple other states, and our athletics having been awful since the inception of our newest primary logo.

But hey, I'm also open to other arguments. IlliniMed, rather than calling somebody "wrong" and saying how "absolutely stupid" multiple logos are, show some schools with one singular logo for their school (and no secondary logo for either athletics or academics) that you believe bolsters your argument.

 

[IlliniMed]

It's a message board with inanimate lettering. If anyone is bringing nothing of discussion to the board its people complaining about tone of voice instead of discussing your opinion about the actual topic

Really? Ok then cut out the shield etc too.

I personally don't like the shield but the column I was absolutely fine as it was used purely for academic purposes.

But sorry for having a different opinion than you, must be wrong as a result

 

[ILL_INI]

It's a message board with inanimate lettering. If anyone is bringing nothing of discussion to the board its people complaining about tone of voice instead of discussing your opinion about the actual topic

Wrong. Letters create words which convey meaning. Arguing otherwise is stupid.

 

[lexwaldez]

I'm a little disappointed the column logo is going. I think it was used appropriately and tastefully. That being said, as a fan of the football and basketball teams I won't really think much about it on a day to day basis.

What this is all about though, is an obsession in marketing to have one and only one logo for an identity. My opinion is that while moving in this direction is usually a good idea, it can be taken too far. My hobby is sailboat racing, and I belong to a sailing club that went through a rebranding effort a few years ago. Beforehand, they were like Illinois with many different colors, fonts, ways of placing the logo on their merchandise. Then they hired a "professional" who came up with one logo, that looks like it belongs on the top of a letterhead (kinda like if Illinois chose the column over the block I). It looks fine on the side of the building, but it looks TERRIBLE on shirts and hats and other clothing. I've begged them to simplify the logo for clothing, but the "professional" insists everything must be consistent. I just think that's a really stupid rule to live 100% by. Luckily the logo Illinois is moving forward this is pretty perfect, but its also a sign of a stupid trend in the industry.

But if you're a pin head with a tie trying to be important and trying to look like you deserve your inflated paycheck, then you HAVE to do things like this and you HAVE to create a rule and mandate everyone use it. Alarms go off when you get a new hire and the first thing they do is announce a branding effort, name changes, etc. They're almost universally useless. It's like announcing, "I am not a useful employee bringing anything of substance to the table. Let's spend money on a rebranding effort! Then let's consolidate. I'm pretty sure we need to synergize. And meetings... let's have meetings!"

And thirty years after all the rebranding have come and gone... they go with the original block I we started with. Genius!

 

[Ransom Stoddard]

Wrong. You keep one logo for the entire school. Absolutely stupid to have multiple ones.

So many schools disagree with you. I was in Madison for the first time ever this past weekend. Great campus, but they have their "academic" logo all over campus and it is classy. I find no reason to settle on one other than it makes it easier for the university to have to stop reminding academics users which logo to use.

I was at UIUC in the 80's when the academic logo (IIRC) was a simple column I without the vertical lines, and I thought it was nice and clean. The most recent one is too busy and doesn't look as good digitally.

 

[IlliniJim20]

So, do I now have to get a new license plate???

 

[KamsBartender84]

I almost never comment on stuff like this, but 100% agree. That shield has got to go. Looks like an old train's cowcatcher.

AGREE! Sell that Nike summer intern design fail to Purdue!

 

[SKane]

I wish the university could have built a logo around the deadly Hal computer.

It would have worked well for academics (smart computer) and sports (don't make the computer angry or it will destroy you).