An important part of building the image for any academic institution is the branding materials that the institution uses, including an effective academic logo. It is hard to deny the impact that an effective logo can have on the institution’s appeal to prospective and existing students. After all, most students know little about a school other than its name and its logo prior to inquiring about tuition and programs available. Thus, the need for a logo that “sells” the school is an important aspect of drawing in the largest number of students to the school. While older schools and institutions are well-established and have logos that are easily recognizable, newer institutions have to work at selling their “brand” to a pool of students that are looking for a school to call home.
Elements of Your Logo
The logo that you choose for your academic institution should be one that exudes what the school is about, above all. For example, if your school trains emergency medical personnel, then you may want to incorporate elements of EMS into the logo. You may also wish to bring the mission of the school into your logo. For example, if your school is a faith-based school, you might want to have symbols of your faith incorporated into your logo.
Academic Logo Imagery
Choosing relevant imagery for your institution is an important part of the logo design process. Books, libraries, pencils, swords, or other designs are oftentimes good choices, depending on your particular school. To make a clear and impressive presentation, you must think about the image that you are trying to exude as an institution. For example, do you want to come across as a traditional school or a more modern, up-to-the-minute establishment? The imagery that you choose should help to convey your image to those who might be interested in attending school. Your logo, after all, can be emblazoned on everything from admissions applications to campus signage. You want students to associate your logo with you!
Typeface Choices for Academic Logo
When selecting the typeface or font face for your particular academic logo, you will be presented with a plethora of possibilities. Remember that you want your logo to be easy to read, easy to look at, and simple to interpret. Avoid fancy fonts and go for those that have a credible feel.
Colors and Academic Logo Design
The first choice for your academic logo design colors is a simple one: go with your school colors. But that is not always an option. If your school colors are colors that are overbearing or that makes it hard to see the font in your logo, then go with something else. Brown, black, dark blue, and green have been historically easy-to-read choices for academic logos.
Scalable Academic Logos
A final thought to consider when working with a designer to come up with the right academic logo for your school is scalability. You want your logo to look just as good when it is blown up on a freeway billboard as it does on the side of a No. 2 pencil. For this reason, keep your logo simple yet eye-catching for the best results.
