Comments on: University Logos: What’s Changed And Why It Matters

By: Tessa

Tessa — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 18:58:07 +0000

nicolaslemaire dip&obst;:Bnnjour. J’ai cru comprendre que vous donniez des cours. Et cela me plairait d’y participer. En tout cas chapeau le blog est sympa.

By: Dinesh Korjan

Dinesh Korjan — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 17:56:27 +0000

Just fascinated by the information holding capacities of logos and symbols. The more explicit information you put in the less it actually holds. When the design is less explicit its capacity to hold information and acquire meaning expands immensely – sometimes, to entire ideologies! Is there a larger lesson here somewhere?

By: William Bissell

William Bissell — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 05:42:09 +0000

Thank you for mailing me your thoughtful piece. I do believe that the world’s most successful universities became brands decades ago, Harvard, Stanford Yale even IIM Ahmedabad (even though it may not act like a brand). I believe we have created very strong university brands and these brands can, if they choose, leverage themselves in ways that’s not been possible historically.

By: Sumit Roy

Sumit Roy — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 23:28:10 +0000

I agree with Lolita Dutta on two counts.

1. The NID logo is exceptionally well-designed.

2. Word of Mouth matters more than the logo design.

The best design, of course, would be a logo design that captures the idea the prosumer wants to champion.

Sadly, very rare.

By: Shubhendu Ranjan Deb

Shubhendu Ranjan Deb — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 09:19:12 +0000

Hi Itu. It is good of you to raise such thought evoking discussions often and one gets to read not only your POV but of many others.
Fundamentally, many of the educational institutions have so far not really looked at marketing / branding as an essential activity because the key factors which play an essential role for the admission seeker in taking decision in favor of a particular university or college are it’s education format, quality of faculty, investment on infrastructure and placement records, to name a few. These are extremely functional elements but are providing assurance to the decision maker. If all these factors are good but the logo is not appealing (not referring to only authoritative insignia), it doesn’t matter. No one has been embarrassed because of IIM, Ahmedabad logo.
However, the logo plays an important role in reminding it’s audience about the ethos of the university or college, which is basically the brand story.
Many of the new, upcoming colleges / universities have a challenge, primarily they lack credential and that’s why they use more of visual appeal.
To conclude, my thoughts too echo that many of the old University / College logos have a medieval look but I also realize that University / College do not survive on Logos.

By: Itu Chaudhuri

Itu Chaudhuri — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 09:26:04 +0000

Exactly, Lavleen. I agree with you. I don’t think classic universities need to forget about their antique origins. It’s more that PPUs shouldn’t ape them!

For classic universities, it depends on their quality. Those whose traditions actually enhance their stature can stay the course, with appropriate nods to the times, if at all; but those that are merely old should discover, distill and express their relevance to the modern stakeholder, just as PPUs should. In the end, marketing is defined by reputation, and reputation by academic quality.

By: Itu Chaudhuri

Itu Chaudhuri — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 09:23:25 +0000

Payal, thanks, and you are exactly right. Professional institutes indeed do strike out in that direction.MIT is one; the NID logo follows a classic modernism you’d associate with Adrian Frutiger, and thus NID; NIFT looks Memphis inspired, though it’s not entirely successful.

By: Itu Chaudhuri

Itu Chaudhuri — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 09:22:50 +0000

Quite right, Santosh. Visibility was not a priority, but the new need to market logic dictates visibility and disticntiveness, as with any corporate brand.

By: Lolita Dutta

Lolita Dutta — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 09:20:10 +0000

Many years ago, as I finished my schooling and wanted to go into a creative field, I had chanced upon NID, almost by default. In times when there was no web interface, I wrote to NID asking for admission, and was actually rewarded by a reply. What impressed me most was the LOGO ! In india at that time, (actually even now), there are very few Institutional logos which stand out.

Without a partial bias, to me even today, the Adrian Frutiger designed logotype of NID is no doubt one of the most impactful institutional logos.

In the melee of private education the need to differentiate, and be seen and heard is of paramount importance. however no matter how many exist, I can barely recall any logo of any worthwhile institution.

There is the IIM-A, logo which has some visual value, as it showcases the jali of the siddhi sayed mosque, therefore creating an identity which become identifiable for the context it is in , i.e. Ahmedabad. Most others are lost in translation. Having associated with so many institutions, it’s strange that one remembers only the ones that leave a mark in the mind, for either being good, or being really really bad!

Institutional branding is supposed to influence, but I feel “the word of mouth” brand enforcement in institutions works better than some convoluted image, almost clones of each other, leaves, wreaths etc. simplicity just does not exist.

By: Badri Narayan

Badri Narayan — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 09:13:01 +0000

I agree Itu 🙂

Universities need to eschew their imagery based on colonial antiquity, and monumentality and embrace contextuality, modernity, lightness….These values need to extend to everything–including architecture, as well to the contents, curriculum, pedagogy.. and right up to the archaic convocation rituals where graduates dress up like medieval European monks!! We need a total overhaul.

Couple of years ago, I visited Manipal Institute campus at Jaipur and was flabbergasted to see a mammoth St peters style dome rising out of the agricultural fields in the outskirts of Jaipur.