This June the University of New Mexico launched a new logo, represented by the interlocking letters “UNM.”
“The previous logo appeared on letterhead and on websites but was not sold more often at bookstores, neither appeared as much in T-shirts or caps,” said Cinnamon Blair, chief marketing and communications officer at UNM. “It’s about pride to wear the campus logo/mark and build recognition with the branding effort.”
The previous logo was an image of Mesa Vista Hall with “UNM” written beside it. This version of the logo was created in 1989 for the University’s centennial.
The old logo was designed without a focus on the digital representation and was not present on many stationary items or clothing, meaning students and staff did not have opportunities to wear the institutional mark.
Now that the fresher, bolder logo has started appearing on uniforms and clothing items, any Lobo can walk around wearing the prestigious institutional mark.
Out of 20 different considered concepts that included graphics and letters, the Visual Identity Committee made up of about 14 members from various departments around campus came up with the interlocking letters as the new logo for the University.
The big decision was made after lot of research, surveys of 1,200 people, interviews and a discussion about how the new logo should represent the entire campus and its various branches like the hospitals, athletic facilities and so on, Blair said.
“One building cannot replace an entire campus, especially if we are looking for a global footprint,” she said. The unified logo with the letter mark represents the entire institution and can be used in digital as well as print environments.
According to UNM’s Marketing and Communication webpage, the new logo has been implemented on other items, including stationery, signs, promotional items and business cards.
Because it would be costly to replace the logo in every building, no department will be required to replace the existing material immediately — the new logo to be implemented over a five-year period, according to the webpage.
There will be a focus on updating the logo on websites, institutional sports and web templates, which are cost-neutral and easy to update.
Ashish Khatri is a news reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @DailyLobo.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
