Cal Poly Logo PNG
The Cal Poly logo symbolizes the school’s tradition, history, and cultural values. This embodies what the university strives for, reflecting its pride in students who receive knowledge. The emblem also shows that study and work are inseparable. The Cal Poly logo symbolizes the school’s tradition, history, and cultural values. This embodies what the university strives for
Cal Poly: Brand overview
California Polytechnic State University, commonly known as Cal Poly, was established as a vocational school in San Luis Obispo in 1901 by order of California Governor Henry Gage. Initially proposed by journalist Myron Angel, the institution began classes with a small inaugural group, emphasizing practical education under the “Learn by Doing” philosophy. Originally offering secondary vocational programs, the school evolved significantly through the leadership of figures such as Leroy Anderson and Julian McPhee, expanding its curriculum, granting bachelor’s degrees, and eventually admitting women. Growth accelerated following World War II with increased enrollment supported by the GI Bill, prompting further campus expansion and the addition of advanced degree programs. After attaining university status in 1971, Cal Poly developed a robust reputation in agriculture, engineering, and architecture, later incorporating advanced disciplines, including cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Today, the university hosts more than 22,000 students and nearly 1,500 faculty members across six colleges, offering 65 majors. It continues to emphasize applied learning and maintains strong industry connections, preparing graduates for diverse professional fields.
Meaning and History
What is Cal Poly?
This is a well-known public polytechnic institution in San Luis Obispo, California, renowned for its hands-on approach to education under the motto “Learn by Doing.” The institution specializes in business, technology, engineering, architecture, and agriculture, offering over 60 programs across six colleges. A unique feature of the university is its close partnership with leading tech firms in Silicon Valley, providing students access to advanced equipment and practical projects. The campus, spanning 9,000 acres, includes its farms, vineyards, research centers, and laboratories. The university is also recognized for its active student community with numerous clubs and organizations, and its sports teams, including the Mustangs, successfully compete in NCAA Division I.
before 2019
The Cal Poly logo combines a classic crest with a text component. The shield is divided into four sections, each containing a symbol representing different fields of education.
A binary code in the upper left section symbolizes technology and computer science. To its right, an atom represents natural sciences and engineering. The lower part of the shield features a sheaf of wheat, symbolizing agriculture, and a hammer with a quill, referring to labor and knowledge.
A ribbon runs across the center of the crest, displaying the Latin motto “Discere Faciendo,” which translates to “Learn by Doing.”
Next to the shield, the text “Cal Poly” is displayed in a serif font, giving the logo an academic and authoritative appearance. The color scheme is rendered in dark green tones, reflecting the university’s connection to nature and its agricultural roots.
2019 – today
The new university’s logo is a heraldic shield with the phrase Cal Poly behind it.
The shield is visually divided into three parts.
- At the top of the dark bar is the university’s motto: “Learn by doing” (learn by doing). Cal Poly emphasizes hands-on learning. Students apply the acquired knowledge in practice. The university has its own ranch where research and experiments take place. Laboratories are also located on the upper floors of the new six-story science building. Each student must complete a practical project at graduation to use the knowledge gained.
- The sun rises from behind the mountains at the second level of the shield. This is reminiscent of the mountains and the sun of California, where the university is located. In a figurative sense, the sun of science, personifying the university, rises and illuminates the earth, spreading knowledge.
- The last part of the shield is the largest. It is a white space with a crossed feather and hammer in the middle. The picture unites knowledge and work. It shows that knowledge cannot be translated into action; otherwise, learning is a waste of time. The image completely echoes the motto. The programs are also built on combining technical knowledge with art.
The inscription Cal Poly is located approximately at the level of the middle of the shield. This is an abbreviation for the full name—Cal – Californian, poly-polytechnic.
The Seal
The seal of California Polytechnic State University is designed in a classic university style, based on the heraldic shield symbolism used until 2019. Surrounding the crest is a circular band featuring the university’s full name, presented in a traditional serif font. The year of establishment—1901—is displayed at the bottom of the circle.
The university seal highlights the combination of science, engineering, agricultural knowledge, and the humanities, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of the institution.
Font and Colors
The colors of the university are dark green and gold. The logo is dark green, almost bordering on black. This is the color of velvet, aristocracy, and precious stones. The university gives knowledge and releases educated aristocrats, who, like precious stones, help society change life for the better. The color means authority, antiquity, and harmony. Cal Poly brings up harmonious and developed people from students. Passes on to them the knowledge accumulated by generations.
Present on the emblem and white. They are used for shields and background inscriptions. This is a symbol of paper, abstracts, and a bright mind.
Standard serif font – Centaur. Each word starts with a large capital letter. However, the rest of the elements, which should be in lower case, are also in upper case. This shows the importance of all areas taught at the university. Knowledge is always something important and with a capital letter.