Reflecting a commitment to Columbia University’s history, its royal past is a major strain on the Columbia Lions logo. The eerie face of a blue lion designed to intimidate opponents represents the generosity, wisdom, and strength characteristic of the institution’s athletes.
Columbia Lions: Brand overview
Founded: | 1936 |
Headquarters: |
New York, New York, U.S. |
Website: | gocolumbialions.com |
Meaning and History
A lion is depicted on all Columbia Lions emblems. But artists experimented with styles, so the animal everywhere looks different. For example, the brand name 1936-1956 looks like a caricature: a formidable predator with a helmet on his head runs on its hind legs, holding a soccer ball. Version 1957-1970 close to heraldic style. It contains a traditional emblem that embodies generosity, wisdom, and strength.
In the years 1971-1996, the logo used was a monochrome silhouette encircled by a translucent blue outline. Then the designers abandoned minimalism and presented a new option – with a lot of details. They highlighted the crouching lion, surrounded it with a tail ring, and in the background, they depicted a distant city.
What is Columbia Lions?
Columbia Lions is a sports department belonging to Columbia University and participates in the intercollegiate program with 31 teams. It is located in New York City and competes in the NCAA at the Division I level. The organization is named in honor of the university’s royal past.
1936 – 1956
1957 – 1970
1971 – 1996
1997 – 2004
2005
2006 – today
In 2005, the Columbia Lions logo was simplified: there was only an animal showing fangs and claws. But this version did not exist for long – a year later, another redesign took place. Artists preserved the head of a lion along with a lush mane and a predatory grin. A convex inscription “Columbia” was added on top, supplementing the letters with rectangular serifs.
Font and Colors
Columbia Lions color codes
Dark Midnight Blue | Hex color: | #003865 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 0 56 101 | |
CMYK: | 100 45 0 60 | |
Pantone: | PMS 2955 C |
Pale Cerulean | Hex color: | #9bcbeb |
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RGB: | 155 203 235 | |
CMYK: | 34 14 0 8 | |
Pantone: | PMS 2905 C |