Columbia Lions Logo

Columbia Lions Logo PNG

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.

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