The Dartmouth Big Green logo is maximally neutral in content and meaning. A large letter “D” on a pedestal symbolizes the team’s championship, while the emblem’s dark green shade corresponds to the athletic uniform’s color. It looks fresh and is associated with novelty.
Dartmouth Big Green: Brand overview
Nearly 75% of Dartmouth College students engage in sports in some form. Therefore, the institution has several dozen university and club teams representing it in the NCAA Division I. Almost all teams participate in the Ivy League. However, there are exceptions: hockey players compete in the ECAC Hockey Conference.
Meaning and History
In the 20th century, Dartmouth College’s sports teams had the unofficial nickname “Indians”. It was used until Native Americans demanded the abandonment of this designation. This led to the new name Dartmouth Big Green. It was inspired by the dark green uniform worn by all athletes by the institution’s traditions.
The new logo did not catch on immediately: in the 1970s, college employees were introduced to a block green letter “D.” Since then, the logo has undergone several redesigns, but the overall concept has remained unchanged. Efforts were made to make the letter “D” more readable on electronic screens. The current symbol of Dartmouth Big Green is used on the official brand website, along with uniforms, flags, flyers, and other materials related to the team.
What is Dartmouth Big Green?
Dartmouth Big Green is the sports department of Dartmouth College, comprising 34 university teams competing in the NCAA Division I. They are also members of the Ivy League, ECAC (hockey and equestrian), CSA (squash), EARC (rowing), EISA (skiing), and NEISA (sailing). The teams are based in Hanover, New Hampshire.
1974 – 2005
The logo contains only one element, but it fully reflects the name of the sports teams. The letter “D” is the first letter of the word “Dartmouth,” and its size and color correspond to the phrase “Big Green.” Designers used a massive, bold font with rectangular serifs to demonstrate the athletes’ seriousness, perseverance, and strength.
2005 – 2019
The letter “D” became white, gained green outlines, and was placed on a large pedestal formed by geometric shapes and two inscription levels. The first line is occupied by the white word “DARTMOUTH,” outlined in black and typed in a bold, rectangular, serif font. Under it is the word “BIG GREEN” in a white trapezoid. It is typed in a sans-serif font.
2019 – today
The legendary sign of the sports team returned in a new form. Now, the green letter “D” is surrounded by three contours: two black lines and one separating white line. These lines are located both outside and inside the space. This design introduces variety and dynamics and allows the logo to be used on different backgrounds, including green. The letter “D” is elongated vertically, giving it a neater appearance.
Font and Colors
A custom glyph, “D,” was developed for the Dartmouth Big Green logo. It consists of wide, straight strips with flat or trimmed edges. The absence of rounding and short rectangular serifs corresponds to the traditional geometric style.
The official color of the sports team is Dartmouth green (PMS 349; #046A38). It is used in the logo and most of the college’s publications. It is balanced by pure white.