Iowa State University Logo PNG
The Iowa State University logo is full of love for knowledge. The emblem shows energy, constant hard work, and dedication to one’s work. This characterizes the university at its best and attracts new students.
Iowa State University began on March 22, 1858, when Governor Ralph Lowe signed the law creating Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm. Lawmaker Benjamin Gue had pushed the bill through the state assembly, securing $20,000 for land and construction. In 1859, trustees chose 648 acres in Story County, and Farm House, the first campus building, was completed in 1861.
In 1862, Iowa became the first state to accept the Morrill Act, which established land-grant colleges for agriculture, engineering, and military training. By 1864, Iowa Agricultural College became the state’s land-grant institution. The first class in 1869 included 37 women and 136 men, making coeducation part of the school’s early identity.
The college opened the first public veterinary school in the United States in 1879. George Washington Carver joined as a student, earned his degree in 1894, and became the university’s first Black faculty member. In 1898, the school was renamed Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. In 1934, Christian Petersen became the first permanent campus artist-in-residence in the country.
From 1937 to 1942, John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry built the Atanasoff-Berry Computer on campus, which a 1973 federal court later recognized as the first electronic digital computer. During World War II, Iowa State also hosted a Manhattan Project laboratory. The university took its current name in 1959. Its teams have been called the Cyclones since the 1890s and compete in the Big 12 Conference, with the Cy-Hawk Trophy rivalry against the University of Iowa dating to 1894.
Meaning and History
Before it became a full-fledged university, the institution was called the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm. That was the name given to it when it was founded in 1856, when the Iowa General Assembly signed an ordinance. However, the official opening did not take place until 1858. The buildings were under construction on farmland covering 648 acres until that time. The university has developed infrastructure with many buildings, including architectural and historical masterpieces.
Unlike the seal, the university emblem has no graphic elements; it is textual and consists only of the institution’s name. The inscription occupies two lines: “Iowa State” at the top and “University” at the bottom. The words are in uppercase serif type. All the characters are separate except for the “V.” It is connected to the adjacent characters, “I” and “E.”
What is Iowa State?
This large public research institution in Ames, Iowa, is known for its expertise in design, engineering, veterinary medicine, and agriculture. The university has eight colleges and offers over 100 academic programs, with particular strengths in computer science, agronomy, and aerospace engineering. A unique feature of this institution is its close ties with the state’s industry and agriculture, providing students with extensive opportunities for hands-on learning and research. The university is also renowned for its vibrant student life. It features diverse cultural events, numerous student groups, and an athletic tradition represented by the Cyclones teams, who compete successfully in the Big 12 Conference.
The Seal
The academic seal is circular and has several concentric rings of different widths. This makes it look like a vinyl record, with a label and soundtracks. A laurel wreath is in the middle of the university sign, joined at the bottom. It has six paired leaves on each side and one on the top. It surrounds a motto written in English, “Science with Practice.” This is followed by five thin white stripes, followed by the abbreviated name of the university and the phrase “Of Science and Technology. To the right and left, they are separated by five-pointed stars. The inscriptions are serif on the inside and chopped on the outside.
Font and Colors
The Iowa State University identity is united by a common color palette, predominantly burgundy. Otherwise, the signs differ completely in style, shape, and components.
The logos use two typefaces: ITC Berkeley Old Style (grotesque) and Univers (serif). According to university regulations, they go well together. The official colors of the emblems are Cardinal red and Gold yellow. The university uses them in all of its visual identity signs.