Notre Dame is an elite university with a rich history and long tradition dating back to 1842. It is under the control of the Catholic Church but accepts any student, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or religion. There are many attractions on the campus of a higher education institution. It is one of the most beautiful university campuses in the United States, with many academic, administrative, student, and residential buildings. And there are also sports buildings because the university sponsors its team – Notre Dame Fighting Irish. They compete in NCAA Division I.
Meaning and History
The educational institution was created in medieval times based on an old log chapel. It grew gradually under the leadership of Edward Sorin, improving standards and academic reputation. Subsequently, the Presidents of Notre Dame modernized the campus and changed education systems. The university is now striving to become a leader in research, as in the past. At the same time, he supports construction projects that are aimed at increasing the number of buildings.
The concept and long-standing traditions of the university are reflected in its corporate logo. It looks like a seal, consisting of a triangular shield with a set of symbols. In the center, there is across – the embodiment of the Congregatio, a Sancta Cruce community. This religious order founded Notre Dame to spread its association in the United States. In addition, the image of the cross denotes the Catholic Church as a whole.
In the upper left corner of the shield is a six-pointed star – the symbol of the Virgin Mary, which in ancient times was called the Star of the Sea. An open book obscures the lower part of the cross. It embodies the main goal of the university – to discover new knowledge and share it with students. The phrase “VITA DUL-CEDO SPES” is written on two white pages. This is the Latin motto of the university, taken from the second line of the Salve Regina anthem. He is dedicated to Our Lady and calls her “Life, Sweetness, Hope.”
Two wavy lines are shown below – a reference to the full name of the University of Notre Dame du Lac. In addition, they represent two lakes on the campus. The shield is in a circle with a figured ornament. It is framed by a blue ring with the inscription “SIGILLUM UNIVERSITAS DOMINAE NOSTRAE A LACU.”
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Logos
The university sponsors a variety of NCAA men’s and women’s sports, including volleyball, tennis, diving, softball, football, lacrosse, golf, fencing, ice hockey, golf, baseball, and others.
Teams use a monogrammed “DN” symbol. Its current version was created in 1964, and the department itself has existed since 1842.
The blue “N” and “D” are superimposed and merge at four points. They are decorated with large square serifs. This is a tribute to the old typefaces featured in past versions of the monogram. The “D” has two cut corners on the right side, which references the classic style.
Font and Colors of the Emblem
The most important element of Notre Dame’s visual identity is a shield with a set of symbols that represent its traditions and values. Most of the elements (cross, star, Latin motto) emphasize the religiousness of the educational institution. The shield is used as a graphic part of the academic sign and is part of the seal.
The monogram does not represent the university, but its sports department Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and all the teams separately. The connected letters “DN” represent the close spiritual bond between athletes, fans, alumni, and current students. It is a symbol of unification and support, which gives the will to win.
The school’s official font is called Adobe Garamond. It combines two styles at once: modern and traditional. The designers used it for all the lettering on the logo, decorating the letters with short, thin serifs.
The inscription inside the ring is white, as is the spread of the book. All other elements are painted in university colors – gold and dark blue. The sports teams’ monogram is also dark blue.