UC Berkeley Logo, symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand

UC Berkeley Logo PNG

The UC Berkeley logo shows a deep reverence for education and the sciences. The preservation of tradition, along with the encouragement of innovation, can be seen in the elements. The emblem combines simplicity and originality, conveying the charisma of the university.

UC Berkeley: Brand overview

Founded:	March 23, 1868
Headquarters:	Berkeley, California, United States
Website:	berkeley.edu

The UC Berkeley campus is part of the University of California system. It is believed that he appeared in 1868, although the first campus in the city of Berkeley was opened a few years later – in 1873. Initially, the educational institution worked in Oakland and was named after the philosopher-bishop George Berkeley, who denied the existence material world, criticized the discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton, and argued that objects could not exist without human perception. Fortunately, this did not affect the university’s educational program: it conducts active research activities and is recognized as one of the most successful in the United States. Its employees have discovered 16 new chemical elements, and graduates have been nominated for many prestigious prizes and awards. In addition, he owns the California Golden Bears, which have won over a hundred national championships.

Meaning and History

UC Berkeley was known as the University of California in its early years. When other branches began to appear, it was renamed, and its old name began to refer to a multi-institutional educational institution system. The campus is now officially called the University of California, Berkeley. As for the shortened version of the name UC Berkeley is the standard brand that applies to all departments, schools, and colleges. The university’s identity is built on it – something that no educational institution in America can do without. However, the use of the abbreviation UCB is not recommended.

An important part of the visual identity is the logo and the seal. They connect different departments and reflect the historical heritage of the university.

What is UC Berkeley?

UC Berkeley is one of the world’s most prestigious universities located in Berkeley, California, USA. It was founded in 1868. The university offers a wide range of educational programs in the fields of natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, and business. Known for its scientific research and is home to many renowned scientific institutions. UC Berkeley is also famous for its student tradition, activism, and political demonstrations.

The UC Berkeley logo was created much later than the seal. It is a text character that reflects the full name of the university. The central place is occupied by the word “Berkeley.” It has been enlarged and moved to the first line. The designers have chosen for it an unusual high-contrast font with horizontal serifs. The symmetry of the letters is broken, which is especially noticeable in the beveled strokes of the “e.”

The phrase “UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA” is on the second line. Despite being uppercase, it takes up less than half the space because the developers scaled-down the letters. The font is also different – this part of the logo is written in low-contrast bold grotesque. Unlike the seal, the UC Berkeley wordmark is used in many university areas and can represent different departments.

The Seal

This identity element went to UC Berkeley from the University of California. Its original version originated in 1884 when the Board of Regents approved the appearance of the corporate seal. Based on established standards, Tiffany & Co. created a whole work of art, which, unfortunately, was destroyed along with other property during a fire.

In 1908, Tiffany & Co. proposed a new print design. It was then that a five-pointed star and an open book appeared inside the circle. Two years later, the university adopted a revised version – with the motto “Let There Be Light” on the ribbon. The central elements surrounded a ring with the inscription “SEAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 1868”. But as the university developed, the word “SEAL” was removed at the beginning, and “BERKELEY” was added at the end.

This distinctive symbol is of limited use. The stamp is affixed to documents, business cards, and letterheads at the discretion of the campus administration. Recently, identification standards have softened, and now they are depicted on university stationery.

Font and Colors

Both UC Berkeley’s logos (both academic and sports) consist only of inscriptions. Against their background, the university’s seal stands out, which contains many allegorical elements – a large open book in the center of the circle – the personification of wisdom. The text begins with the capital letter “A,” which should indicate the origins of knowledge. A little higher is a five-pointed star with rays emanating in all directions – a kind of symbol of insight.

The California Golden Bears emblem’s custom cursive font is called Cal Script. It contrasts sharply with the bold antique typeface used for the inscription on the seal. As for the text sign of the university, it features two types of fonts – serif and sans serif. As follows from the branding guide, these are different modifications of the proprietary UC Berkeley OS.

The primary logo colors are California Gold (#FDB515) and Berkeley Blue (#003262). The palette is slightly different, with gold replacing Medalist (#C4820E). Black and white versions are also acceptable.

UC Berkeley color codes

Selective Yellow	Hex color:	#fdb515
	RGB:	253 181 21
	CMYK:	0 29 92 1
	Pantone:	PMS 7549 C

Dark Midnight Blue	Hex color:	#003262
	RGB:	0 50 98
	CMYK:	100 49 0 62
	Pantone:	PMS 648 C

Mustard Brown	Hex color:	#c4820e
	RGB:	196 130 14
	CMYK:	0 34 93 23
	Pantone:	PMS 145 C