UC Berkeley Logo PNG
UC Berkeley’s logo shows a deep respect for education and science. Its elements show the preservation of tradition and the encouragement of innovation. The emblem combines simplicity and originality, conveying the university’s charisma.
UC Berkeley: Brand overview
The UC Berkeley campus is part of the University of California system. It is believed to have come into existence in 1868, although the first campus in the city of Berkeley opened a few years later in 1873. The institution originally operated in Oakland and was named after philosopher-bishop George Berkeley, who denied the existence of the 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 educational program of the university: it is active in scientific activity and is recognized as one of the most successful in the United States. Its staff has discovered 16 new chemical elements, and its graduates have been nominated for many prestigious awards and honors. In addition, it owns the California Golden Bears team, which has won more than one 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 came to stand for a multi-institutional system of educational institutions. The campus is now officially called the University of California at Berkeley. As for the shortened version of the UC Berkeley name, it is the standard brand that applies to all departments, schools, and colleges. On it is built the identity of the university – something that no educational institution in America can do without. However, using the acronym UCB is not recommended.
An important part of the visual identity is the logo and seal. They link the different units and reflect the historical heritage of the university.
What is UC Berkeley?
UC Berkeley is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, located in Berkeley, California, USA. It was founded in 1868. The university offers a wide range of educational programs in natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, and business. The university is known for its scientific research and is home to many renowned academic institutions. UC Berkeley is also known for its student traditions, activism, and political demonstrations.
The UC Berkeley logo was created much later than the seal. It is a text symbol that reflects the full name of the university. The word “Berkeley” takes center stage. It is enlarged and moved to the first line. The designers chose for it an unusual high-contrast font with horizontal serifs. The symmetry of the letters is broken, which is especially noticeable by the beveled strokes of the letter “e.”
The phrase “UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA” is located on the second line. Despite the capital letters, it occupies less than half of the space because the developers have reduced the size of the letters. The font is also different – this part of the logo is written in low-contrast, bold, and grotesque. Unlike the seal, the UC Berkeley wordmark is used in many parts of the university and can denote different departments.
The Seal
This element of identity transferred to UC Berkeley from the University of California. Its original design originated in 1884 when the Board of Regents approved the appearance of the corporate seal. Based on the standards set, Tiffany & Co. created an entire work of art, which unfortunately was destroyed along with other property in a fire.
In 1908, Tiffany & Co. proposed a new design for the seal. It was then that a five-pointed star and an open book appeared inside the circle. Two years later, the university adopted an updated version – with the motto “Let There Be Light” on the ribbon. The centerpieces surrounded the ring with the inscription “SEAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 1868.” But as the university evolved, the word “SEAL” was removed at the beginning, and “BERKELEY” was added at the end.
This distinctive mark is of limited use. The seal is applied to documents, business cards, and letterhead at the discretion of the university administration. Recently, standards of identification have been relaxed, and it is now depicted on University stationery.
Font and Colors
Both UC Berkeley logos (both academic and athletic) consist of lettering only. The university seal stands out against them, containing many allegorical elements – a large open book in the center of a circle – the personification of wisdom. The text begins with the capital letter “A,” which should indicate the origin of knowledge. Just above is a five-pointed star with rays diverging in all directions – a kind of symbol of insight.
The font of the emblem of the California Golden Bears, made in the form of cursive writing, is called Cal Script. It contrasts sharply with the bold vintage font used for the seal lettering. As for the university’s text mark, it uses two types of fonts: serif and sans serif. According to the branding guidelines, these are different modifications of the signature UC Berkeley OS.
The main colors of the logo are California Gold (#FDB515) and Berkeley Blue (#003262). The palette is slightly different, with the gold color replaced by Medalist (#C4820E). Black and white options are also allowed.
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 |