UGA Logo PNG
The UGA logo opens the door to one of the oldest universities that have survived the dark periods of the country’s history. At the same time, the emblem shows that knowledge is under reliable protection here, and no historical events have affected the work of the university and the desire to serve their homeland.
UGA: Brand overview
Established in 1785 through a charter granted by the Georgia General Assembly, the University of Georgia (UGA) is the oldest public university in the United States. To support its growth, the university was granted 40,000 acres of land.
The first classes were held on temporary grounds in 1801, with Josiah Meigs serving as president. Enrollment was initially low. The first permanent campus building, Franklin College (now Old College), was completed in 1804.
The university saw its first period of growth in the 1820s and 1830s. The first chapel was built in 1821; enrollment reached 100 students in 1830.
In the 1850s, the institution expanded its academic offerings, establishing one of the nation’s first law schools in 1859. Although UGA remained open during the Civil War (1861–1865), enrollment dropped sharply as many students and faculty left to serve.
The 1870s brought new developments, as the Morrill Act of 1872 granted land-grant status, supporting the expansion of technological and agricultural programs.
The 1880s and 1890s marked further growth. In 1891, the university began offering programs for women, and in 1895, it established the College of Agriculture.
New departments were founded in the early 1900s. The School of Pharmacy opened in 1903, followed by the School of Forestry in 1908.
Modernization occurred throughout the 1920s and 1930s with new dormitories, labs, and academic buildings. The College of Education was established in 1932.
Integration was a pivotal change in the 1950s. In 1961, UGA admitted its first African American students, making it the first integrated university in the Deep South.
Expansion continued throughout the 1960s and 1970s, with the addition of the College of Business (1962), the School of Social Work (1964), and the College of Environment and Design (1969).
The 1980s saw the beginning of intensive research development, highlighted by the opening of the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center in 1985. Research funding increased substantially during this period.
The 1990s marked a focus on globalization. A campus was opened in Italy, and study abroad programs were launched. Research programs continued to expand.
In the 2000s, substantial investments were made in infrastructure, leading to the construction of new dormitories, academic buildings, and research facilities.
The 2010s introduced new initiatives in education and research. Partnerships with industry were strengthened, and new interdisciplinary programs were created.
By 2023, the university’s 17 schools and colleges offered over 200 academic programs. It is recognized for its business, media, law, education, and agriculture strengths.
The institution has produced numerous notable alumni, including business leaders, scientists, politicians, and artists. Distinguished alumni include governors, prominent entrepreneurs, and members of the US Congress.
The University of Georgia is represented by its athletic team, the Georgia Bulldogs. Competing in NCAA Division I within the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Bulldogs are celebrated for their achievements in football and sports like basketball, baseball, and gymnastics. Known for their fierce spirit and dedicated fan base, the Bulldogs embody the pride and tradition of the University of Georgia, making their games highly anticipated events and reinforcing a strong sense of community among students, alumni, and supporters.
With a legacy of excellence in education and research, the University of Georgia remains one of the leading research universities in the country. The university places special emphasis on international collaboration, research infrastructure, and the development of innovative educational tools. Through its research initiatives, it is actively engaged in addressing global challenges.
Meaning and History
Judging by incomplete archival data, the UGA seal and motto were created in 1801 by one person – Josiah Meigs. That year, the trustees chose a site to construct the university, and the new school president, Josiah Meigs (part-time the only professor), began teaching physics without a suitable room. The first building appeared only later – in 1802. Students graduated in 1804. Graduates received diplomas with a seal that contained the inscription “Universitas Georgiae Sigillum 1801” inside the circle. There was also an old motto in Latin. At that time, it consisted of the phrase “Et docere et rerum exquirere causas.” In 1990, the word “serve” was added to the phrase, but this did not affect the press.
Although the UGA logo has a short history, it has undergone one redesign. It reflects tradition because it depicts the famous arch of the University of Georgia, shown in the modern press and rising on the campus.
What is UGA?
It is one of the oldest universities in the United States. It existed before the war and has survived the Civil War era and many other historical events. Two statesmen established it. One of them, Lyman Hall, governor of Georgia, secured land to construct an educational institution. The other, Abraham Baldwin, a founding father of the United States, drafted the charter. The campus site was chosen in the city of Athens. The first buildings did not appear until the early 1800s and educational institutions only existed on paper. Now, it is the largest organization, including 18 colleges and schools. It owns museum complexes, libraries, more than 800 student organizations, about 470 facilities on the main campus, and dozens of additional centers outside Athens.
Old
Until 2016, the logo featured a black arch within a white circle with a dark outline. The design with three columns and an arc at the top looked almost identical to the print but without detailing. This element seemed small against the background of the inscription, which the designers placed at the bottom.
Immediately below the arch was a long and wide line of dark red. Inside it, centered, was the white number “1785”. The university’s full name was even lower, with the article “The” in front of it. The high-contrast font with thin, long serifs was legible, but the narrow spacing caused some letters to blend. The phrase was underlined with a thin black stripe.
2016 – today
In April 2016, UGA announced its intention to update the logo, which unites all university departments, academic programs, and colleges. Work was carried out until September, after which a new version of the badge with an arch was presented to the public. The traditional element has become white and stands out due to the dark background. The silhouette of the arch is formed by negative space inside a rectangular shield with a rounded base. It, in turn, is divided into two color blocks: a black top and a red bottom. The year of the foundation of the educational institution is written at the bottom.
To the right of the icon is the phrase “UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA,” already without the usual article “The.” The current design consists of capital letters. The black words “UNIVERSITY OF” are above the red “GEORGIA,” placed on a separate line.
The Seal
According to historical documents, the seal with the arch and the date of the university’s foundation appeared in the late 1890s. It was first used on the diplomas of students who graduated in 1897. The modern version has a similar structure. It is based on the Great Seal of the State of Georgia, which has existed since 1799. Like the state symbol, there is an arch in the central part—the embodiment of the State Constitution.
Three columns reflect the division of powers into the corresponding number of branches. On the upper arc is the word “CONSTITUTION,” and the state motto is written in Latin on the scrolls attached to the columns. It is divided into several parts: “WIS” and “DOM” on the left, “JUSTICE” in the middle, and “MODER” and “ATION” on the right.
The arch rises on three long steps. According to legend, a warrior, one of the militias participating in the American War of Independence, stands there. The sword raised in his hands symbolizes his readiness to defend the current laws of the United States.
On the UGA seal, the central graphic elements are placed in a ring and surrounded on top by the motto of the university, coined by Josiah Meigs back in 1801. The original Latin version remains: “ET DOCERE ET RERUM EXQUIRERE CAUSAS.” Outside the black ring, the words “SIGILLUM,” “UNIVERSITAS,” and “GEORGIAE” are written, separated by bold dots. And at the bottom, instead of the date of adoption of the State Constitution (as on the state symbol), is the year the university was founded – 1785.
Font and Colors
The specialists of the Division for Marketing and Communications worked on the logo. They surveyed students and teachers, which showed that everyone considers the arch and the number “1785” to be the most important symbols of the educational institution. Therefore, they were included in the new graphic sign. However, many called the article “The” excessive, so it no longer exists.
The arch is depicted inside a heraldic shield, with three columns protruding beyond the white horizontal line separating the blacktop and red bottom. Small black triangles create three-dimensional space on the right side of each column. As a result, the line seems to be a curb, and the arch is in front of it.
University of Georgia logo
One of the university’s official fonts is the Merriweather serif. However, the logo creators used completely different versions of the typeface. The letters on the top line have rectangular serifs, while those of the word “GEORGIA” are sharp and elongated. The font in the first case resembles TeX Gyre Schola Bold by GUST e-foundry, and in the second, it resembles Begum Semi Bold by Indian Type Foundry.
An equally important element of the UGA identity is the color scheme. If the print is black and white, the logo is more colorful. His colors are called Chapel Bell White (#FFFFFF), Arch Black (#000000), and Bulldog Red (#BA0C2F).
