University of Oklahoma Logo PNG
At the university, as the logo of the University of Oklahoma shows, the focus is on the main concepts and key information that firmly settles in the students’ memory. The emblem is an example of conciseness and purposefulness.
University of Oklahoma: Brand overview
| Founded: | December 19, 1890 |
| Headquarters: | Norman, Oklahoma, United States |
| Website: | ou.edu |
Meaning and History
In December 1890, the Oklahoma Territorial Legislative Council, with Governor George Washington Steele’s participation, announced the creation of three educational institutions, including OU. The local community donated 407 acres of land in the southern area of the railroad depot for it. The first students were enrolled in 1892, and the first building didn’t open until a year later.
But in 1903, a massive fire destroyed all the university property, so construction began anew. The building was constructed according to a different design, and now it is distinguished by its original architecture in the Gothic style. The design of the Cherokee culture and the local Indian tribes is also evident. The number of campuses gradually increased, the dormitories grew, and the university’s infrastructure improved.
What is the University of Oklahoma?
This prestigious public research university in Norman, Oklahoma, is known for its achievements in petroleum engineering, meteorology, and the arts. Its 21 colleges, including the internationally recognized School of Meteorology, the National Weather Center, and the School of Geology and Geophysics, offer students over 170 majors. The campus is distinguished by its Cherokee Gothic architecture. It houses numerous research centers and museums, such as the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, with an extensive collection of Native American art. The Sooners athletic team holds a significant place in college sports history, and the Sooner Schooner—a wagon drawn by ponies—has become a symbol of school spirit. The university is especially renowned for its football program.
The original identity contains several iconic elements indicative of the institution’s territorial origins. First, they are reflected in the university seal, the most important attribute of every official document.
The academic emblem is businesslike and universal. It is used mainly on posters, brochures, promotional materials, presentations, and signs. It is also indispensable for celebrations, conferences, and website design. The logo is fully textual, consisting of the truncated and expanded name of the institution of higher education. The inscriptions are grouped in two rows. The word combination “The University of Oklahoma” occupies the bottom line. The second and fourth words are in classical fine serif type. In the upper half is the abbreviation “OU,” where the letters are superimposed on each other and connected in a monogram style. One of the legs of the “U” is visible in the “O” gap, so it looks like a “Start” button. The corners of the characters are not rounded but cut off.
The Seal
It is classically round but resembles a target structure, with a full-fledged picture rather than geometric elements in the center. It depicts a sower, embodying two concepts. First, he sows knowledge in a well-cultivated field, where numerous shots will eventually appear. The second is that the man represents the indigenous people of the state and the land on which the university is built. Above it is the phrase “Civi et Reipublicae.” Everything is surrounded by a ring of ornament consisting of miniature rectangles and white dots on a burgundy background. This is followed by broadband, which has the name of the university and the year of its origin. The final detail is a border in an Indian tribal pattern style. The elements in it are repeated and have a strict geometric shape.
Font and Colors
Although the seal, the academic logo, and the University of Oklahoma athletic insignia have nothing in common in content, they share the same color scheme. Each uses crimson, the official color of the university. At the same time, some of the signs reflect the historical heritage, and others reflect modernity. This tandem allows the educational institution not to forget its roots and, simultaneously, to look to the future. In addition, the icon from the sports logo is present in the university-wide emblem.
The university chose the Adobe Garamond Pro typeface for its visual identity signs. It is officially recommended, but Bank Gothic and Futura fonts are used alongside it.
Regarding color design, crimson in two shades – dark and light – is predominant. Therefore, in one version, it is closer to the color of burgundy (with a reddish hue), and in the other – to mar, lit is closer a (with an admixture of brown).
