Athletics | 5/3/2011 3:47:51 PM
[WOU Athletics Logos and Marks - Photo Gallery]
MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University introduced new academic and athletic logos and word-marks in a ceremony on the WOU campus on Tuesday. The new marks will serve as the official logos for the institution and the athletic department moving forward.
“The university's new mark and logo represent the new energy and strength of WOU,” Associate Provost David McDonald said. “They also represent our historic focus on each student and the importance of education serving to illuminate a path of opportunity for our graduates.”
The university partnered with Rickabaugh Graphics to create the new logos and marks as the process took approximately six months to complete. Rickabaugh has teamed with a large number of institutional and athletic clients, including The Ohio State University, Vanderbilt University, Texas A&M University, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer.
“Today's introduction of the new marks is a huge moment for our department,” Athletic Director Daniel Hare said. “Developing an identity and brand is crucial because it tells the world how you see yourself now and in the future. The new marks will be a source of pride for our entire department as well as all Western Oregon students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends.”
Throughout the process, the institution conducted focus groups and solicited feedback from faculty, staff, student-athletes, alumni and fans. The feedback allowed the selection committee, made up of a small group of individuals from the athletic and institutional side, to narrow down a list of possible designs to the ones revealed on Tuesday.
The new logos and marks will be phased in on department gear and uniforms over the next few years. New gear and uniforms will incorporate consistent use of colors, logos, lettering and numerals as a custom font was created for the athletic department. A brand and identity standards manual has been created in order to consistently apply the new marks in a retail setting.
In conjunction with the new marks, the department will launch a re-design of www.wouwolves.com, the official website of the department, in early June. The re-designed website will offer an online store for fans to purchase official WOU gear with a percentage of proceeds going directly to benefit student-athletes.
“Today is just the start of several branding initiatives that will take place over the next few weeks,” Hare said. “We've undergone numerous changes and have grown as an athletic department throughout the years. We stand committed as we look to the future in hopes of becoming one of the top NCAA Division II athletic programs in the country.”
