Photo by Cameron Monken

Illustration

After nearly a year of deliberation, a new logo will take its place between the athletic Jayhawk and the solemn seal.

David Johnston, director of marketing for the University of Kansas, announced on July 5 that the new logo was the letters “K” and “U” in blue, Trajan typeface. Johnston said the new logo was an addition and not a replacement.

“The new logo is to fill in the gap between the fun and informal Jayhawk and the formal and official seal,” Johnston said.

The Visual Identity Committee recommended this particular logo, out of the four proposed, to Chancellor Robert Hemenway earlier this week. Hemenway signed off on his choice on July 5.

Hemenway said the need for the new logo came from the lack of unity between assortment of schools on campus. He said the University lacked a symbol that brought all the schools together.

“The way we tell our story to the public is different depending on the school,” Hemenway said. “We want one that will share our facts and information.”

The new logo is intended to unify schools as well as promote the idea of academic rigor in a friendly and approachable way, Johnston said.

Johnston said several symbols, including sunflowers, stars, wheat and the Campanile were origanlly considered. But after conducting surveys, Johnston said, the committee found that the letters KU best encompassed their message of unity.

LandreyMorrow Inc., a design firm based in Portland, Ore., was paid $88,900 in private funds to create four logos for Hemenway to choose from. Each logo consisted of the letters “KU” in different fonts.

The University of Kansas' new logo will take its place between the athletic Jayhawk and the solemn seal.

Trajan, the new logo’s typeface, is currently in use at the University. It is on the James Naismith Court in Allen Fieldhouse and in use at the University of Kansas Hospital and Kansas Medical Center.

The four designs were posted on the Internet for interested parties to view and comment on. Johnston said the logos received more than 4,500 comments online alone. He said because the process was open to the public, he felt there would be a positive reaction to the new logo.

Johnston said the new logo would be implemented this fall but Hemenway said it may take time for the new logo to be phased in.

“We’re not going to throw out all of our stationary just because we got a new logo,” Hemenway said. “We’re going to do this with great economy.”

— Edited by Erin M. Droste