St. Ambrose University on Monday, June 26, unveiled a revitalized institutional logo in the first stage of the Davenport university’s new brand and visual identity rollout.
Drawing inspiration from the institution’s rich legacy and boundless future, the new logo – which is a product of input from various campus stakeholders – pays homage to SAU’s Catholic tradition and Ambrosian past while embracing a future of possibilities. When combined, the new institutional logo creates a distinctly Ambrosian symbol for the new university branding inspired by campus architecture and anchored in the university’s heritage, SAU said in a news release.
The new logo is comprised of two parts:
- Logomark: The graphical element is a shield with three crosses and three bees. This visual image echoes a similar panel of stained glass from Christ the King Chapel, a landmark of SAU’s campus. Designed by Anton Wendling from the University of Aachen, the windows were installed between 1953-1954. Inspiration for the shield also came from the university mace, the ceremonial staff used during formal university events such as commencements and convocations.
- Wordmark: The new wordmark is crafted in a variation of the Trajan font found in the works of the late Rev. Edward M. Catich, founder of the St. Ambrose’s Art Department in 1939 and a world-renowned calligrapher, stone incisor, and artist.
The new institutional logo does not replace or change the familiar Fighting Bees athletics logo. As the first of many exciting updates to the institution’s new visual identity system, SAU said it looks forward to inviting the campus community and beyond to participate in its brand evolution.
