My alma mater, Lethbridge Community College recently changed their name by dropping “community”. To go along with it, they unveiled a new branding strategy (including a new logo).
Here’s the old logo:
Here’s the new logo:
I really like the new logo. The old one, of course, seemed dated. The new one looks very fresh.
I think it goes without saying that the logo makes it seems the viewer is looking out a window. I think it also goes without saying that the college represents a path. Both the window and the path, of course, are representative of the future and imply the college’s link to it.
But there’s more to the logo than that. At least in my opinion. Those not from Lethbridge may not see the things that stuck out to me, but the logo is a very strong link between the college and Lethbridge.
Depending on perspective, the logo can also represent the view of someone at the back of the college looking down the coulees onto the Oldman River. It could also represent the view of someone in the river bottom looking up through the coulees at the sky.
I really like this logo. I like its future-looking qualities and its grassroots elements. Surely one of the best looking logos I’ve ever seen. And that’s my unbiased opinion.
The one thing I don’t like about it is the font choice. It doesn’t seem to be a good pairing.
Thanks for your insightful critique, and for paying such attention to the rebrand of Lethbridge College. Our team at Academica Group worked extensively with the College staff and broader community to distill the core attributes of the College, and its future vision. I’m delighted that you saw so many of them in the brand identity.
Those coulees were indeed a key geographic feature we wanted to capture, although none of us considered the window at the time. Certainly we wanted to capture the arc of the horizon, the layers of atmosphere and biosphere in the environment, upward aspiration, fluid collaboration and the sense that the College is dynamic and poised for action.
The font was likewise chosen and customized in order to convey Lethbridge College’s accessibility and approachability, modernity, and just a touch of discipline and professionalism (suggestive of the College’s well-known Justice Studies programs in particular).
We’re delighted that Lethbridge College alumni have responded so positively to the rebrand, and consider it one of our favourites too!
Thanks for commenting, Ken. It’s great to have someone from the design team offering more insight into the developmenmt of the logo.
I was very surprised they would choose the Tahoma font, but it does look nice…didn’t take me long to trace and make a stylish replica of the logo, but as a designer I really liked the change; awesome job with the site as well, the old one was HORRIBLE!!!!! there are still a few aspects of the new site that are not very efficient, but overall it’s better!
Good job!