History of the Campus Logos
At first glance, logos appear to require little time and effort to create. This is an illusion.
Well-designed, memorable logos are created through a complex process involving hours of research, design, feedback, redesign and refinement, administrative approval, and incorporation and implementation into a larger identity system. The process often is expensive and time-consuming, but usually well worth the investment of resources.
Influences
The condensation of the story of the University of Illinois into the shorthand of visual symbols has a rich history. The campus logos were created in 1997 after a deep examination of that history. Here are some of the visuals that influenced the design themes that evolved into the current iteration of the campus logos.
