Campus Spirit: Making College Logos That Last

What makes a college logo not only inspire but last? How do you engage your campus community around it? And how do you know it’s time for a change?

In this episode of the Campus Spirit series, we explore how logos evolve from simple sketches into lasting symbols of pride and identity. A great college logo doesn’t just look good across multiple platforms, it sparks emotion, reflects culture, and stands up to decades of student experiences and institutional change.

Agency Marketing Director Cathy Donovan is joined by Paskill Founder and President Jim Paskill, Associate Creative Director Frank Delaney, and written reflections from Senior Graphic Designer and lllustrator Nick DiNucci, whose logos have shaped dozens of institutions across the country.

Together, they unpack what makes a logo resonate, and how the strongest ones are shaped by design, collaboration, strategy, and story.

What you’ll learn:

• What makes a college logo inspiring, and how that inspiration is designed
• How identity design adapts to campus culture and student expectations
• Why community engagement matters in logo creation and evolution
• How to balance legacy and freshness in a redesign
• Where logo redesigns can go off track, and how to recover
• The role of logos across recruitment and brand touchpoints
• Stories behind logos that stuck, and what made them work

When a logo is done right, it doesn’t just represent a school, it reflects a shared experience. The most powerful marks are built with purpose, shaped by community, and designed to last.

Check out the full Q&A with Nick DeNucci.