A New Look for a New Era
Bryn Mawr has completed its first-ever comprehensive Institutional Positioning project, which unifies how the College presents its key qualities, values, and personality to our community, prospective students, and the wider world through both words and visual design.
Launched in the fall of 2023, this project was led by the College鈥檚 Office of Communications in partnership with women-owned research firm SimpsonScarborough. Hundreds of Bryn Mawr community members participated in the project鈥檚 three phases to offer opinions and feedback about what makes Bryn Mawr distinct.
Inspired by the past to inform our future, the team dug into the archives to draw inspiration from how the College was depicted previously and how it looks today. They examined items such as the owls depicted in the pages of old yearbooks and lanterns that have changed shape over the decades.
The results of this work are emerging in places like our campus signage, on the website鈥檚 homepage, on the Bookshop shelves, in new descriptive language about the College, and in brochures for prospective students. The verbal identity underscores Bryn Mawr鈥檚 academic excellence, values, and culture, and the new visual identity embraces long-standing traditions but with bolder and brighter visuals that reflect our refined, thoughtful, and distinguished College community.
What does this look like in practice? Let鈥檚 break down some of the design elements!
Architectural Patterns
The campus architecture has been rendered in patterns that can be applied to our design. While they may appear abstract at first glance, look a little closer, and you will recognize the familiar painted ceiling and leaded windows of Great Hall.
The College Seal
This fall, the Board approved an updated seal. The seal still features owls and daisies, plus the motto 鈥渧eritatem dilexi,鈥 or 鈥渄elight in the truth.鈥 The seal will be featured more frequently in our College logo to highlight our academic strength.
The Colors
Our signature yellow is now named 鈥淟antern鈥檚 Glow,鈥 and the golden hue has already been adopted in signage, on postcards, and on mugs and sweatshirts in the College Bookshop. White and Lantern鈥檚 Glow remain the College colors, accented by navy and a palette of complementary colors.
Publisher's Marks
This new design vision for Bryn Mawr was inspired by one of our favorite things鈥攂ooks! Literary influences pepper this new visual identity, including in the new 鈥減ublisher鈥檚 marks.鈥 Featuring the tower of Taylor Hall; the college flower, a daisy; the monogram; and, of course, a lantern, these marks are fun, decorative accents that feature beloved icons of the College.
The Light
Light rays, a simple and flexible design element, evoke the iconic antern and the light of knowledge.
What鈥檚 next?
You can look forward to the reveal of our new athletics mascot owl chosen by popular vote: Olympia, or Olly for short, and their new costume. Also, the Bulletin will begin to embrace this bright new look and messaging framework following an analysis of recent reader feedback.
Published on: 02/26/2025