Harvard Divinity School
Conceptual, Brand Identity, Copy, Print
Compassion, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Background
Harvard Divinity School, founded in 1816, is a nonsectarian theological school and the second professional school established at Harvard. With a long history of intellectual inquiry, religious literacy, and engagement with diverse religious traditions, the institution remains dedicated to preparing individuals for professional ministry, service professions, and leadership in various fields enriched by religious and theological studies.
The Challenge
The current logo for the Harvard Divinity School is outdated. The challenge is to design a lockup to better reflect the school's modern commitment to academic rigor and excellence, creating a clean visual identity that would resonate with a wider audience.
The Solution
Logo: A symbol reflecting a window into Compassion, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
The new logomark, featuring a rectangle split into four quadrants, symbolizing a window, was designed to represent the core values of Compassion, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The negative space within the quadrants forms the intersection of a cross, symbolizing the institution's commitment to exploring and understanding the world's religious traditions. The familiar bold serif font, representing Harvard's tradition and prestige, was retained for the school's name. Together, these elements create a visually striking logo that conveys the essence of Harvard Divinity School's mission and values.
Color Palette: Embracing Tradition
The color palette was kept simple, using the iconic Harvard Crimson, which not only maintains a connection to the institution's heritage but also signifies the academic excellence associated with the Harvard name.
Brand Implementation
Brand guidelines and assets were developed to ensure a consistent visual identity across all touchpoints, from print materials and campus signage to digital media and social platforms. The new logo was designed to be versatile and adaptable, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
Color Palette: Embracing Tradition
The color palette was kept simple, using the iconic Harvard Crimson, which not only maintains a connection to the institution's heritage but also signifies the academic excellence associated with the Harvard name.
Tri-fold Brochure Mockup
Thoughts
The conceptual redesign of the Harvard Divinity School logo lends to a more modern and versatile aesthetic that can increase the school's visibility and recognition across all mediums within the academic community and beyond. Faculty, students, and alumni alike can appreciate its simplicity and ability to convey the essence of the institution while respecting its rich history.
The redesign of the Harvard Divinity School logo is inspired by the boxed logo design created by Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv for Harvard University Press. Both projects aim to create a cohesive, clean, and modern visual identity that communicates the respective Harvard institutions' values and missions to a broader audience.
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