Univ. Of Illinois Adopting Athletics' Logo, Colors In Effort To Unify Branding

The Univ. of Illinois yesterday announced that it will "return to a single logo -- the orange block 'I' still used by Illinois athletics -- as it moves to unify its branding," according to Julie Wurth of the Champaign NEWS-GAZETTE. The school will "scrap its 20-year-old 'Column I' logo used by academic and administrative units." The changes are "part of a branding campaign launched two years ago in preparation for the upcoming fundraising campaign set to kick off in October." The campus is also "officially adopting the navy and dark orange already used by athletics as the official school colors." UI Chancellor Robert Jones "directed staff to unify the campus logo and to clarify rules for its use." He said that having multiple logos "creates needless confusion for the public" (Champaign NEWS-GAZETTE, 8/15).