Hanover Launches New Unified Logo and Branding
With a nod to its past and a salute to its dynamic future, Hanover College has introduced a new logo to unite generations of Hanoverians as the institution prepares to enter its third century.
Hanover stands as the oldest, private, four-year liberal arts college in Indiana. While treasuring its tradition of high-quality in-person education, the College is adaptively securing its future through recently added academic and athletic programs, enhanced remote instruction capability, as well as with unique offerings planned for the coming years.
Hanover’s new mark is deeply engrained in the College’s past. The refreshed graphic identity pays tribute to the College’s academic roots and athletic traditions. Inspiration for the logo comes from elements seen throughout Hanover’s history. The interlocking letters have appeared in various forms at the College since the late 1800s. The Hanover crest, developed by J. Frederick Larson, pays tribute to the wrought iron adornments and railings present on eight campus buildings designed by the famed architect from 1936-1956.
Hanover’s mark was created by the Office of Communications and Marketing after a 16-month process. The resulting logo was produced following focus groups and feedback on design options from various campus stakeholders, including students, employees, alumni and trustees. Aspiring to consolidate Hanover’s visual identity with respect to its past, the new mark replaces the former “window” logo – used since the early 1990s – and the College’s spirit mark, featuring the capital “H” and adjoining panther head, which appeared in the early 2000s.
Hanover’s new graphic representation and color palette is designed for flexibility in today’s multimedia-oriented world. The graphic, available in horizontal and vertical formats, as well as an athletic variation, provides consistency within a wide range of uses. The new logo works well in digital, traditional print and apparel applications, and will boldly display in both small and large representations.
Adjacent to Larson’s Hanover crest are the words “Hanover College,” which are styled based on the typeface used with the College’s long-running “window” logo. The font, however, has been tailored to maintain a connection to the past with a more contemporary feel.
Hanover’s expanded color palette is anchored by the continuing use of the College’s traditional cardinal red and royal blue. The addition of new primary colors, including “Midnight at the Point” (a rich, darker blue) and “Ohio Valley Morning” (a distinct, reassuring gray), provides increased flexibility and visual support for a vast assortment of applications.
Hanover’s new mark will begin to appear in the College’s digital platforms throughout the month of May. Newly branded student recruitment, advancement and other printed materials will feature the logo this summer. The graphic will eventually expand to campus signage and displays, athletic facilities and apparel – and even Indiana license plates – during the 2020-21 academic year.
