Purdue University Unifies Academics, Athletics Under Motion P Logo

Purdue University quietly unified its academic and athletic brands under one mark last month as it looks to take its “next giant leap” into the future.

The persistent pursuit of #TheNextGiantLeap 🖤💛🚂 pic.twitter.com/5QIIHsgCfE
— Purdue University (@LifeAtPurdue) January 30, 2020

Using a play off the words graduate Neil Armstrong said moments after he took mankind’s first steps on the moon, the university — which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2019 — officially launched the new branding on Jan. 30. It features a simplified color palette and a new academic logo, which incorporates the Motion “P” logo used predominantly by the Boilermakers’ athletic department.

“The Purdue University brand is both strong and precious, representing sustained excellence, grit, innovation, collaboration, balance, impact and value,” vice president of marketing R. Ethan Braden said in a statement. “We all have a duty to deliberately and consistently position, promote and protect it through our actions and our communications. With its insights, narrative and updated visuals, ‘The Next Giant Leap’ provides a flexible vehicle to do that across different audiences for the years to come.”

Purdue used six months of input from alumni, faculty, students and peer institutions to establish the new brand guidelines, which will be implemented across signage on campus and digital mediums over the course of the year at a cost of $200,000.