College Rolls Out New Logo and Updated Seal

A contemporary design incorporating traditional components makes the College’s logo more recognizable and distinct.

Recently, Washington College introduced a new logo during the spring semester as part of a revamp of its visual identity. A contemporary design incorporating traditional components was needed to make the College’s logo more recognizable and distinct. The new look will be fully implemented over the next academic year.

Introduced in 2013, the previous logo used George Washington’s original signature in his 18th-century script as its primary feature. Because cursive writing is no longer taught universally in K-12 education, the script—especially this highly stylized version—was difficult to read and not immediately recognizable for many prospective students. This was counterproductive when it came to name recognition and identity.

The logo also featured the College's name in a red bar beneath the script to help clarify what the signature represented. However, when the logo was reduced to smaller sizes in ads or printed materials, it became illegible, rendering the logo ineffective.

As the College explored ways to design a distinct, recognizable logo, representing the institution’s history and traditions in a concise and visually appealing format remained a primary goal.

The new logo features the Washington family crest—the shield with three red stars and two red stripes. This symbol has been part of the Washington College seal as far back as the earliest visual records held in the College archives. The shield is combined with a newly designed wordmark—the College’s name—that is modern and easy to read yet carries elements of traditional typography.

The new logo is a strong visual that speaks to the institution's history and quality, increases visibility, and provides flexibility for use in various sizes without losing recognition. The Washington script remains part of the overall identity system but will now be used as a complementary visual that can give materials a more dynamic look.

The official seal was also redesigned during the process. The new design is inspired by the seal engraved on the academic mace (carried by the faculty marshal during academic ceremonies).

In addition, the College adopted a Latin motto that encapsulates the College’s values both at its founding and today—Scientia, Veritas, Civitas, which translates as Knowledge, Truth, Citizenship. This replaces the previous, descriptive Latin which roughly translated as “The Short Seal of Washington College in Maryland.” While the Latin seal is for use on official College documents only, many students and faculty like to use the seal on research posters and presentations. As a result, an “English version” was created for general use.

- Brian Speer