As part of a University-wide initiative to achieve greater consistency and visual unity among the University’s schools and affiliates with a single graphic appearance, the Warner School has adopted a new logo that strengthens its connections with the University.

The first step in developing a new graphic identity for the University of Rochester and its academic units began with the creation of a standardized logo for the entire University. The new University logo, which was launched during a celebration earlier this week, was designed internally by a team of designers and developed through an inclusive process in which many members of the University community participated. The five finalist logos were displayed on the University’s Web site where alumni, students, faculty and staff could select their favorite design and provide feedback.

The new University logo (top right), which was the favorite of more than 50 percent of the 11,000 votes, features a coat of arms, three symbols, the University motto Meliora, and the date the University was founded. The selected design was rolled out into a number of alternate treatments to provide the professional schools and major units of the University a coordinated and consistent look.

The University-wide discussions about the importance of an effective and unified graphic identity also prompted internal conversations about the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development name. Because of its length, our “official” name has presented challenges in creating name recognition and allowing for clear, strong graphic representation for the School. While referring to “The Warner School” allowed for a more concise “marketing” name, it failed to communicate the core of our work and ground us in the education community. Following the advice of a number of marketing and communications experts whom we consulted with, the decision was made to use the “Warner School of Education” as the abbreviated name for marketing and public relations. The new logo (bottom right) reflects this decision.

“When we communicate to an external audience, simplicity is key in our efforts to raise visibility for Warner,” says Raffaella Borasi, dean of the Warner School. “Despite the adoption of a shortened name for marketing and the logo, the official name of the school remains the ‘Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development.’ In various communications and for selected official business, as well as in all of our diplomas, we will continue to use the full name.”

Borasi also wants to reassure the Warner School community that this was a business and marketing decision, not a reflection of a change in our commitment to human development as a program or as an important foundation of the School’s work in education. “Our conception of the word ‘education’ has always been very broad, meant to encompass human learning and development in various contexts (schools and beyond), across the life course,” explains Borasi.

Warner will begin to use the new name—along with its new logo—immediately, realizing that there will be a gradual “phase in” process that could take place before all Warner materials reflect the new name and logo.