The Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletic Department launched its new visual identity on Friday, Aug. 26, with the unveiling of a new logo at Friday After 5, Owensboro’s popular weekly summer event.
A committee of students, coaches, staff and alumni developed concepts, and the artwork was created by Tanner+West, an Owensboro design agency. Kentucky Wesleyan alumnus Taylor West ’09 was the primary developer of the new brand identify for the Panthers, which includes custom fonts and word marks along with secondary and tertiary logos.
“We sought to create a new mark to establish a consistent brand for Kentucky Wesleyan athletics and connect the visual direction of the College,” shared Athletic Director Rob Mallory. “This new brand identity achieves that and pays tribute to the past with a modern, fresh look. We are thrilled with the results and excited to see our new logos on the field of play and in our community. This brand identify provides more flexibility for use in a variety of media, uniforms, team apparel, print materials and multimedia applications.”
“As proud Wesleyan alumni, Jason Tanner ’05 and I are honored that Kentucky Wesleyan College chose Tanner+West Design Agency to create a new visual identity for the Panthers,” said Taylor West. “Together, we strived to design a unique logo that pays respect to Wesleyan’s accomplished history while embracing the future, and we are pleased with the response of the Athletic Department to the new brand.”
The Panther mark is presented in similar fashion to the department’s previous logo with a strong, sharp image and clear facial features to soften the transition from the old look, which is still displayed in prominent locations across campus. Wesleyan’s hats and helmets will include the newly designed “W” to maintain and enhance the brand equity and tie the college to its proud traditions.
The Panther icon can be used by itself or in conjunction with the word mark and/or the “W” logo. The athletic programs now have greater flexibility in use of the logos to meet specific needs while providing a consistent look.
The college will utilize a soft roll-out of the logos, and the updated versions will be used when teams order new uniforms, apparel, etc. The logo will be showcased in all printed materials and on the new athletic website, which will launch in the fall. Clothing with the new logos will be available in the Panther’s Den spirit store in the Winchester Center on campus and in additional retail locations in Owensboro this fall.