California Polytechnic State University is a leading public university that is part of the California State University (CSU) system. The university’s campus is situated in a scenic area, with views of the nearby mountains and coastline. The university is known for its motto, “Learn by Doing,” which emphasizes a hands-on approach to learning. For example, engineering students not only learn science and math but also work on real-world projects from their first year. Cal Poly is also known for its competitive teams in robotics, biomedicine, and sustainable technology.
Meaning and History
California Polytechnic State University, commonly known as Cal Poly, was founded in 1901. It was originally founded as a school for vocational and industrial education. Over the years, it grew to be a full-fledged polytechnic university. In 1946, Cal Poly was designated as a state university and began offering bachelor’s degrees. The university transformed into a comprehensive institution, achieving university status in 1972. Today, Cal Poly has consistently ranked among the top public universities in the nation, particularly in the fields of engineering and business.
What is Cal Poly?
Cal Poly, a public university in the US, offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and more than 30 graduate programs across six different colleges. It has a strong emphasis on engineering, architecture, business, agriculture, and the sciences. Cal Poly is particularly recognized for its engineering programs, consistently ranking among the top in the nation.
???? – 2019
This logo looks classic and sophisticated. It features a shortened version of the universities name, Cal Poly, printed using all caps with the first letters slightly enlarged. The font has clean lines and bracketed serifs. Accompanied by a heraldic shield, it reflects the academic focus and identity of the educational establishment. The shield has “Discere Faciendo” printed across it. It is split into four sections, each with different icons that are associated with Cal Poly in one way or another. The Cal Poly logo conveys a sense of professionalism and tradition.
2019 – Today
The updated logo features the same elements as the earlier version with a few modifications. The name features a very similar font but with thicker strokes. The shield also became more minimalistic. Across the top, it has “Learn by Doing” printed in white using all caps and clean, sans-serif font. The rest of the upper half has a drawing of a sun rising behind hills. The bottom half carries a feather calligraphy pen crossed with a hammer. The two stand for education and the university’s commitment to hands-on learning.
Font and Color
The color palette includes green and white, emphasizing the university’s connection to agriculture and the natural environment, which are significant parts of its heritage. This color is also closely associated with something innovative as well as growth and development. All these qualities are directly related to the Ca Poly.
The university used a classic serif font that had a sense of formality and sophistication in both logo versions. In the logo seen before 2019, the font was similar to the Garamond 96 DT SemiBold font and Carrig Basic font. Then, it switched to a very similar but bolder serif font. It resembles Columba Text Bold Pro font and looks quite modern while still preserving traditional essence.