Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the unveiling of a new branding initiative.
The predominant Red Hawk logo has been refreshed along with the introduction of new marks that will be available for use by campus organizations with others reserved for athletics use only. A new font type has also been created along with a comprehensive style guide to ensure consistent use of the athletic department's logos across a wide variety of applications.
"The refreshed logo, additional marks, and updated fonts will strengthen our ability to grow our brand," said Director of Athletic Rob Chesney. "We are very excited to launch our new marks, which we expect to generate excitement for our staff, student-athletes, alumni and fans. We are looking forward to seeing our teams take the field with this new look once the public health emergency is over."
The re-branding initiative comes during a watershed moment for Montclair State University Athletics. The University has grown to become New Jersey's second-largest university. It has launched more than 80 new graduate programs, built outstanding new facilities, and has been designated as both a New Jersey public research university and a national research doctoral institution. Building on this momentum, Montclair State now aspires to become widely known as one of the top NCAA Division III programs in the country.
The initiative was developed in partnership with Phoenix Design Works. PDW is one of the nation's top branding, marketing, and advertising firms with extensive experience in the consumer, collegiate, sports, and entertainment marketplaces. Founded in 1998, PDW has created and developed some of the best-loved and most memorable collegiate brands in the world today.
"Working with Montclair to refresh their program to achieve their current branding goals has been an absolute joy," said Amy Skiles, Phoenix Design Works SVP Business Development, Client Service. "Everyone at Montclair State has been a delight to work with, and we are so proud to be part of the Red Hawks team."
The first appearance of a Montclair State athletics logo came in a simple form in the late 1920s into the early 1930s. The "Big Red," the first nickname of all Montclair athletic teams, each sported the scarlet letter "M" on its uniforms. In the 1930s, Montclair State Teacher's College changed its nickname to the Indians. A traditional Native-American Indian profile adorned with "MSTC" was visible across all athletics uniforms.
In August 1989, the Montclair State Athletic Department took a bold step, changing its nickname. Sensitive to the concerns of Native Americans about Indian mascots, a contest was conducted with Red Hawks, named after the indigenous Red-Tailed Hawks that inhabit the surrounding areas of the campus, selected as the new moniker. A nationwide contest was conducted to find a new logo. The winning design, by Maureen McGill, embodied both the new and the old of the University as the block letter "M" was combined with the new Red Hawk.
A new Red Hawk logo was unveiled in 1995 when Montclair State College became Montclair State University. The new mark displayed the University's change in status as the Red Hawk was pictured flying through the "U" in the logo. A decade later, the most recent version was produced by Phoenix Design Works. In 2009, the logos were updated with the gray added to the traditional colors of red and white.
