One of the largest employers and universities in the state has announced a brand change to help "unify" its branding and increase its recognition not only regionally but also globally.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) on Monday unveiled new logos, which will be used throughout the university, hospital and athletics program. According to the university, this will mark the first time the three entities will share the same primary logo.
"Today, we are excited to give you a first look at our new visual identity system, which includes updated logos, colors, and branding elements designed to enhance UAB’s visibility and reputation," UAB said in its announcement. "For the first time in our history, our primary logo will be shared across the university, medicine and athletics creating a unified brand. We are confident that these changes will not only strengthen our brand, but also increase our recognition regionally and globally, reflecting the excellence and innovation UAB stands for."
UAB said the change "is a long-term endeavor that will take many years," but the initial rollout would be implemented in three phases. The official brand launch is set for January 2025, but the university will start using the new logos throughout the fall on newly constructed buildings, student recruitment materials, on the scoreboard at Protective Stadium, where the football team plays its home games, and men's basketball uniforms.
"While our official brand launch is scheduled for January 2025, you will begin to see our updated logos in some key areas during our soft launch throughout the fall - including on newly constructed buildings, in student recruitment materials and on the scoreboard at Protective Stadium. A brand refresh is a strategic investment in our future, and it will take years to fully implement our new logos on all UAB buildings and other instances in the physical environment. The phased approach we are taking will allow us to implement change in a fiscally responsible way."
Monday's announcement was Phase 1 of the rebrand.
The rest of the rebrand plan as follows:
Phase 2 | Soft Launch (Fall 2024)
August 26th - Primary logos for university, medicine and athletics, along with spirit marks will be available for internal use.
Architectural signage for new buildings such as UAB Early Learning Center.
Student recruitment materials
Athletic touch points such as Protective Stadium scoreboard, football field, and men’s basketball uniforms
Phase 3 | Full Launch (January 2025)
Launch of new brand and logo toolkit with full brand guidelines for university, medicine and athletics. Unit, school and college lock-ups will be available for download.
Coordinated profile image updates for official UAB social media accounts
Brand education workshops and trainings will be offered.
Former logos will officially transition to legacy logos. Only new logos will be approved in the marketing approval process going forward.
Read more about the brand changes here.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email trent.baker@1819news.com.
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