Nicholls State University is working on establishing a strong identity by eliminating older, unused brands and making a major logo accessible to everyone.

Rebranding for Nicholls involves creating one look by reducing the selection of logos and making the logo of the “N” with a sword useable by more than just the athletic department. This is also the first year the University uses the Colonel Pride marketing campaign and the Renew athletic campaign.

A large part of creating one look is the use of the logo of the “N” with the sword since it received very little change throughout Nicholls history. Stephanie Verdin, director of University Marketing, said that she hopes the “N” with the sword will encompass Nicholls under one brand.

“Our university logo has changed drastically over the years, but the “N” with the sword has been the one consistent mark we had,” Verdin said.

The athletic department is not being left without their own unique design. This year the athletic department is implementing the Renew campaign with its own logo and design. Koree Hollins, freshman on the football team, said this is a way to try something new in the athletic department.

“I guess we are trying to spice it up a little bit and bring some flare back to the athletic department,” Hollins said. “It’s a way to get the teams rolling and just have something new since we have new things going on around here.”

Advertising will promote these brands and make sure the community recognizes them. New brochures and banners will be created with similar design and colors limited to red, grey, black and white. These colors will also govern regular branding. Bruno Ruggiero, director of printing & design services, said a consistency of design can be seen throughout the rebranding process.

“You can get that one look through the use of design, paper, placement, color and type-faces you use for the brochure,” Ruggiero said. “You’ll see a consistency through all the design pieces we do on campus, not just recruitment pieces.”

The brands that will be in circulation and used by students will be monitored so that they do not conflict with this brand image. Printing & design services will contact any department, individuals or branders if brands are found to be wrong.

“The whole point of the branding effort is a way to have a stronger presence, and the only way you can have that is to develop a very strong brand through consistency and enforcement,” Ruggiero said. “No one should take it against them; it is nothing personal. We are just trying to achieve consistency with the look and the brand of Nicholls State University.”

Student Government Association voted to allocate $10,000 to purchase new banners for Nicholls and the Thibodaux area to promote the rebranding efforts. 82 banners will go to Nicholls while 90 will go to the city of Thibodaux.

If anyone is interested in using the new logos they can download them at nicholls.edu/branding.