McGill University is a public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Its official logo is a trademark composed of two elements: a shield icon and a custom wordmark reading “McGill.” The shield and its main elements, particularly the three red martlets, are a strong and familiar visual associated with the institution.[1]
Design and History
The McGill coat of arms derives from an armorial device assumed by James McGill, the university’s founder.[1] In 1922, Principal Sir Arthur Currie asked architect Percy Nobbs to design a new coat of arms. Nobbs’s proposal included the three red martlets on a silver background below a red band, with two crowns separated by an open book bearing the words In Domino Confido (“I trust in the Lord”). The Garter King-at-Arms in London patented this design in 1922, establishing McGill’s right to the arms.[2]
The Board of Governors adopted the current coat of arms design in November 1975, ending a long period of variation in the design and display of McGill’s insignia. Earlier variations had included reversed colors, a single crown, two mottos, and varied designs of the martlets.[2] The coat of arms was registered with the Chief Herald of Canada in 1992.[1]
In 2000, the Board of Governors approved a new policy on the use of the wordmark and insignia, a redrafted version of the 1975 resolution. The policy was introduced to maintain the integrity of the McGill brand and trademark, giving specific definitions and directions on the use of the coat of arms, shield, wordmark and signature.[3] The current trademark policy, approved in 2017, replaced the earlier 2000 policy.[4]
Meaning and Symbolism
The three red martlets on a silver background (white for the university’s purposes) are taken from the arms of the family of James McGill, the university’s founder. The open book at the top of the shield is the heraldic symbol of an institution of learning and bears the words In Domino Confido, the motto used by James McGill. Two crowns, one on either side of the book, refer to Montreal’s royal name and are composed of fleur de lys as a reminder of the city’s French origin. Montreal’s three hills are represented by three peaks above the martlets.[1]
The coat of arms consists of two parts, the shield and the scroll, and is reserved for special circumstances rather than as a substitute for the logo. The university motto, Grandescunt Aucta Labore (“By work all things increase and grow”), appears on the scroll.[1]
Typography and Design
The McGill wordmark is custom-designed, meaning the six letters, based on the Garamond typeface, have been designed as a single image and cannot be typed as a word. It is not possible to reproduce the wordmark with standard printing typefaces, and other typefaces may not be substituted.[1]
McGill’s official red is defined as CMYK 0 100 90 0. For electronic display, the RGB value is R237, G27, B47, or hexadecimal value #ed1b2f. Pantone Solid 185 is used when printing in one color.[1] The shield may never appear in any color other than McGill red, black, or, for special approved circumstances, silver or gold.[1]
For logo extensions identifying units, the text is typeset in McGill Sans Medium.[1]
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