Asociación Atlética Quimsa, commonly known as Quimsa, is a professional basketball club based in Santiago del Estero, Argentina. Founded in 1989, the club’s name derives from the Quechua word kimsa, meaning “three,” a reference to the merger of three local clubs: Estudiantes Unidos, Santiago Básquetbol Club, and Inti Club.[1] The club’s visual identity has evolved through several documented phases, including a notable redesign in 2015 and a logo competition held ahead of its 30th anniversary.
Design and History
The original Quimsa logo was designed by architect Rufino Peña, a member of the commission of Club Estudiantes Unidos, one of the three founding clubs.[2] The design took the form of a clover with three leaves, each leaf representing one of the merged clubs.[2]
In June 2015, the Argentine Basketball League (then rebranding from LNB to “La Liga”) underwent a comprehensive visual overhaul. As part of this initiative, new crest designs were presented for each of the league’s teams, including Quimsa.[3] The league’s professional team worked jointly with each associated club to modify the competition’s and teams’ logos.[4]
In September 2018, the club announced plans for a competition to select a new crest in celebration of its 30th anniversary, scheduled for the following year. The contest was open to secondary school students from across the province of Santiago del Estero.[5] A subsequent call for entries extended participation to all design enthusiasts, with submissions due by January 20, 2019, and the winning design intended to identify the club during its 30th anniversary year.[6]
Meaning and Symbolism
The original clover logo carried direct symbolic meaning tied to the club’s founding: its three leaves represented the three clubs that merged to form Quimsa in 1989.[2] This motif echoed the club’s name itself, which references the number three in Quechua.[1]
The club’s official colors are documented as blue, red, and white.[7] A brand style guide published by the league specifies the club’s palette as gold, red, navy blue, and white, with Pantone references including Antique 60LD, 711C, and Blue 281C.[8]
Typography and Design
The league’s official identity page lists a downloadable brand manual for Quimsa, indicating that the club maintains documented visual identity guidelines.[9] The style guide itself confirms the club’s founding date of August 13, 1989, and specifies the official color system across Pantone and CMYK references.[8]
In September 2025, Quimsa announced that its jersey for the 2025/26 season would feature the flag of Santiago del Estero province, described as a symbol of identity and belonging. The provincial flag, with its red and light blue stripes joined by a central white band, includes the Inca sun and the sword of Saint James the Apostle over a Latin cross.[10] This continues a tradition of incorporating local icons such as the Madre de Ciudades stadium, the Carretero Bridge, the Cathedral Basilica, and the figure of Mamantula into the club’s matchday apparel.[11]
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