The Portland State Vikings are the athletic teams of Portland State University in Portland, Oregon, competing in NCAA Division I and the Big Sky Conference. The current athletics identity, introduced in 2016, was created in partnership with Nike and replaced a helmet-based logo that had been in use for nearly 20 years.[1]
Design and History
The 2016 primary logo is modeled on a Viking shield and incorporates the letters “PS” into its design.[2] According to the athletics department, the mark symbolizes tradition and strength, with elements that call out PSU’s urban heritage and indomitable spirit.[1] The new identity also included a re-stylized Viking head, replacing the former helmet design that had represented the program since the late 1990s.[1][3]
The rebrand was part of a larger athletics makeover that included a remodeled Stott Center and the new Viking Pavilion.[4] Nike designers created the new lettering, shield and Viking image, which were featured on apparel sold at the PSU Bookstore and the downtown Nike store.[5] The collaboration was fitting given that Carolyn Davidson, who designed the original Nike Swoosh, studied graphic design at Portland State.[6]
The Viking name itself predates Portland State. It was adopted by the student body of Vanport Extension Center, the college that became Portland State University, in 1946. Students Robert Tweedell and Dale Reeves both suggested the name, and the student council voted unanimously for “Vikings.”[7] Over the decades, Portland State athletics logos have used various Viking symbols including shields, longships and horned helmets.[7]
Meaning and Symbolism
The 2016 design takes inspiration from Nordic lettering, shields and hints of the Pacific Northwest.[6] The athletics department described the new logo as unlike any in collegiate athletics, with clean, distinctive lines that reflect the program’s values.[2] The shield form evokes the defensive tool of a Viking warrior, while the overall identity was intended to project power and intimidation.[2]
Typography and Design
The official athletics colors are green (PMS 3435 C), white and silver (PMS 429C), as listed in Portland State athletics media guides.[8] The primary mark combines the “PS” lettering with the shield outline in green and white.[9] The athletics department maintains its own brand identity guidelines separate from the university’s general identity system, and the athletics logos are restricted to use by the Athletics Department.[10]
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