The University of Wisconsin–Parkside Rangers athletic identity is centered on Ranger Bear, a mascot that has appeared in the program’s logos for years. In 2013, Parkside Athletics introduced a new identity package built around a shield, Ranger Bear, and the university’s traditional green and white colors.
Design and History
Parkside Athletics released its new logo and graphic identity package on August 9, 2013. The primary mark features a shield with Ranger Bear and the word “Rangers” written inside the shield. The full package included eight alternative logos, which, combined with single-color versions for light and dark backgrounds, made for 27 different logos in total. Alternative marks included a bear-only logo, a script “Rangers” logo, a bear in the shield without text, and lock-up horizontal and vertical versions featuring “University of Wisconsin Parkside.” A letter “P” and a letter “P” in a shield were designated as sparing accents for uniforms.[1]
The redesign process involved a six-member logo committee over nearly seven months. Women’s soccer student-athlete and graphic design major Crystal Chalery played a major role, creating several logos before the committee turned the work over to professional designer Chris David Garcia, whose experience included updating the Houston Astros logo. The initial design phase also included input from athletic department personnel, coaches, student-athletes, and the university marketing and communications team.[1]
The 2013 identity brought Ranger Bear back as the focal point. Ranger Bear had been a staple in previous athletic logos before the department moved to a script-based logo with claws in recent years. The new bear was modernized and simplified with bolder, more defined lines, intended to remain visible and crisp in print, on the web, embroidered on shirts, or screen printed. Parkside also described the bear as modified to have a more menacing look than previous incarnations.[1]
Meaning and Symbolism
The new athletic logos placed renewed emphasis on the university’s traditional colors of green and white. The mark uses three shades of green: dark green (Pantone 5605) as an outline and accent color, with green (Pantone 349) and medium green (Pantone 3435) making up the majority of the logo.[1]
The shield on the mark represents the Ranger oath and the athletic department’s mission statement, which commits to a balanced student-athlete experience developing future leaders and active community members.[1]
Typography and Design
The primary mark includes the word “Rangers” written inside the shield in “hagin caps medium” font, as described by Parkside Athletics. The lock-up vertical and horizontal logos include “University of Wisconsin Parkside” in the same hagin caps medium type.[1]
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