MANSFIELD – Mansfield University Athletics, in partnership with University Marketing, has unveiled new distinctive visual identity marks as part of original athletic branding to represent the Mountaineers.
 
The new marks represent Mansfield's first consistent athletic brand that can be used across all forms of communication and are designed to work on all digital formats.
 
"The goal from the beginning of this project has been to embrace our history and at the same time move the University forward," Interim President Scott Barton said. "Mansfield athletics is on the move and I believe the new look of the Mountaineers embodies that spirit." 
 
"Mansfield is a special place and with that, it deserves a special mark," explained Ryan  Ehrie, Director of Athletics. "We are rich in tradition and throughout the entire process we looked to our past to help create our future. We see the marks as a call back to our tradition, with the design bringing us into the future and providing us opportunities we could not realize before."
 
A consistent athletic brand allows for higher recognition of Mansfield to the public and better marketability for both the athletic department and the university as a whole. The distinctive marks that make up the athletic brand allow Mansfield to use its identity without restriction. Trademarking and licensing enable Mansfield to protect its identity and messaging while realizing revenue from its use. That revenue will allow Mansfield to not only cover the cost of the project, but also provide an additional source of income for the university.
 
The collaborative project sought input from alumni, students, student-athletes, coaches, faculty, and staff to form the identity of the new athletic branding. The new marks were shaped over the course of several months to reflect the unique characteristics of Mansfield University.
 
Previously, Mansfield was represented by a logo that was derived from the University of Michigan's mark. Because of the low functionality of the mark, several versions of the logo and other 'M's were created resulting in low brand consistency.
 
The new branding also incorporates an official Mountaineer mark for the first time in almost 30 years. The mark was designed to represent the traditional ideas of the Mansfield Mountaineer with a modern and exciting design. A survey to alumni, students, student-athletes, coaches, faculty, and staff strongly suggested that the traditional version of the Mountaineer should be the direction of the new mark. The same traditional concept of the Mountaineer was expressed in meetings with constituent groups.
 
"The purpose of this project was to strategically connect all eras of Mansfield Athletics in a modern, meaningful way" said Skye Dillon, Principal and Owner of SDS. "During our campus visit, we discovered an intriguing link that became the lifeblood of the identity -- diagonal striping featured on historic Mansfield uniforms mirrored the diagonal, buckskin straps of authentic mountaineer gear -- a simple yet iconic element that can activate within all new marks and uniform designs, most notably in the evolved block 'M'."
 
The full rollout of the new athletic branding will be done over the course of several years in a fiscally responsible manner. The initial rollout will include apparel for sale both online and at the campus bookstore, updates to all digital platforms, and team gear previously scheduled for replacement this year. Uniforms, future team gear, and facilities will transition over to the new brand at the end of their respective lifecycles. Some usage of the previous logo on campus will be updated using the cost-effective abilities of the on-campus print shop or with funds available from the annual NCAA Branding Credit provided for member institutions.
 
"Throughout this process, there was an incredible amount of excitement across campus to see a custom identity specific to the Mountaineers come to life," said Sports Information Director Ryan  McNamara. "The focus of the brand was on how we can best represent Mansfield while honoring its long tradition and unique qualities."
 

Frequently Asked Questions
 
What prompted the athletic branding project?
Mansfield is a unique place that deserves its own distinctive marks to represent Mountaineer Athletics. The previous mark was derived from a logo used by the University of Michigan and not original to Mansfield University. A complete branding package allows Mansfield Athletics to develop consistent messaging to the public while also having options for use.
 
The previous logo had low usability across a variety of areas, which led to a high level of improper color changes, distortion of the mark, or usage of other unofficial 'M' marks. The new 'M' is designed to be used on any color background.
 
Why implement branding now?
Mansfield has never had a complete athletic brand. Implementing consistent logos, word marks, and other elements allows Mansfield to have a brand identity that will be more recognizable, and allow for greater exposure of our athletic programs. With the recent PASSHE study on the future of the state system and its institutions, now is the time to make Mansfield Athletics stand out across the state, region, and country, and to better tell the story of this great university.
 
How was this paid for?
The relatively low cost of the project is completely funded with available funds by the athletic department. Licensing revenue, along with sales through the campus bookstore and online stores, will allow Mansfield to not only cover the cost of the project but also provide an additional source of revenue for the university. Licensing will also allow for a wider selection of Mansfield University products to be available to Mountaineer fans around the region.
 
What was the process of the branding project?
The athletic branding process began with a site visit to Mansfield University by Skye Design Studios to view the campus, learn more about the history of the university, and to meet with various constituent groups. An online survey seeking feedback and suggestions on the future of the brand was then sent out to current students, alumni, faculty/staff, and fans. The results of the survey strongly suggested that a traditional version of the Mountaineer was the favored direction. The same concept of the Mountaineer was expressed in meetings with constituent groups. Constant input from several groups shaped the identity of the brand throughout the process. The new 'M' was selected by an online poll with over 500 votes amongst alumni, students, faculty/staff, and fans.
 
How will the new branding be implemented?
The full rollout of the new athletic branding will be done over the course of several years in a fiscally responsible manner. The initial rollout will include apparel for sale both online and at the campus bookstore, updates to all digital platforms, and team gear previously scheduled for replacement this year. Uniforms, future team gear, and facilities will transition over to the new brand at the end of their respective lifecycles. Some usage of the previous logo on campus will be updated using the cost-effective abilities of the on-campus print shop or with funds available from the annual NCAA Branding Credit provided for member institutions.
 
Who created the branding?
Skye Design Studios (SDS) is a national leader in sport branding and identity design, with experience at all levels of collegiate, professional, and minor league sectors within the industry.
 
What happens with the previous 'M'?
The Michigan-style 'M' will remain a legacy mark for use in special circumstances and certain alumni events.