The book of learning which was previously referenced in the shape of the lower left and right segments of the logo is now reinforced and strengthened by the addition of moving pages and a bookmark. This image reflects the institution’s core mission - education and learning.
The decision to change the logo was made in November last year when the University announced its £10 million Reparative Futures programme. The funding will be used on projects to address racial injustice and collaborate on education and research initiatives to tackle educational, health, and economic inequalities building on work started by the University’s Anti-racism working group.
The names of buildings named after the institution’s founders [including the Wills and Fry families] will be retained but their historic links to the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved African people will be presented in a proper context. Edward Colston was a 17th century investor in the slave trade whose statue was toppled into Bristol Docks during a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020. The University received no funding from Colston, who died nearly 200 years before the University was founded, but his personal emblem – the dolphin – formed part of the institution’s crest and modern logo.
The sun symbol of the Wills family and the horse emblem of the Fry’s will remain, reflecting the wider decision around acknowledging the institution’s history by explaining the historical significance of these figures in terms of their relationships with the University. The University was founded in the early 20th century through substantial financial donations made by these families.
The castle and ship symbols, which also feature on the logo, are from the medieval seal of the city of Bristol which dates back to the 13th/14th century.
The University will now start a phased update on the logo to limit wastage and manage this refresh as cost effectively as possible. The logo will be updated on our digital platforms first along with some prominent signage on campus. Other changes will be made as and when materials and signage need replacing. This means there is likely to be a mix of logos used across the University for some time.
More information about the history of the logo can be found here.