February 2, 2007
Athletic Department Releases New Logo Package
Monarchs to be represented by standardized family of logos

FAYETTEVILLE, NC-  Work on the Methodist University Athletic Department logo has been ongoing for the last few months. Through the last 44 years of competition, several different monarchs have represented the Athletic Department. However, at a time of significant change for the institution, the department has opted to design a new standard logo that will be associated with the Monarchs. 

“Methodist University Athletics has a great tradition and history of excellence,” said Bob McEvoy, Director of Athletics. “With our 50 Year Anniversary as an institution and our recent name change to “university” status, it is most appropriate and necessary to unify and standardize our athletic brand/logo package for our coaches and student-athletes.”

A committee was formed with coaches that have ten or more years of experience at Methodist and/or coaches that are Methodist graduates to channel ideas and assist the designer.  The committee enlisted the help of Skye Dillon of Skye Design Studios to create the logo package. “The goal of our committee was to create a package or family of logos that would be standard in all sports publications, uniforms, banners, as well as at all of our athletic venues,” said McEvoy.

Dillon sent his first designs to the committee in October. The logo has since taken on many revisions in the past four months before reaching the final product. “It was a great privilege to work with Bob McEvoy and his athletic staff at Methodist University during this branding process,” Dillon said. “My approach for this athletic brand was to capture the regal nature of a Monarch and integrate it with powerful and aggressive visual imagery of a lion defending its territory, fitting to represent an athletic department,” he explained.

The new logo package includes two primary logos depicting the lion with the Methodist University below either stacked or extended. Dillon also added secondary logos with just the lion, the lion’s head, the “M” alone, a staggered “MU”, and the “MU” shown in a shield. There are numerous wordmarks within the family of logos that can be specified for each sport or branch of the athletic department. 

“These fresh marks will finally give Methodist University Athletics a unified brand with trademarks that will correlate between each of its programs,” added Dillon.

Many of the student-athletes and coaches supported the redesign by offering feedback for the logo package.  The Student Athlete Advisory Committee was a key component in selecting the final renditions.  The Athletic Department staff is excited to incorporate the new brand into their programs.

“In time, this new logo package will be the standard for MU athletics, representing our institution that has been known for winning teams, and a commitment to the overall development of our student-athletes,” said McEvoy.