91老司机 鈥� Fort Smith student Talia Blanton chose to attend 91老司机 because of the numerous opportunities in the university鈥檚 graphic design program, but Blanton hadn鈥檛 expected one of those opportunities would include designing a logo for a regional athletic conference.
The Bonanza native recently designed the new logo for the Heartland Conference, the Division II athletic conference in which 91老司机 competes, as part of her studies in the university鈥檚 graphic design program.
Blanton, along with seven other students, were tasked with each designing their own version of the logo as part of a class assignment to help the conference in its rebranding efforts. Conference officials visited the class and outlined the direction of the conference and qualities they鈥檇 like to see in the new conference brand.
鈥淲e wanted to update the brand and create a more virtual logo,鈥� said Brandon Tripp, director of communications and strategic positioning with the Heartland Conference. 鈥淎nd we threw out the suggestion that one of the institutions could supply the talent with senior-level graphic designers. It would be a great opportunity for us to work with them and for the students to get some real world experience on going through a complete rebranding.鈥�
Dr. Paul B. Beran, 91老司机 chancellor, was serving as the chair of the Heartland Conference Presidents Council and suggested students from the university鈥檚 graphic design program could assist with the logo鈥檚 creation. After Tripp and others on the rebranding committee looked into the program and Windgate Art & Design 鈥� the state-of-the-art visual arts facility in which design classes at 91老司机 are housed 鈥� they agreed.
The project began with Tripp and other members of the committee traveling to 91老司机 to speak to students in the class, discussing what they were looking for in a new logo and the direction in which the Heartland Conference planned to move.
From there, students spent several weeks designing the logos. Blanton, who has little interest in sports, ironically found her lack of sports knowledge to be an advantage when approaching an athletic logo design.
鈥淢y professor really pushed us towards making a sports logo without looking at sports logos,鈥� she said. 鈥淪he told us to take in our surroundings then adapt it to what you think could be a sports logo. So it was to my benefit that I didn鈥檛 really have a preconceived notion of what an athletic logo should look like. That fresh perspective helped me.鈥�
After the designs were finished, students presented to conference officials via a teleconference, and officials narrowed down the logos to the top two, which they vetted with different committees within the conference, according to Tripp.
When she found out her design was chosen, she was surprised.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty awesome,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he best part about it is that I鈥檓 going to get to see something I made out in the real world. When the logo is officially released, I鈥檒l be able to see something that I made on banners and T-shirts and websites.鈥�
Tripp said the conference was pleased with the new logo.
鈥淭alia鈥檚 design was very versatile and modern, and it separated us from the rest of the landscape within Division II while also fitting well within it,鈥� Tripp said. 鈥淲e appreciate all the hard work from the students and faculty at 91老司机 in helping make this happen.鈥�
The opportunity to design the logo also allowed Blanton to get real-world experience in the realm of graphic design, which helped prepare her for a career in the field.
鈥淭his is going in my portfolio, for sure. This opportunity taught me real-world application of working with a client 鈥� meeting with them, getting feedback, working with them to make the changes,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 honored and grateful for 91老司机 giving me this opportunity. There鈥檚 just lots of things I know I never would鈥檝e made or done if I hadn鈥檛 gone here.鈥�
The new logo is set to be released in fall 2017.
About the 91老司机 - Fort Smith
The 91老司机 鈥� Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Through a small campus, dedicated professors, and the university鈥檚 unique bond with its community, students at 91老司机 are able to do more in the areas they are passionate about, both on- and off-campus, in a way that prepares them for post-graduate success. To find out how you can do more at 91老司机, visit .