In partnership with Mission Critical Creative and the Western Dominican Province, St. Catherine’s has a new look.
We began working with Mission Critical Creative in the Fall semester, with the purpose of creating updated, professional branding for St. Catherine’s.
Our new brand centers around strengthening our connection with and identity to our patroness, St. Catherine of Siena.
From antiquity through the lifetime of St. Catherine, the Tuscan hilltop city of Siena was an important route for the safe transport of goods. Over time, and to support the development of the trade economy, Siena became an important center of Medieval banking. Today, Siena boasts of having the oldest existing bank in the world (or second oldest, depending on how you count these things). But as it pertains to our Saint, during St. Catherine’s lifetime the Republic of Siena minted its first gold coin, called the Sanese d’oro (literally “Sienese coin of gold”). This Medieval coin of Siena, pictured below, was the primary design inspiration for our new brand.
While a gold coin is a literal treasure of earth, when placed in dialogue with the Gospel and the life of St. Catherine it creates a significant scriptural allegory to the words of our Lord:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” Matthew 6:19-21
And therefore, we present the new logo of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Newman Center:
Our mission as a university parish is to “invite the community at the University of Utah to the fullness of life in Christ.” We proclaim the saving message of Jesus Christ, and invite everyone to store up treasure in heaven, a treasure that cannot be destroyed or taken away by the passing things of this world.
You’ll notice in the logo, as well as in the many design variants, the mixing of the Medieval and the Modern, primarily in the font choices. The text “Saint Catherine of Siena” is executed in a Medieval typeface, evoking the stability and traditions of Catholic faith, teaching, and practice. The text “Catholic Newman Center” is executed in a modern font, evoking our engagement with the contemporary world, particularly in our parish’s unique mission to Catholic young adults at the university.
Our staff at St. Catherine’s are pleased with how the artists at Mission Critical Creative took our identity and inspirations, and turned it into a professional and modern brand. It is our hope that this new brand identity will be able to unite our community with greater fidelity to the spirit of our patroness, while allowing us to more effectively labor at our mission.
St. Catherine of Siena, pray for us!
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