The San Diego Community College District unveiled its new branding campaign on Sept. 15 with hopes of uniting the colleges and engaging the community, according to a district spokesperson.
The district has tasked the four colleges, San Diego City, Mesa, Miramar, and Continuing Education, with implementing the brand overhaul, which has been in the making for over a year.
The sunburst logo was selected by students, faculty and community members after “extensive stakeholder engagement” and was approved unanimously by the SDCCD Board of Trustees in a May 2023 regular meeting.
District Communications and Public Relations Director Jack Beresford suggested it was past time to evaluate the district brand. He added that the rollout is perfectly timed, as the district recently underwent a change in leadership.
“It worked out nicely that we had this new leadership for our district,” Beresford said. “Not just the chancellor, but really, most of our cabinet had turned over as well.”
The newly elected Chancellor Gregory Smith is credited with creating the new district tagline, “Be, Belong, Become,” along with an updated district website, a revamped sunburst logo, and a color scheme focused on the individual colleges, according to an article on the district website.
District Publications Editor Leslie Stump believes the new tagline will resonate with students and emphasize community.
“We just want students and whoever comes on our campus to know that they can be whoever they are … and feel supportive and engaged and like they belong,” Stump said. “You’re part of a community, a greater community.”
The district’s major rebrand cost roughly $400,000, according to Beresford. Initial costs included $100,000 for a new website by 25th Hour Communications, research and community engagement by Selbert Perkins Design, and a media campaign coming later this year.
With the major choices finalized by the district, it will be up to the individual colleges to transition and implement their new visual identity.
“There’s multiple departments that will have hands on the rebrand, as far as updating collateral, whether it be swag or logos on social media, publications.” Stump said. “We as the district understand that while we are the ones that undertook this project, we’re also here to help support them with this rollout.”
District community members and prospective students can now access the district’s new logos and website, which went live Sept. 15 and learn more about City College.
