Ceremonial emblem: FAQs

The implementation of a new ceremonial emblem forms part of the rebranding process of Stellenbosch University.

Creating the ceremonial emblem was a continuation of our rebrand, which already entailed extensive stakeholder engagement, consultation and decision-making processes. Therefore, to design the new emblem, we continued the visual elements of the approved brand architecture and logo. The process of seeking Council’s approval for the ceremonial emblem was preceded by interaction with our Institutional Forum, Students’ Representative Council, Tygerberg Students’ Representative Council, Visual Redress Committee and Institutional Transformation Committee.

The aim was to create a premium or embellished version of the new logo for use as our accreditation mark or highest symbol. This was achieved by building the design around the ‘S’-stream shield, continuing the rhythmic lines of the corporate logo, and creating a symmetrical design that echoes the logo. The final product is aspirational and future-focused – a ceremonial expression of the narrative contained in the ‘S’-stream shield.

The embellishment includes a stylised representation of a book, peaks, figures and hands, but has intentionally avoided a literal depiction of these symbols. Each element can be subjective or literal. Viewers are invited to make visual leaps as to what the elements represent, depending on their particular context. In this way, the emblem speaks to a diversity of cultures, perspectives and ideas, and portrays our University’s commitment to excellence, inclusivity and innovation – both in Africa and the rest of the world.

The ceremonial emblem design continues our corporate logo’s rhythmic ‘S’-lines, which do indeed express our university’s connection with Africa. The continuous flow and movement of the lines signifies the warmth, vibrancy and pulsing energy of our continent, as well as the dynamic creativity of Stellenbosch University and its people

While the corporate logo will function as our commercial trademark, the ceremonial emblem will serve as our registered accreditation symbol. As the highest mark of Stellenbosch University, the emblem will be used as the endorsement of academic achievements on degree certificates. Ceremonial emblem and seal: Rules of use

Now that Council has given the emblem its stamp of approval, we’ll start implementing it.

Our new brand identity has been designed with the future in mind, so it should be able to stand the test of time and be used for decades, even centuries, with only small adjustments. An example of this future-focused approach is the application of our brand identity in the digital media landscape, which will feature even more strongly going forward. Globally, degree certificates are increasingly being distributed electronically, which means that visual symbols must be simple and clear to have immediate presence and recognisability. Both our corporate logo and ceremonial emblem achieve this. In the future, the ceremonial emblem will evolve along with our institution and our public-facing brandmark to build our University’s impact in a highly competitive and fast-paced higher education landscape.

Yes, it will.