The Brand, Story, and Messaging
Where Curiosity Finds Company
At Grinnell, curiosity is more than academic, it's a shared force that drives research, shapes community, and challenges convention. Across disciplines and generations, Grinnellians ask questions, not to impress, but to move forward.
From flexible academics to global perspective, from belonging to bold outcomes, this is a place where inquiry leads to transformation and curiosity is taken seriously.
As our new brand develops, you’ll see Grinnell presented in new ways, along with new colors, new fonts and new voices. You’ll see stories of how curiosity enables each student’s distinctive path and prepares graduates for what comes next. You’ll learn how curiosity sets belonging in motion and brings new horizons into focus.
How Do We Present Grinnell’s Brand?
… in a way that is authentic, makes Grinnellians proud, and stands out? That’s a hard question and – as Grinnellians – we don’t accept easy answers. Instead, we get curious.
Seriously curious.
We asked students and their families; those who are just starting their college search; faculty; staff; and alums – almost 2,000 people. We did focus groups with even more students, faculty, staff and alums. We started to see the shape of an idea as big as the Iowa sky.
We shared it in even more focus groups and feedback sessions (and there was feedback).
Here’s where we landed:
A brand position shaped by curious Grinnellians, in conversation with each other and with the world.
Creative Platform
The visual elements of our brand exist along a spectrum — one that’s flexible enough to tell our myriad stories memorably and uniquely, but rigid enough to make any communication recognizable as Grinnell’s.
Our Visual Language
As artists and designers, we know that first impressions matter. Our visual language—type, photos, graphic elements, and color—sets the tone for how people initially see Grinnell and how they recognize or remember us in the future. When these pieces work together well, they strengthen our overall brand and distinguish us from everyone else.