President Clyne Namuo revealed the Joliet Junior College’s new logo and a new tagline at during Brand Bash on March 25.
During the speech, Namuo thanked the marketing team for their efforts and brought up multiple faculty members up to show off old JJC merchandise with past logos on them. He explained the reason for the change.
“Now, a few years ago, we asked the college community, and many of you, who are we? Our work really outgrew our name and our story,” Namuo said. “So today it’s really about telling the story proudly and boldly. The brand is more than just the logo, it’s our institutional culture and an artifact of who we are.”
Namuo emphasized how the logos new design helps represent JJC as a whole.
“There was really one symbol that helped capture all of what I’ve talked about today,” Namuo said. “A symbol of strength, a symbol of movement, and a symbol that represents community. I appreciate that you embody the spirit of JJC.”
The new tagline is “A History of Thinking Forward.”
Reaction among students has been mixed. Some praise its minimalistic approach. Others feel it is too different from the belltower logo.
“I personally think the school wanted to be more like other colleges and be more modern,” said JJC student Miranda Burglos. “The wolf is more eye-catching than the bell.”
Others agree.
“It’s a lot more inviting and welcoming. It appeals to the eye more compared to what it was before,” Jarrett Cook, student, said.
Some students question the use of the wolf mascot as the focal point of the logo.
“I think it’s more like a sports logo,” said JJC student Quinn Brooks. “It feels less academic.”
JJC’s research led them to the decision to include the wolf.
“The wolf has long been connected to JJC and represents resilience, intelligence, and community,” said Robin Ballard, director of marketing and creative. “The final design was created in partnership with a professional design firm and refined with input from the college and community. The imagery reflects JJC students as supported, adaptable, and moving forward together.”
However, the wolf was not the only symbol considered for logo redesign.
“Multiple concepts were explored, including abstract symbols and academic crests,” Ballard said. “Each option was evaluated for clarity, accessibility, and how well it would work across print, digital, and apparel.”
The logo has a minimalistic look to it, with few lines, colors, and text. This was purposeful, as a minimalistic design may provide many opportunities for marketing moving forward, according to the school.
“A simplified logo is easier to recognize and more flexible across platforms. The minimal design ensures clarity, accessibility, and long-term relevance while supporting a modern brand system,” Ballard said.
New, prominent changes always come with mixed reactions, but Ballard believes that students will grow to accept the new branding.
“Mixed reactions are expected when a visible change is introduced,” Ballard said. “The feedback reflects how much students care about JJC, which is valued. Brand decisions are guided by long-term clarity and consistency, and acceptance often grows as students see the logo used over time.”
