More Than a Letter: The History and Impact of the University of Utah’s Logo

To the Utah Utes of today, it’s hard to imagine driving around Salt Lake City without seeing University of Utah flags — these days (and especially during football season), they are ubiquitous. Hanging from porches, planted into front lawns, stuck on a car’s bumper — sometimes, the famous “U” is as much a fixture of Salt Lake Valley as the Wasatch Mountains that tower over it. 

But in 1850, when the University of Utah (originally named the University of Deseret) was founded, it had no formal logo. Like many early academic institutions in the United States, the U relied on text-based seals and insignias for representation on official documents and correspondence. But by the arrival of the 20th century, the need for more visual representations became clear. 

Today, we know the University of Utah logo when we see it — but how did we get here, and where did we start? First, we need to go back to 1907, when the iconic “U” on the hillside of the Wasatch Mountains first set the stage for an entire century of logos to come. 

The Lasting Influence of the Block “U”

The earliest — and simplest — official logo (apart from the university’s official seals) for the University of Utah is referred to as the “Block U.” If you think of the University of Utah, this extra wide “U” might be one of the first symbols that comes to mind. Its simple, geometric design had bold impact from the day it came to grace the mountainside east of the U’s campus in 1907. Easy to identify and designed to evoke stability, strength, and a sense of growing tradition, the Block U is less commonly used in the university’s official branding today, but it remains a strong visual (and physical) landmark for the institution as a whole. 

Following the introduction of the Block U, there have been a few different variations of this logo throughout the university’s history, but unlike its rival, BYU, the UofU has maintained more cohesiveness in its visual identity with logos that build off this heritage of the Block “U” with more fidelity. 

In the latter half of the 20th century, as collegiate branding became increasingly sophisticated, the University of Utah introduced more refined and diverse representations of its identity. The interlocking “U” logo became a widely used design, featuring two overlapping "U"s that reinforced the university’s initials while creating a more visually dynamic emblem. This variation was particularly popular in athletics, lending itself well to embroidered patches, letterman jackets, and sports apparel.

During this period, the university also solidified its connection to the Ute Tribe, officially adopting the “Utes” nickname for its athletic teams. This relationship influenced various logo designs over the years, incorporating stylized elements that paid homage to the indigenous heritage of the region while fostering collaboration with the Ute Tribe.

Today, the U’s official logomark features a refined Block U enclosed within a circle, often accompanied by the full university name in a clean, sans-serif typeface. This modern version (sleeker than its original Block “U” predecessor) is more legible and adaptable across digital and print platforms, helping to promote consistency across the school’s marketing and communications. 

Working Alongside the Ute Indian Tribe 

Over the past 10 years, we’ve seen various national and university-level institutions update branding and mascot traditions that used any symbology related to indigenous Native American tribes. The University of Utah, however, continues to use “Utes” as the nickname for its athletic teams, in part because the Ute Indian Tribe supports the connection and has granted the university permission to use the name through what is known as a “memorandum of understanding” (MOU), which outlines the respectful use of the “Utes” nickname in athletics. 

This long-standing relationship between the University of Utah and the Ute Indian Tribe began in the early 1970s, and continues to this day — with the most recent updates to this agreement taking place in 2020. One of the most impactful changes that came from this agreement between the University and the Ute Indian Tribe was the introduction of a new, hawk mascot in 1996 to replace the original Ute mascot. 

Today, University of Utah faculty have also launched the “Utes Nickname Project,” which is a university-sponsored effort to promote awareness, education, and research about the history and contemporary usage of Native American symbols by the University of Utah. 

Looking Forward: The U’s Logo of Tomorrow 

How much will the U’s university branding change moving forward? Based on the consistency of its visual identity over the 20th and 21st centuries, we can probably count on repping the familiar but modern Block “U” for generations to come. 

In a world that seems to change more rapidly as the years go on, it’s comforting to know that some of our dearest symbols — representative of the institutions that bring us together as a community — can remain mostly constant. And if you know any University of Utah football fan, you know they’ll be cheering on the Utes for as long as they possibly can.