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Marietta College selects Ohio-based Rickabaugh Graphics to assist with athletic logo rebrand

by Tom Perry

Marietta, Ohio (06/30/2021) — Marietta College is partnering with Rickabaugh Graphics to develop a new athletics logo that is more in line with a modern Pioneer and strengthens the institution's overall athletic identity.

Marietta President Bill Ruud announced in November 2020 the formation of a task force - that includes alumni, students, faculty and staff - to review the current Pioneer logo and mascot. The task force met several times from January through April and through those valuable and meaningful discussions, the group decided an outside agency was in the College's best long-term interest.

"We contacted the top firms involved in athletic logo redesigns and we chose one of the most experienced and respected individuals - Eric Rickabaugh - and his firm to help us develop a new logo and athletic brand," said Tom Perry, Vice President for Communication and Brand Management. "The task force shared a lot of great ideas, and everyone involved is excited to continue to play a critical role in assisting our new partner during this important transition."

Rickabaugh Graphics is based in Gahanna, Ohio, and has been in the business of graphic identity for more than 30 years. With a portfolio that includes several high-profile college and professional logos, including Ohio State University, the task force was confident in selecting Eric Rickabaugh and his firm.

"Our student-athletes and coaches are excited to be a part of the process and all of us at the College are pleased that all of our constituents will have an opportunity to offer feedback," said Larry Hiser, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "I know our coaches and student-athletes will be active participants, but I also want to encourage our alumni and other members of the Marietta College community to share their thoughts if they are asked to join a focus group or when they receive an online survey. The feedback is a critical part of the development of a new athletics logo."

A leader in collegiate identity design, Rickabaugh and his award-winning team of designers have created more than 100 university brands and 500 collegiate logos - including most institutions that transitioned away from Native American nicknames and logos.

Eric Rickabaugh has already met with some members of the task force and the College's leadership team on campus. He will be conducting focus groups in July and there will be follow-up surveys shared with all the key constituent groups once the data is compiled from the focus groups. Rickabaugh has proposed an aggressive, but reasonable timeline for completing the project. College officials have ensured everyone involved that the process should not be rushed.

"It is important that we take our time to make sure we end up with the best possible logo to represent Marietta College's athletic program," Perry said. "It is also important that we make sure when we do unveil the new logo that we have new apparel ready to be sold in the College Bookstore, and that we are able to celebrate it the right way."

Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college. Tracing its roots to the Muskingum Academy back in 1797, the College was officially chartered in 1835. Today Marietta College serves a body of 1,200 full-time students. The College offers more than 50 majors and is consistently ranked as one of the top regional comprehensive colleges by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review, as well as one of the nation's best by Forbes.com. Marietta was selected seventh in the nation according to the Brookings Institution's rankings of colleges by their highest value added, regardless of major. Marietta College has also been named a Great College to Work For three consecutive years (2018-2020).

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