Nike helped take Oregon to new heights in terms of brand marketing and style and now the apparel company looks to duplicate the success with Oregon State. On Monday Oregon State and Nike unveiled the updated brand and identity system featuring an updated logo and details on new uniforms.
Oregon State will keep the standard colors of orange and black, with a dose of white as the official colors of the school. The school will adopt secondary colors of metallic bronze, which the school claims represents strength and integrity.
According to a press release issued by Oregon State, the school had been working with Nike for the past two years on a strategy that honors the tradition of the school's academics and athletics. The two sides worked with student athletes, coaches, alumni and more to come up with a brand facelift that satisfied.
“Oregon State Athletics has undergone a tremendous transformation in the last 15 years and our new brand identity is another sign that the Beavers continue to confidently move forward,” said Director of Athletics Bob De Carolis. “The ultimate goal for the rebrand is to attract high-caliber student-athletes to a contemporary brand, while respecting our heritage.”
Oregon State has seen from afar just how much flashy uniforms can play a role in improving a football program. Rival Oregon has become the textbook example of using uniforms as a recruiting tool, with new uniform combinations for each week of the season and setting the standard for the non-traditional uniform approach. Since Nike has helped Oregon with their branding initiatives the Ducks have played at a high level never before seen in Eugene. With Nike's help the Beavers hope to be able to duplicate that level of success in Corvallis.
All 17 of Oregon State's programs, including football, will receive an updated uniform with a new stylish beaver logo. The new look will also be available on a variety of merchandise available to fans, which should help give Oregon State a financial boost.
This is certainly not the first time Oregon State has worked with Nike of course. The two have had a long-standing business relationship. While Nike is known for their work with Oregon, the company has also provided Oregon State with alternate uniforms in the past such as the Pro Combat uniforms worn in the 2011 season.
“Nike has a long-standing relationship with Oregon State Athletics and it has been an honor to work with them on their new brand identity,” said Todd Van Horne VP and Creative Director for Nike Football and Baseball. “This new update respects OSU’s history and represents their future while creating separation and distinction in college sports.”
Oregon State's football team will be the first to wear the new uniform when they suit up in them for the spring game scheduled for April 26. The school is already starting to use the new logo and brand identity publicly on the website and more but the rest of the athletic programs will have to wait until August to receive their new uniforms.
See more on Oregon State's new uniforms on the school's website.
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