CULTURAL LOGOS
The University’s heritage dates back to 1885 and is rich in character. To recognize and celebrate our distinct cultures, a dedicated team of students, faculty, staff, campus cultural groups and alumni collaborated to create the first official University of Arizona Cultural Logos.
Each cultural logo includes three distinct parts: Cultural icons, the Wildcat brand mark and a title that represents the expression or celebration of each culture. Every icon has been thoughtfully developed from team input and recognizes the importance of cultural nuance. While these represent the uniqueness of our cultural communities, they also form a common connection, the Wildcat brand mark.
The current suite of cultural logos includes LGBTQ+ Heritage, Asian Pacific Heritage, Hispanic Heritage, Native American Heritage, and Black History.
Request a Cultural Logo
Please review the usage and approval guidelines. Then, complete the request form:
Should you have any questions, reach out at licensing@arizona.edu.
LGBTQ+ Heritage
Our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer+ culture empowers individuals to live openly and without shame. Together, we elevate each other so all are seen, heard and feel protected, opening doors for all to pave their own paths of possibility.
The LGBTQ+ cultural logo’s distinct iconography represents a long history of queer resistance as well as elements of progress, love and solidarity. Launched in October, National LGBTQ History Month, the campaign includes merchandise sold through the Arizona BookStores, benefitting students through the LGBTQ+2S resource center.
Resistance through existence.
Heart – Love
Liberation Day March – 1970 first pride march in NYC
Saguaro Cactus – Arizona
Pride in rainbow colors – Visibility of LGBTQ+ people as a social group, represented with the six-colors of the Pride flag
Stonewall – The Manhattan bar where police raids launched a series of riots, transforming the gay liberation movement
10 – 10 principles of disability justice
Pride Stole – Graduation, achievement, LGBTQ+ pride
Brick – Representing the myth about a thrown brick that launched the Stonewall Inn riots
ABLM – All Black Lives Matter
Street Sweeps – 1966 San Francisco youth protested police sweeps with a "street sweep" protest
Act Up – Nazi pink triangle reclaimed in 1970 by pro-gay activists
Marsha's Crown – Trans icon Marsha P. Johnson's signature accessory
Trans Day of Resilience – November 20, an annual memorial honoring lives lost
Black Spade – Symbolizing aromantic asexuality
Lavender Plant – Design element
Pronouns – Used to understand and affirm gender identity
T-bottle/e-pills – Hormone therapy
Red Ribbon – Support and solidarity for those living with HIV
Ballroom – Symbolizing the African American and Latino drag-queen sub-culture that began in NYC
Combahee River Collective – Key document in the history of contemporary Black feminism and identity politics
Drag – Clothing and makeup to imitate female gender
Love is Love – No permission needed
Red Hand – Solidarity with missing and murdered indigenous women
STAR – Street Transgender Action Revolutionaries
Intersectionality Symbol – Not belonging solely in one group or another
APIDA Heritage
Our Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American Heritage is a celebration of many cultures, dozens of nationalities and hundreds of languages. The term APIDA is pan-ethnic and includes South Asians (Desi) as part of this vibrant community.
The cultural logo is an expression of the APIDA community, with distinct iconography representing elements of nature, traditional foods and contributions to music and education. The celebratory campaign in May, National APIDA Heritage Month, includes stories and promotes merchandise sold through the Arizona BookStores at shop.arizona.edu/apida, benefitting students through Asian Pacific American Student Affairs.
MULTIPLE CULTURES, ONE COMMUNITY.
Arch – traditional Asian temple, signifies great achievement
Bamboo – a plant with notable economic and cultural significance throughout Asia
“Block A” – The University of Arizona
Blossoms – nature
Book – contributions to education
Burst – design element
Saguaro Cactus – Arizona
Coconut – eaten by all Asian Pacific American cultures
Desi Design – Desi culture
Dragon Boat – Islander and Asian cultures
Family – a core value
Fish – Islander culture
Flowers & leaves – nature
Lotus – represents the APA Student Cultural Center on campus
Mango – eaten by all APA cultures
Noodles – eaten by all APA cultures
Ocean – Islander culture
Old Main – The University of Arizona
Palm Tree – Islander culture
Perseverance – describes the APA community
Pineapple – eaten by all APA cultures
Pipa – contributions to music
Rice – eaten by all APA cultures
Samoan Design – Samoan culture
Sitar – contributions to music
Soy Sauce – eaten by all APA cultures
Sprout – design element
Sun – signifies perseverance
Taj Mahal – sacred buildings and architecture
Tradition – important customs part of all APA cultures
Wave – Islander culture
Writings: “Welcome” in Korean, Samoan, Thai and Urdu
Hispanic Heritage
One in four undergraduate students at the University self-identifies as Hispanic. This cultural logo and program reflect our mission as a designated Hispanic Serving Institution to serve and support our Hispanic students. The distinct iconography around music, food, family and community is detailed below.
The original launch of this logo coincided with National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15, 2020). Each year, our celebration campaign includes merchandise sold through the BookStores at shop.arizona.edu/gatosporvida, benefiting students through the Adalberto and Ana Guerrero Student Center, and quotes from individuals and groups across the University featured on our main social channels.
GATOS POR VIDA!
Flowers – variety of flora
Iguana – variety of reptiles
"Block A" – The University of Arizona
Saguaro Cactus – Arizona
Bongo Drum – deep drum sounds
Pyramid – unique architecture and ancestors
Maracas – hand-held instruments
Guitar – one of the oldest instruments
Hand Fan – gatherings, weather
Embroidery Embellishments – textiles, color, threads, embroidery, artisans
Hummingbird – variety of birds and ancestors
Pottery Designs – Talavera pottery, ceramics, art
Sun – happiness, beaches
Pineapple – variety of fruits
Coffee – a common plant, a conversational drink
Los Gatos – Wildcats
Tambourine – hand-held instruments
Soccer Ball – fútbol, a universal language
Heart – passion
Familia – family is a core value
Music Symbols – love for music
Limes – love for food
Native American Heritage
The University of Arizona resides on indigenous homelands of the Tohono O’odham and the Pascua Yaqui people, and we recognize the identities of the 22 sovereign nations of Arizona. This cultural logo is an expression of our Native American community with distinct iconography around artifacts and nature that symbolize values held by our diverse tribes. The celebratory campaign coincides with national Native American Heritage Month (November).
SKODEN (LET'S GO) WILDCATS!
Eagle Feather – Navajo symbol of high honor
Water Symbol – signifies life, fertility and purity
Corn Stalk – sustenance
Rainbow – friendship and peace
Pottery – used by Southern Arizona tribes
Red Hand – spiritual power, strength, domination and protection
Basketry – used by Southern Arizona tribes
Earth Symbol – featured on the Hopi flag
Squash Blossom Necklace – traditional Navajo necklace
Saguaro Cactus – Arizona
Eight-pointed Star – hope and guidance
Four Directions – various meanings, based on tribe
Butterfly – symbol of change
Yaqui Flower – traditional flower for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe
Man in the Maze – traditional symbol, our journey through life
Hopi Rain Cloud – symbol for good prospects in the future
Vegetation – design element
Four-pointed Star – various meanings, based on tribe
Diamond – various meanings, based on tribe
Mountains – Arizona
22 Sovereign Nations – 22 tribes in Arizona
Gourd Rattle – three kingdoms in Native American culture: animal, mineral and plant
Cloud Design – featured on Native American flags
Four Directions – various meanings, based on tribe
Wildflower – symbolizes life, for most western tribes
Sun with Fields – featured on Arizona tribal flags
Spiral – various meanings, based on tribe
Water is Life – the sacred nature of water
"Block A" – The University of Arizona
River/water – life, fertility and purity
Yucca Plant – a medicinal plant
Wildflower – symbolizes life, for most western tribes
Wildcat Paw – The University of Arizona
Arrowhead – alertness
Skoden – “Let’s go!”
Tribal Cats – a name that UArizona Native American students and alumni use
Traditional staff – various meanings, based on tribe
Dragonfly – happiness, speed and purity
Hummingbird – playfulness and swift movement; a traditional Pascua Yaqui symbol
Lightning – power and speed; featured on the Arizona Apache tribal flags
Flying eagle – courage, wisdom and strength
Drum – the heartbeat of Mother Earth
Chukson – meaning “spring at the foot of a black mountain:” the name used by the Tohono O’odham, before Tucson
Disability Culture
Disabled students, staff and faculty have long organized for access to and within education. Beyond compliance, we forge movements. We have centers and we need more conversations and intentional collaboration. Together we push back against ableism, inaccessibility, pity and isolation.
The Disability Culture logo’s distinct iconography represents the disability communities' ongoing organizing and innovation. Launched in March, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, the campaign includes merchandise sold through the Arizona BookStores, benefitting students through the Disability Cultural Center.
ACCESS. COMMUNITY. UNITY.
Service Dog – specifically trained
10 Principles of Disability Justice
1990 – signing of Americans with Disabilities Act
Basketball – University of Arizona Adaptive Athletics
Brain – symbolizes all learning abilities
Butterfly – symbol of change
Cane
Capitol Crawl – protest in 1990 for disability rights, the Capitol was not accessible
CART Captioning – Communication Access Realtime Translation
Closed Captioning – audio text on screen
Crested Saguaro – Arizona
Disability Pride Flag – Colors encompass all disabilities; black background represents the suffering of the disability community
Disability Rights are Civil Rights – protest sign
Disability Studies – multidisciplinary academics examining representation, embodiment and history
Forearm Crutch
Golf – University of Arizona Adaptive Athletics
Hand Cycle – University of Arizona Adaptive Athletics
ID Cane
Infinity Symbol and Neurodivergent Rainbow – diversity of the autism spectrum and neurodivergent communities
Interpreting Icon – availability of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter services
Intersection Sign – symbolizes intersectionality
Mad Pride – global movement reclaiming “mad” identity among mentally ill and psychiatric survivors
Mobility Scooter
Moving forward access symbol – global accessibility
“Nothing About Us Without Us” – protest sign
Rugby – University of Arizona Adaptive Athletics
Tennis – University of Arizona Adaptive Athletics
“The Spoon Theory” – Physical representation of energy levels for chronically ill and disabled
Track – University of Arizona Adaptive Athletics
University of Arizona Adaptive
Athletics
Walker
“Wildcats” in Braille
Black History
Our Black history is a celebration of progress. A divine network that lifts us higher and strengthens our dreams. Together, we stand on the shoulders of those who create and improve everyday life for everyone, not just the select few. The Black History cultural logo is part of our celebration of National Black History Month throughout February. Its distinct iconography represents innovations in the arts and sciences and symbols of community and activism. The launch campaign includes stories shared throughout the month through social media and online through Athletics, and merchandise sold through the Arizona BookStores at shop.arizona.edu/bhm benefiting students through African American Student Affairs.
Afro Pick – created by two Black inventors
1908 – founding year of historic Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha
1906 – founding year of historic Black fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha
Basketball – prominent sport in the Black community
Book – contributions to literature
Branch – design element
Hairbrush – created by a Black inventor
Buffalo – honoring the Buffalo soldiers stationed at Fort Huachuca
1913 – founding year of historic Black sorority Delta Sigma Theta
Djembe Drum – traditional African drum
Eighth Note – contributions to music
Elaborate Flower – design element
NASA Equation – Katherine Johnson’s contributions to NASA
Family – family is a core value
Football – prominent sport in the Black community
Hot Comb – created by a Black inventor
1963 – founding year of historic Black fraternity Iota Phi Theta
Jazz Drums – contributions to music
Juneteenth Flag – recognition of the Juneteenth holiday
Kente Stole – traditional for Black graduates at commencement
Mud Cloth Arrows – fabric patterns from Mali
Mud Cloth Lines – fabric patterns from Mali
Mud Cloth Long – fabric patterns from Mali
Mud Cloth Triangles – fabric patterns from Mali
Multitone Fist – Black solidarity, with different skin tones
1911 – founding year of historic Black fraternities Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi
Peanut – a Black scientist created hundreds of products using peanuts, sweet potatoes and soybeans
Pen – contributions to literature
1914 – founding year of historic Black fraternity Phi Beta Sigma
Saxophone – contributions to music
1922 - founding year of historic Black sorority Sigma Gamma Rho
Solid Fist – Black solidarity
Star Flower – design element
Three Notes – contributions to music
Track Shoe – prominent sport in the Black community
Traffic Light – Garrett Morgan’s contribution to the traffic light
Trumpet – contributions to music
X Flower – design element
1920 – founding year of historic Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta
“Block A” – The University of Arizona