Cardinal Wordmark Logo

The Stanford Cardinal wordmark logo has been the official symbol of Stanford University since 1975. It is a simple yet powerful design that conveys the spirit and pride of the school. The original logo was created by Richard Danne, who also designed logos for NASA, Pepsi-Cola, and Pan American World Airways.

The iconic block “S” serves as an abbreviation for both “Stanford” and its mascot, the cardinal bird; it is often accompanied by bold red lettering spelling out either "STANFORD" or "CARDINAL". The use of white space around this central element helps to emphasize its importance while adding balance to create a timeless look that stands out in any setting.

Over time, small changes have been made to modernize this classic design without sacrificing its traditional appeal – most recently in 2012 when minor tweaks were made to refine curves on some letters such as R and N which now appear more rounded than before. Despite these subtle modifications however, one thing remains constant: no matter where you are or what season it may be - if you see a bright red S with white lettering surrounding it - chances are good that there's something special going on at Stanford University!