Student-created Centennial Logo Celebrates CSM’s 2022 Birthday

Ryan Kelley’s winning design for digital media class is top vote-getter among four finalists

A special, student-designed centennial logo was unveiled in June 2021 that will soon grace campus websites, signage and merchandise as College of San Mateo prepares to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2022.

Ryan Kelley, a design major from San Mateo, created the new logo as part of an internship course led by digital media Professor Vera Fainshtein. Kelley’s design features CSM’s distinctive College Center building set off by birthday fireworks. It was the top vote-getter among four finalists chosen by David McLain, CSM's Director of Community Relations & Marketing, from 10 entries submitted by Fainshtein’s class.

CSM students, staff and a Centennial Committee of business and community leaders voted to select the winner from designs by student finalists Kelley, Bryan Bowman, Wilhelm Habla and Katherine Moudry.

“I took inspiration from the old college seal logo from the 1960s, but I put a more modern spin on it,” Kelley said. “Building 10 is one of the more recognizable modern buildings at the school. For a little festive spin, I added the fireworks.”

The project was meant to give students real-world experience in working with a client. “It’s an excellent educational tool,” Fainshtein said.

Entrants were asked to learn more about CSM, the history of the college, its marketing messaging and style guidelines, and the objective of the centennial celebration. They took into consideration how the logo will be used and reviewed other college and centennial logos for guidance. They then sketched ideas – first on paper, then digitally – and met individually with McLain for feedback.

“The logos had to be friendly,” Fainshtein said. “They had to show tradition. They had to clearly look like an extension of the existing brand. And they had to have recognizable visual elements so people would know right away this was CSM.”