IIM-A says new logo will retain Sanskrit motto, iconography
MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY WROTE TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS QUESTIONING
THE DECISION TO FINALISE DESIGN WITHOUT DUE PROCEDURE
AHMEDABAD: The Indian Institute of Management-ahmedabad (IIM-A), facing backlash over the management’s decision to change its historical logo, clarified on Friday that the proposed logo will retain both the visual iconography of the old logo and its Sanskrit motto.
HT reported on March 31, the business school’s plans to change the historical logo and the criticism the move faced from faculty members.
At least 45 members of the faculty wrote to the Board of Governors (BOG) for IIM-A on March 8, questioning the decision to finalise the logo without following due procedure. They had also raised the issue of doing away with the Sanskrit line.
“The colour rendition has been improved, the fonts modernised, the jaali inspired brandmark has been made more amenable to communication in digital media, and the brand name made more distinct,” IIM-A’S communications team said in a statement on its website on Friday, adding that the new logo would be unveiled in June. It added that the Sanskrit line would be retained.
The controversy broke out after the publication of the draft minutes of the 419th Meeting of the Academic Council held on March 4, which detailed a presentation made to the faculty members by
Hyokjin Kwak, a professor of marketing at IIM-A. According to the minutes, seen by HT, Kwak mentioned the decision to have two new logos for the institute, one without the Sanskrit line for global representation and the other with the Sanskrit line for domestic use.
“As per the norms, any such proposal (to change the logo) should have been put before the Academic Council before being presented before the Board of Governors. This may be a violation of faculty governance...” said a faculty member.
Another member said he “was not part of the decision-making process...” Dropping “Vidya Viniyogad Vikasa” is not good. It captures what the IIM-A is trying to do...” the draft minutes quote him as saying.
“The institute, in the process of revamping its website, found the need to refresh the logo. Evaluation, exploration, development of wordmark, development of brandmark were all kept in mind...” the institute said.