UNIVAS
For the purpose of promoting college sports, UNIVAS (Japan Association for University Athletics and Sport) was established to take a supervisory role over various universities and sports, like the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) in the United States.
UNIVAS offers a broad range of supports to students, universities, and sports associations, from organizing sports events and awarding athletes, to establishing rules, PR activities, managing sports facilities, and training instructors. The members consist of 221 universities with official sports teams and 35 affiliated organizations, including subordinate student groups, that belong to the JSPO (Japan Sport Association) and the JOC (Japanese Olympic Committee).
mind: “orderly lined candle lights” to express discipline and compliance
technique: a “chessboard” symbolizing strategy and skills
physical strength: a courageous and physically powerful “lion”
knowledge: a “book” symbolizing academia
virtue: a “dove” as a symbol of sportsmanship and peace
The logo was designed aiming to convey multiple messages, combining Japanese and Western culture, tradition and youthfulness.
The trophies and medals that are given at the end of each academic year to award 16 different awards, including “Person of the Year” and overall ranking of “UNIVAS CUP”, are made by cutting an extruded aluminum bar of the logo shape. A 300 mm trophy is for first prize, and those cut to 210 mm length are for merit awards. The same bar is thinly sliced and ribbons are put through to make medals. As the design intent, “tradition” being passed on from the past to the future is expressed in the form of extrusion molding method, and the “unity and bond” with everyone involved, including teammates, instructors, and many supporters, is represented by the share of a single object to award not just the individual.
