by Amanda Gabriel-Landis
September 21st 2023
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A series of Portland State's logos, past and present.
Portland State has had some pretty iconic logos over the years, but how exactly did our university adopt the Viking as its mascot?
According to University Archives, the name Vikings pre-dates Portland State. The nomenclature was initially adopted by the Vanport student body in 1946. Two separate students, Robert Tweedell '46 and Dale Reeves are credited with the initial name's nomination, and the student council voted unanimously to adopt the Vikings for the college's athletic teams.
From there, the mascot made its permanent home in the campus's lexicon. From fight songs to yearbooks, the Viking made such an impression it stuck around even after Vanport College changed its name to Portland State.
Since then, the official logo has been reimagined several times, from bearded cartoons to dragon longships. The most recent design has a modern feel and was made in collaboration with a company that knows a thing or two about good branding.
In 2016, Portland State Athletics collaborated with designers at Nike to come up with a sleek design that takes inspiration from Nordic lettering, shields, and hints of the Pacific Northwest. The partnership seems fitting since Carolyn Davidson '71 designed the original Nike Swoosh while studying graphic design at Portland State.
With so many memorable versions, you can't go wrong when choosing a favorite.
Is there an interesting piece of Portland State history you think we should share? Let us know, and you could win a PSU Alumni Association swag bag!