Every mid-December, the alumni associations of the Ivy League schools in Taiwan host a holiday ball, with two schools taking turns organizing the event. This year, the responsibility falls to the alumni of Cornell and Princeton Universities. Since I work in the field of design, I took on the task of designing the graphics for the ball, primarily the backdrop for the stage.
I am an architect and not a graphic designer. I don’t know the finer points of typography or kerning. But as the Milanese architect Ernesto Nathan Rogers once said, “dal cucchiaio alla città” (from the spoon to the city). An architect should know how to design everything.
To develop a concept for the design, I began by examining the designs of previous years. These designs predominantly utilized the logos of the eight Ivy League schools as the primary elements, creating various combinations and patterns. This approach is understandable, as the logos are likely the most recognizable graphics that represent the branding of the schools. However, I wanted to create a design that went beyond mere repetition, aiming for something fresh and distinctive. Additionally, I wanted the design to convey deeper meanings beyond its decorative nature.
To propose a new approach, I opted to eliminate the logos entirely. After all, the logo alone is not the only thing that represents the school. In lieu of the logos, I would use the mottos of the schools as the primary graphic element. Arguably, these mottos possess greater symbolic resonance as they embody the spirit of the institution that the logos don't quite express. For instance, Harvard’s motto, “Veritas,” exudes a profound and enduring impact compared to its logo. By emphasizing the mottos rather than the logos, the graphics will acquire a deeper and more meaningful significance.
Utilizing only text produce a more cohesive visual representation. However, during my research on the mottos of the eight schools, I discovered that Cornell is the only one without a Latin motto. Founded in 1868, the youngest of the eight schools, Cornell’s motto is exclusively in English and originates from its founder, Ezra Cornell: “I would establish an institution where any individual can obtain instruction in any discipline.” This phrase can be abbreviated as “… any individual … any discipline.” Having seven mottos in Latin and one in English would place too much attention on one school.Given that Cornell and Princeton serve as the organizers, I have chosen to use Princeton’s informal English motto. While Princeton’s Latin motto, “Dei Sub Numine Viget” (Under God’s Power She Flourishes), holds historical significance, it is now rarely seen or mentioned. Instead, Princeton has become predominantly associated with its informal motto, “In the nation’s service and the service of humanity.” This motto was conceived by Woodrow Wilson and subsequently added onto by Sonia Sotomayor. The two organizers will have their mottos in English and be differentiated from the other Ivy League schools.
Utilizing text exclusively as the backdrop is new for the Ivy Ball, but it is certainly not a novel idea. I studied the design Pentagram created for the 92nd Street Y to determine the appropriate text size and its visual impact in photographs with people in the foreground. Unlike Pentagram, I didn't have the resources to develop a new typeface specifically for the Ivy Ball. Instead, I chose to use Bodoni. I remember when I interviewed Bruce Mau many years ago, he told me a story about Massimo Vignelli. Vignelli’s designers would be working with all sorts of typefaces, and he would come by their desks and say, “I don’t know, maybe Bodoni.” Vignelli once said that "Bodoni is one of the most elegant typefaces ever designed.“
Beyond consulting the works of graphic designers, I also drew inspiration from one of my favorite artists, Ed Ruscha, who began his career in the field of graphics. I have always admired Ruscha’s work, which centers around words and phrases. As Ruscha once stated, “I simply happened to paint words like someone else paints flowers.”
Emulating Ruscha, I wanted the texts to float over a color field. Since I’m not an artist, I chose to do the color in a mechanical and calculated manner. I used the Princeton orange (CMYK: 6, 65, 100, 0) on one side and the Cornell red (CMYK:0,100,79,20) on the other side and asked the computer to generate a gradation in between.
The physical backdrop for the Ivy Ball existed for only a few hours, but the design lives on in the digital realm through the photographs captured that evening. While some attendees may not be familiar with the texts in the backdrop, the mottos of the participating schools, many of which have theological roots, encapsulate universal moral principles. These mottos, such as seeking light and truth, providing opportunities for any person, and being in the service of humanity, serve as powerful reminders of the privilege of receiving exceptional education. This privilege, however, also entails the responsibility to contribute to a better world.
