Halcyon posing for a student photographer during graduation ceremony.Halcyon depicted in a vibrant and engaging pose, representing school spirit and community pride.

Symbolism

Yale-NUS produced a variety of visual signs and symbols to represent itself both to the outside world and to itself. These included images, texts, designs and colours that reflected and embodied the College’s values, ideas and aspirations.

It was particularly important for a young academic institution like Yale-NUS to establish a set of consistent and impactful visual representations to help create a sense of community and identity.

Much of the initial inspiration came from the College community itself, with students, faculty and staff involved in originating and developing ideas. Students were also regularly involved in implementing the ideas, using their artistic and design skills to bring the symbols to life.

Official College Colours and Wordmark

A orange sign displaying the wordmark "Yale-NUS College" prominently in bold letters against a clear background.

The College’s official colour scheme was orange (#F89829) and blue (#004B8D). These colours were used on many of the College’s symbols to create a consistent and instantly recognisable visual identity.

The colours were used in the College’s wordmark to create a clear, timeless visual representation of the College’s distinct identity. The wordmark also combined and adapted the identities of the College’s parent institutions,Yale University and the National University of Singapore.

A group of students posing behind the Yale-NUS College wordmark sign at Oculus.

Halcyon

Perhaps the most well-known and beloved symbol of Yale-NUS was the College’s official mascot, the blue-eared kingfisher Halcyon (pronounced: hal-see-uhn).

As a species known to occasionally nest in Singapore but generally uncommon in Asia, the blue-eared kingfisher neatly represented both the College’s location and rarity in the region. Its vibrant orange and blue plumage also matched the College’s official colour scheme.

The name Halcyon originally came from a bird in Greek mythology that could calm the ocean’s waves and winds. The modern meaning of an idyllically happy and peaceful time was also deemed appropriate. Halcyon was an embodiment of the College, encompassing some of the ideals that resonated at the heart of Yale-NUS College: youthfulness, creativity, curiosity and an adventurous spirit—ready to take on the world.

Several Halcyon plush toys positioned on steps, highlighting their charming design and inviting appearance.
Halcyon mascot posing on the campus and holding the welcome pack.

The process of selecting the College’s mascot was very community-driven. First initiated by students in 2015, it was subsequently led by the Student Government (StuGov).

StuGov organised a survey, asked students, faculty and staff to nominate and vote on potential mascots and organised a debate to select the mascot’s species (the other options were whale and clouded leopard).

A poster of voting for the Yale-NUS College mascot, indicating the event details.

Having a mascot creates a concrete sense of community and identity that had not been established at Yale-NUS. Mascots are very prominent at our parent institutions [Yale and NUS], so I think many students felt it was a great way to further establish our identity.

Sara Rotenberg (Class of 2019), Director of Student Life, Student Government

A pie chart showcasing the result of kingfisher ratification result.

StuGov also arranged for the student body to vote to ratify the eventual selection and established focus groups to gather feedback on the design and name.

Halcyon was official unveiled in February 2017, in time for the inaugural graduation later that year.

A poster of voting for the Yale-NUS College mascot, indicating the event details.A pie chart showcasing the result of kingfisher ratification result.
Triangle behind a mountain range made with structural grid like texture

Once Halcyon had been chosen as the College’s mascot, the students naturally began to refer to themselves as Kingfishers. This video explores what it meant to be a Kingfisher.

The Yale-NUS
Institutional Flag

Four students proudly display a Yale-NUS Flag against a backdrop of majestic mountains in Tibet.

The Yale-NUS Institutional flag was first waved in support of the College’s sports teams during the 2018 Inter-College Games.

The flag was in the College’s orange and blue colour scheme, and featured the Yale-NUS wordmark and a depiction of Halcyon in flight.

The design process was coordinated by the Dean of Students office and Public Affairs department, working alongside the Student Government, while small focus groups provided input from the student community.

A Halcyon plushie carrying a small Yale-NUS flag, symbolising creativity and vibrancy in a playful design.

The Yale-NUS Tree

The drawing of the Yale-NUS Tree.

The first Yale-NUS Tree featured 24 leaf-shaped flags representing the nationalities of the students in the College’s inaugural class. The tree stood as a visual representation of the diverse and international student body at the College.

Design by Mireille Sibilio, Brenda Greene and Kristin Greene.

A group of students smiling and posing together for a photograph on a stage, in a background of the Yale-NUS Tree and text “WELCOME CLASS OF 2018”.

This second design was created for the 2014 First Year Assembly, and now featured 40 flags to represent the nationalities of the second cohort, the Class of 2018.

A male student in formal attire points to the Bulgarian national flag on the Yale-NUS Tree, while a male photographer captures the moment.

Martin Vasev (Class of 2018) from Bulgaria points to his country’s flag on the Yale-NUS tree.

The drawing of the Yale-NUS Tree.A group of students smiling and posing together for a photograph on a stage, in a background of the Yale-NUS Tree and text “WELCOME CLASS OF 2018”.A male student in formal attire points to the Bulgarian national flag on the Yale-NUS Tree, while a male photographer captures the moment.

Swag

Specially-designed swag items were often given away during events at the College. These could be t-shirts, bags, water bottles or other useful items decorated with text, logos or images to mark the occasion. Some clothing designs were also available to purchase from the student-run Yale-NUS Bookstore or the College’s official online merchandise shop.

Yale-NUS Swag
Yale-NUS Mask
First Year Assembly Pins
Residential Colleges Class of 2021 T-shirts
Residential Colleges Class of 2022 T-shirts
Residential Colleges Class of 2023 T-shirts
Residential Colleges Class of 2024 T-shirts
Residential Colleges Class of 2025 T-shirts
Inter-Residential College Games Sports Vests and Shield
Travel Swag
Experience Yale-NUS Weekend
Beach Plz
Campus Green Lamp
Yale-NUS Class T-shirts

Student Designs

A close-up look of the Yale-NUS scarf and tie design.

Many of the College’s collaterals were designed by the students themselves, which showed their artistic talent but also demonstrated how much input students had in shaping the College’s identity.

Designed by Natalie Tan (Class of 2017) to showcase the College’s diversity, this scarf and tie were both based on an East-meets-West concept. The scarf featured an Asian floral pattern held within borders in the College’s orange and blue colours.

The tie’s geometric pattern symbolised the intertwining of East and West, and the strength and unity of many parts working as a whole.

Natalie also designed greetings cards and the sash worn as part of the College’s academic dress at graduation.

Tan Tai Yong in formal attire and orange tie taking selfie with a student in gown during graduation ceremony.
This set of four coasters was designed by Min Lim (Class of 2018) to reflect the diverse community and vibrant culture of Yale-NUS. Each coaster featured a patchwork of iconic patterns and fabrics that represented how students from different parts of the world came together to form the unique College community. Min also designed a greetings card with a similar concept.
To mark Singapore’s 50th year of independence, this set of two stamps was produced in 2015, featuring watercolour paintings of the campus and the Heritage Tree by Yap Zhi Wen (Class of 2017). At the time the campus was built, the Heritage Tree was the only known example of Margaritaria indica in Singapore, and was awarded Heritage Tree status by the National Parks Board in 2014.
Min Lim (Class of 2018) “The design reflects the diverse community and vibrant culture of Yale-NUS via a patchwork of iconic patterns and fabrics. Through the patchwork, the artist depicts how different nations come together to form one unique community.”
Yang Yilin (Class of 2019) “The sketch done on paper with ink marker features the East Core at Yale-NUS. The East Core serves as a quiet corner for students to engage in learning and contemplation after a hectic day of classes and activities.”
David Chia (Class of 2017) “The symmetrical motifs are inspired by the traceries on the sun and rain screen colonnades around the College. A contemporary interpretation of Southeast Asian textiles, the patterns offer a unique environment that overlays cultures and interweaves traditions.” The Interwoven Community pattern was featured at the Oculus, while the Interlacing East & West pattern was from Cendana College.
Yap Zhiwen (Class of 2017) “The painting depicts the Yale-NUS College mascot, Halcyon the kingfisher. It is seen here in flight, ready to take on new challenges with its adventurous spirit.”
Isabel Meg Fang (Class of 2020) “Drawing inspiration from the vivid colours of Singapore’s natural environment, the design celebrates the biodiversity of our garden city and features the Yale-NUS College mascot Halcyon, which is modelled after the blue-eared kingfisher species.”
Yanni Chia (Class of 2021) “The design depicts the Oculus, a prominent architectural feature of Yale-NUS College. Located at the main entrance, the square oculus in the middle of the roof allows rainwater to flow and collect into a circular pool below. The rain, a symbol of wealth and wisdom in many Asian cultures, reflects the rich gathering of knowledge at Yale-NUS.”
Alexis Chen (Class of 2022) “Featuring the diverse assemblages of shrubs and trees at Yale-NUS College, the design highlights the campus’ vibrant and educational landscape, which unfolds endless potentialities for learning and exploration.”
Laura Sutanto (Class of 2024) “In this design, the kingfisher is a characterisation of the Yale-NUS community, our very selves swathed in layers of petals that represent the layers of experiences in Yale-NUS. At the core of this unique intersection, we find the light within ourselves.”
This ecard was created by Public Affairs for staff and faculty to use for the 2023 year-end holiday and 2024’s Lunar New Year festive season. According to the artist, Kimberly Wee (Class of 2023), “the orange hues of dawn and dusk paint a nostalgic scene of the College brought to life by the interactions between its people, flora and architecture.”

Graduation

Graduation was the most formal ceremony in the College’s calendar, with all graduating students taking the stage to receive their degrees while wearing the Yale-NUS academic dress.

The academic dress consisted of a base gown, hood, sash and mortarboard. Different elements represented the College’s parent institutions, with the orange colour of the sash representing Yale and the blue and white trim on the sash and hood representing NUS.
The sash was designed by Natalie Tan (Class of 2017) and featured a batik-inspired print incorporating the Halcyon kingfisher.

A group of Yale-NUS graduates in gowns smiling together for a celebratory photo outdoors.
A close-up look of the batik pattern on the Yale-NUS graduation sash.
Sarah Weiss in a graduation gown proudly holds the Yale-NUS mace during graduation ceremony.

The College’s Ceremonial Mace was also part of the Graduation ceremony, with a member of faculty carrying it at the head of the faculty procession into the auditorium.

Reflecting the Yale-NUS curriculum, the mace incorporated both Western and Asian elements.

A close-up look of the pommel of the mace.

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