Meet Emma Swayze, the graphic design student behind Penn State Homecoming’s 2022 logo. The design, unveiled by Homecoming executives at the Blue-White Game last weekend, aims to evoke an expected feeling of home.

We sat down with Swayze to learn more about the behind-the-scenes work that brought Homecoming’s latest logo to life.

Onward State: When and why did you get involved with Penn State Homecoming?

Emma Swayze: Creating a logo was a great opportunity and fun challenge that my class, GD 302, was presented with. I’ve always enjoyed the energy of homecoming with everyone’s positive spirits. Thinking back to this feeling drove me to refine the logo and make it feel welcoming.

OS: What does Penn State Homecoming mean to you?

ES: To me, Homecoming is about a community getting together to celebrate the school and the school’s culture.

OS: How did you get into graphic design?

ES: I’ve always enjoyed finding solutions to problems and was a big art kid growing up. Graphic design combines my love for solving problems and my passion for creativity. 

OS: Are you involved in anything else on campus?

ES: I am involved in Kappa Alpha Theta and TEDxPSU.

OS: What was the thought process behind the logo design?

ES: Throughout the design process, I wanted to create a visual that captures the comfort of being home. After juggling with different ideas, I decided to run with a striped scarf, the scarf that the Nittany Lion wears, to tie in the coziness of being home and Penn State’s culture.

OS: What other design concepts were you considering before finalizing this one? 

ES: Other design concepts I was considering were trees and banners, but a scarf made the most sense when it came to representing the feeling of comfort in a home. 

OS: Do you have any future graphic design plans?

ES: I will be interning in New York City over the summer and hope to continue learning and growing as a designer.

OS: What’s your favorite Penn State tradition?

ES: My favorite Penn State tradition would be White Out games.

OS: What do you plan to do with your degree in graphic design?

ES: My goal is to become an art director.

OS: Per Onward State tradition, if you were a dinosaur, what would you be and why?

ES: If I were a dinosaur, I’d probably be a T-Rex. I’d like to think of a T-Rex as someone who is strong and a go-getter.

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Homecoming 2022 will begin on Sunday, October 16, and culminate with the Nittany Lions’ clash against Minnesota at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, October 22.