Hinsdale Middle School Mascot

Go Spartans!

Hinsdale Middle School faced a not uncommon challenge, creating a unique icon for a mascot whose name—the Spartans—was also used by many other schools and athletic organizations. Grillo Group went to work creating a one-of-a-kind image for the Hinsdale Middle School Spartans that met a set of agreed-upon criteria—the mascot icon had to feel strong, bold, competitive, hardworking, modern, and “cool by middle-school standards.”

The result was a high-contrast, shield-like Spartan icon, supported by bold typography, that did not refer visually to any recognizable individual or gender. Grillo Group applied the new Spartan icon along with spirited messaging in school colors to the gymnasium floor and walls. The mascot image also appears in a more subtle application on cafetorium walls.

As a member of the Design Committee for the new school, Maria Grillo also selected finishes and paint colors for the new school. ria also selected finishes and paint colors for the new school.

Client Success
The result was applauded by students, staff, and community members and given a very favorable review in Hinsdale’s local newspaper, The Hinsdalean.

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