Babson College Gets ‘Cartoony’ Makeover

is renowned for its top notch business-rich curriculum and for churning out successful entrepreneurs. With its latest partnership, the school might also become known for a new cartoon-like logo.

Babson partnered recently with Gapingvoid, which is the work of cartoonist Hugh McLeod.

McLeod specializes in “art with a purpose,” according to a Babson press release Wednesday.

McLeod’s art is on one hand cerebral and on the other visually appealing and distinctly cartoonish. His work is centered on motivating and inspiring messages set to a funny or thought-provoking drawing.

He has been commission to draw for Techcrunch, Intel and Purina to name a few. Babson is the latest to join the list of McLeod’s impressive clientele.

For Babson, McLeod drew one cartoon which begins with the saying, “Own the method, extend the context, impact the world,” complete with a corresponding Earth “flow chart” diagram.

Another piece carries the phrase “entrepreneurship unleashed” above a green fist raised triumphantly.

“The cartoons make statements, spark conversations, and inspire action," said Babson President Len Schelsinger in the release. "They help us communicate our belief in the power of entrepreneurship in organizations of all shapes and sizes and our strategy to lead the advancement of ‘Entrepreneurship of All Kinds’ to make a better world."

Schlesinger introduced some of McLeod’s work at his “State of the College” address Oct. 14, 2011 (Here's a pdf of the slideshow), where joked about the decidedly dressed-down nature of McLeod's art as it compared to a top ranking business school.

“We’re taking on a color for positioning the institution that has all of the trappings of a child in elementary school,” he said. “As we go forward, we’ll understand a bit more about why and what we’re trying to do.”

Schelsinger used McLeod’s cartoons throughout the address, which ended with a few “simple taglines” to represent the institution.

“What we do matters…with all of your help, we can do even more of it, better,” he said.