I created a bold new identity for the Seattle Public Library, showcasing the library as a vital, forward-thinking institution. My goal was to develop an authentic brand ready to serve the current library community, while connecting to new residents drawn by the city’s bright, digital future.
The new logo for the Seattle Public Library plays with the traditional resources available at the library, and then upon closer inspection, leads the eye to create an architectural image with open doors.
The Visual Identity book is a comprehensive guide to the institution’s new look and feel. The contents include standards for usage of the liquid logo, the complete color palette, key visual assets, and their practical application on collateral, signage and environmental graphics.
The extensive palette of the liquid logo captures our library of the future: constantly evolving with technology while enriching our community through powerful resources, expertise, and new digital collections.
I designed a website to deliver these same resources, translating the look and feel of the new brand through a rigorous UX process into a simple responsive homepage. My UX team for this portion included Maya Lewis & Nigel Sullivan. Together, we built a survey, personas, taskflows, and a sitemap.
My library event poster series puts to use the same high impact typography and crisp directionality which carries through all the visual assets. The strong diagonal visuals capture both the essence of the climate in Seattle and a sense of movement.
Applying this treatment to environmental graphics, the diagonal visuals create a friendly sense of space with room for play and learning.
I carried the brand through into the daily assets of the library – where Seattle residents first come into contact with this important part of our community.
I crafted a durable, accessible visual identity for the library, upholding the core values of the brand while broadening appeal to better serve our growing, diverse community. For more about my research, concept and extensive design process, I invite you to continue to my website.
