Poole Museum - Our Museum
A fresh brand identity that captures principles and leaves a lasting impression
Branding ︎ Brand Guidelines ︎ Motion Design
A fresh brand identity that captures principles and leaves a lasting impression
Branding ︎ Brand Guidelines ︎ Motion Design
Introduction
The Our Museum project is a community museum, based within Poole Museum, that has the local community at heart.
This case study shows how we designed a graphic identity that feels relevant and contemporary whilst reflecting the needs and interests of it’s audiences.
The outcome was branding that is memorable and guidelines that are applicable to future designers of the museum.
The Our Museum project is a community museum, based within Poole Museum, that has the local community at heart.
This case study shows how we designed a graphic identity that feels relevant and contemporary whilst reflecting the needs and interests of it’s audiences.
The outcome was branding that is memorable and guidelines that are applicable to future designers of the museum.
The Team
2x Designers
My Role
Being on a small team of designers on this project, my responsibility was to assist design from initial client contact to prototyping and user testing, to final branding.
2x Designers
My Role
Being on a small team of designers on this project, my responsibility was to assist design from initial client contact to prototyping and user testing, to final branding.
The Problem
Our Museum isn’t currently reaching it’s target audience due to outdated and uninspiring branding
Research showed that the museum didn’t have any connection to the community and the buildings were unrecognisable to most people.
Our Museum isn’t currently reaching it’s target audience due to outdated and uninspiring branding
Research showed that the museum didn’t have any connection to the community and the buildings were unrecognisable to most people.
Target Users
The focus of this project the local community and surrounding area of Poole Museum alongside an outreach to older children and young adults.
The focus of this project the local community and surrounding area of Poole Museum alongside an outreach to older children and young adults.
Project Overview
This exciting and energetic new identity takes a playful approach that has the community at heart whilst lending itself to being modular and adaptable for the future of Our Museum.
Buzzing with energy, ideas and stories, the Our Museum project redefines museum culture, unifying the community with the knowledge it has to offer.
This exciting and energetic new identity takes a playful approach that has the community at heart whilst lending itself to being modular and adaptable for the future of Our Museum.
Logo Animation
To show key characteristics of the brand including the iconography
To show key characteristics of the brand including the iconography
Iconograpohy
The main visual language is an iconography which can be modularly used and interchanged dependant on message
The main visual language is an iconography which can be modularly used and interchanged dependant on message
Museum fixings
These can be used internally or externally to advertise to the visitors and locals of Poole and the museum what’s going on.
These can be used internally or externally to advertise to the visitors and locals of Poole and the museum what’s going on.
Social media presence
Applying graphics to a social media page was necessary to keep the audience up to date with community events and exhibitions.
Applying graphics to a social media page was necessary to keep the audience up to date with community events and exhibitions.
Brand Guidelines
This will assists designer create material that is relevant to the brand for future reference.
This will assists designer create material that is relevant to the brand for future reference.
Process
We started this project with an initial client meeting where we were able to gather the vision they would like to see and the deliverables the were looking to receive at the final stages.
Defining the scope
We generated ideas based on the initial briefing to decide the outcomes and establish a direction.
Stakeholder testing
We showed the client our summary of the project and a moodboard to get a feel of the direction they wanted to receive.
We showed the client our summary of the project and a moodboard to get a feel of the direction they wanted to receive.
“Buzzing with energy, ideas and stories the our museum project will redefine museum culture, unifying the community with knowledge it has to offer.”
“I love the bold use of colour and how simple it looks.”
“The use of illustration to show every member of the community can have a say in how their museum would look is amazing!”
“The imagery is nice, with bold use of colour like the others but the use of shapes aren’t quite as exciting.”
Insight 1
The client loved the use of geometric shapes and bold colours through the moodboard, there has to be a dynamic use of geometry
Insight 2
There has to be links towards the community and emphasis that this is a community museum
The client loved the use of geometric shapes and bold colours through the moodboard, there has to be a dynamic use of geometry
Insight 2
There has to be links towards the community and emphasis that this is a community museum
Diverge
We explored a range of different imagery that all fit the scope of the project and tried to emulate the insights generated from stakeholder testing.
We explored a range of different imagery that all fit the scope of the project and tried to emulate the insights generated from stakeholder testing.
Initial imagery
We created some logos that supported insights with the idea of cutting down to a select few
We created some logos that supported insights with the idea of cutting down to a select few
Developing ideas
After developing 3 ideas, each with insights from testing in mind, we shared shared again with stakeholders.
After developing 3 ideas, each with insights from testing in mind, we shared shared again with stakeholders.
“The public will struggle to read the first in its symbolic format.”
“The use of faces isn’t entirely clear, maybe if you got people to draw them and plaster them over your brand?”
“The icons can be very adaptable allowing for increase in scale.”
“The icons need to relate more to each other and to the community, show what they mean.”
Insight 1
It’s clear that the third identity is the one that works the most, with the use of icons proving to be a valuable asset for variation and scalability.
Insight 2
The icons need to show more about the community than just ‘looking nice’.
It’s clear that the third identity is the one that works the most, with the use of icons proving to be a valuable asset for variation and scalability.
Insight 2
The icons need to show more about the community than just ‘looking nice’.
Delivery
From here we developed a set of icons each detailing how they related to the community and the Our Museum project, they are a key feature of the brand, being the source of imagery that allow variation.
From here we developed a set of icons each detailing how they related to the community and the Our Museum project, they are a key feature of the brand, being the source of imagery that allow variation.
Logo animation
To add a further element and pique consumer interest, we animated the logo
To add a further element and pique consumer interest, we animated the logo
Result
All that was left to do after this stage was produce final deliverables and visualisations that could be offloaded and shown to the client how the branding would work. Poole Museum loved our rebrand and felt it reflected their values whilst also being engaging and felt it would draw in a younger target audience which met their satisfaction.
1. Produce an identity that captures a younger target audience
2. Use visual language that captures the stories and community of Poole
All that was left to do after this stage was produce final deliverables and visualisations that could be offloaded and shown to the client how the branding would work. Poole Museum loved our rebrand and felt it reflected their values whilst also being engaging and felt it would draw in a younger target audience which met their satisfaction.
Goals Met
1. Produce an identity that captures a younger target audience
2. Use visual language that captures the stories and community of Poole
Reflection
Keeping everyone in the loop will always meet or exceed expectations of end product.
Being able to collaborate with someone in realtime is key to success, the instant idea generation and exploration proves to enable quick user testing so you can move on with ideas that don’t capture the scope of projects. Relaying information between the team and client is also essential as it keeps everyone in the loop to know what is expected and required at the end of projects.
Keeping everyone in the loop will always meet or exceed expectations of end product.
Being able to collaborate with someone in realtime is key to success, the instant idea generation and exploration proves to enable quick user testing so you can move on with ideas that don’t capture the scope of projects. Relaying information between the team and client is also essential as it keeps everyone in the loop to know what is expected and required at the end of projects.