Design History and Comparative Projects

When researching on other campaigns similar to the one I want to create, I found how Swansea University celebrated their centenary which was done by a logo developed by Icon Creative Design. The concept included a wave through the number 100 which referenced Swansea’s coastal setting and added personalisation that the locals could relate to without having to be a university student. The design created a connection between the institution’s location, history and future accomplishments with a simplistic illustration that is compact enough to be easily advertised along with the more advanced looking existing crest. The compatibility between the older crest and the centenary logo helped to preserve recognition of the university’s existing theme while adding a fresher aspect without one overpowering the other. The research of this centenary has inspired me to create a campaign with aspects that complement the University of Hull’s existing visual designs on websites, advertising and existing campaigns while integrating wholly new parts that represent the history behind the University and Hull as a whole.

I also researched the University of Hull’s existing brand identity, developed with PUSH collective, as I could use this as a relevant starting point due to it already including all of the recognisable features that link to the University such as the colour palette and font choices. My research on the existing brand identity also helps me as I think the centenary campaign should be built on the University’s existing brand as to avoid being too different from anything existing. I have done this purposefully as when I did my research on Swansea University’s centenary, I found that what made the campaign successful was the balance of existing and new material. However, when I do create my campaign, I will combine aspects from Hull’s rich history with the existing visuals to add a fresh and new perspective.