National Gallery of Canada: Branding for online magazine
Services:
Art direction
Branding
Logo design
Web design
The National Gallery of Canada decided to stop the publication of their print magazine Vernisage. Taking its place, is the National Gallery of Canada Magazine, an online source for information about Canadian and international art. This shift to an online vehicle allows more engagement, frequent updates, and the ability to reach a much larger audience. The website contains accessible articles, videos, and social media efforts by a range of informed voices discussing work that can be found both within, and beyond the walls of the National Gallery of Canada.
The solution emphasizes accessibility, references breaking down barriers, and communicates the National Gallery of Canada’s involvement in the art community beyond the galleries physical walls.
The symbol can also be seen as a frame, one that is changing as the traditional context of presenting art is expanded through interviews, videos, and conversation. The intent was to continue to build on the concept of beyond—beyond the walls, beyond the art, beyond Canada, etc.
The shape and colour of the rectangle mimic the National Gallery of Canada logo but is turned on its side—a playful take on looking at art in a new way.
Photo of the National Gallery of Canada by A Yee.
Photo by Marianne Bevis.
A brand pattern was created with English and French quotation marks, reflecting the voices writing, reading, and engaging with the website.
Proposed t-shirt design allows the symbol to be filled with anyone’s art using fabric markers—great for kids