{"id":2090,"date":"2014-09-08T21:03:56","date_gmt":"2014-09-08T21:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theswitch.us\/blog\/?p=2090"},"modified":"2016-04-01T18:53:31","modified_gmt":"2016-04-01T18:53:31","slug":"design-education-merging-environmental-design-branding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/switch.us\/blog\/design-education-merging-environmental-design-branding\/","title":{"rendered":"Design for Education: Merging Environmental Design and Branding"},"content":{"rendered":"
Translate your brand\u2019s values throughout campus by applying brand standards to spatial and environmental design.<\/address>\n

 <\/p>\n

We\u2019re just weeks into the 2014 season of college football, but team camaraderie has already kicked into high gear. From polished helmets to vibrant spandex and face paint, you can\u2019t deny the unifying impact of strong brand design.<\/p>\n

Off the field, however, it can be trickier to maintain a consistent brand throughout campus and online. For higher education, especially, a brand identity encompasses so much more than letterheads and business cards. The visual elements of a school or university represent more than a business; they reflect the legacy of that institution. Generations of loyal alumni are proof enough that the roots of advocacy run deep.<\/p>\n

With this in mind, we as designers understand the importance of adhering to brand standards in an educational setting. We also understand that style guides are often void of direction for a lot of critical elements. It\u2019s up to the designers to ensure plans moving forward maintain the essence of the brand. So where do we begin?<\/p>\n

\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Understand the values and mission of the school<\/h1>\n

As designers, we\u2019re used to digesting the brand standards handed to us at the beginning of a project. From the typefaces used to the color palette, visual elements play strongly into the school\u2019s identity. But often these packets also paint a picture of the integrity of the organization \u2013 and it is this message that we hope to convey in whatever we are designing.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Design beyond the paper<\/h1>\n

Spatial design is an often-underused component of branding. As explained earlier, style guides don\u2019t usually include specifications of lobby furniture or outdoor architectural elements to be used, but that doesn\u2019t mean a designer should decorate or build a space based on personal preference. An Eames chair is aesthetically pleasing, sure, but it may not be the right choice for a university\u2019s school of medicine.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Find new ways to express the brand<\/h1>\n

A university presents the unique challenge of maintaining its historical integrity while also incorporating a sense of innovation. Each year floods of prospective freshmen, family and alumni visit for Homecoming and orientation weekends. A strong brand design should reflect the modern student.<\/p>\n

\u00a04.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Adopt a cohesive mindset<\/h1>\n

Often times, designers will be asked to not only extend a brand identity to the surrounding space, but to also harmoniously merge multiple brands together. Going back to the school of medicine, for example, spatial design might need to reflect a sterile, modern approach to healthcare \u2013 but the core brand of the university can\u2019t be lost. Below you can read about a specific example of the work we did for two institutions.<\/p>\n

Recent Scholastic Design Projects<\/h1>\n

A recent project involved merging two brands into one system to provide a youthful, fun environment for students ranging from Kindergarten to 12th<\/sup> grade. The Washington University mySci Resource Center is a new facility that melds two separate entities\u2019 branding, the university\u2019s Institute for School Partnership (ISP) and mySci, a science education program developed in conjunction with Monsanto.<\/p>\n

The main challenge was to integrate both brands into one cohesive space. Washington University\u2019s prestigious reputation is not typically associated with elementary children, so we blended the mySci color palette with the university\u2019s formal signage.<\/p>\n

\"wash-u-mysci\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Inside, the spatial design featured a blend of modern touches with youthful energy. The fun science-themed icons that wrapped around the exterior were replicated on the walls inside. The donor wall showcases the names of generous organizations and people with a Fibonacci-sequence art piece \u2013 creating the \u201cgolden spiral\u201d that is seen frequently in nature.<\/p>\n

\"wash<\/a><\/p>\n

Branding vs. Design vs. Apples vs. Oranges<\/b><\/h1>\n

Branding and design are complementary \u2013 an essential pairing, even \u2013 but they still have distinct purposes. A brand identity platform will direct and influence the type of design incorporated into a school \u2013 but sometimes to use the space to its full potential, the identity needs to be looked at a little differently, whether that means pulling inspiration from multiple brands or experimenting with a new demographic.<\/p>\n

For help with finding new ways to express your brand, get in touch with Blake at\u00a0BlakeE@theswitch.us<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Translate your brand\u2019s values throughout campus by applying brand standards to spatial and environmental design.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":2131,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,2,1,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2090","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-branding","category-featured","category-featured-home","category-how-to"],"yoast_head":"\nDesign for Education: Merging Environmental Design and Branding - sw:tch blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/switch.us\/blog\/design-education-merging-environmental-design-branding\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Design for Education: Merging Environmental Design and Branding - 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