Not out with the Old but in with the New
Over the past few months, we’ve been working on a whole new look for the Trust! Working with local graphic designer Sam Kirkby and web developer Lee Bolton, we’re so excited to show you the Trust’s new era.
With the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund (and National Lottery players!), staff and trustees have worked together with brilliant designers and developers to create new logos, colour schemes and even our own font as bold and bright as our future.
As much as the work of the Trust is powered by people: our staff, trustees and all important members, what brings us all together is a passion for the Tyne + Wear region and its fascinating heritage buildings. So, we knew our new look had to include lots of references to the North East and our projects over the years.
Our new seal – which will be used on socials, leaflets and letters but, most importantly, our new pin badges(!) – is made up of elements representing a building, a shield for protection, and a river to symbolise both the Tyne and Wear.
The new colour scheme, inspired by the built environment and the natural world around it, helps to bring a new lease of like to the Trust as we continue to bring life to old buildings – the orange and yellow bring some much needed warmth to the North East in the colder months!
Our graphic designer, Sam, took inspiration from the historic structures at the heart of the Trust’s work – as you can see here with the impressive Dunston Staiths’ timbers forming the H in our alphabet of architectural features. Having letters from our new font appear in our newsletters, updates and at our events ensures that honouring the heritage of our buildings stays at the heart of what we do.
Special thanks also to The Type Founders, who took Sam’s designs and turned them into a working font! As the Trust continues to work to ensure that we are inclusive and enable everyone to engage with the region’s heritage, accessibility was central to the new website’s brief – so having a font made rather than using images of Sam’s brilliant designs means that the site meets accessibility guidelines and can be accessed using a screen reader.
“After getting to know the Trust, this rebrand had to communicate two key messages; Their expertise in maintaining and celebrating these characterful buildings, and how they work closely with the local communities to repurpose them into useful spaces.
To communicate these ideas, we worked in collaboration with The Type Founders to create a bespoke illustrative typeface featuring shapes from the buildings themselves. This solution simultaneously celebrated the region’s architecture while creating an identity that can flex from pragmatic and experienced to playful and welcoming.
Combined with a colour palette inspired by local materials and a unique imagery treatment, we’ve built an identity that celebrates the wonderful work the Trust does and will support their future ambitions.”
Sam Kirkby
Stay tuned for more updates featuring our new look!
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