Graphic Design: New identity for Serpentine Gallery built around an aperture

Date
2 October 2013

It’s 14 years since Pentagram partner Marina Willer and Wolff Olins chairman Bryan Boylan worked together on the identity for the Tate gallery; now 14 years later they have unveiled their latest collaboration for another stalwart of the London art scene. Their new identity for the Serpentine Gallery was launched to coincide with the opening of the new Sackler Gallery space there designed by Zaha Hadid, and is built around an aperture, which can be used to break typography on posters, signs and in print. The idea is to reflect the Serpentine’s values, which Marina summed up to Design Week as “totally open.”

“They are free to visit and situated in the park, among nature. They are also open in their approach to exhibiting – they’re not just about visual art but about performance, design and other things,” she said.

Ian Osborne has created a new typeface for the logo which aims to be “challenging and approachable; thought-provoking, but also…democratic” while Patrick Giasson was tasked with producing new type for the overall identity which is described as “sharp and modern.” Fellow Pentagram partner Daniel Weil worked on both internal and external signage, incorporating the aperture theme in a number of interesting ways.

Big redesigns like this are certain to split opinion but for our money this is bright, communicative and right on-message. So see you in 2027 Bryan and Marina?

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Marina Willer/Bryan Boylan: Serpentine Gallery identity

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Marina Willer/Bryan Boylan: Serpentine Gallery identity

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Marina Willer/Bryan Boylan: Serpentine Gallery identity

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Marina Willer/Bryan Boylan: Serpentine Gallery identity

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Marina Willer/Bryan Boylan: Serpentine Gallery identity

Above

Marina Willer/Bryan Boylan: Serpentine Gallery identity

Above

Marina Willer/Bryan Boylan: Serpentine Gallery identity

Above

Marina Willer/Bryan Boylan: Serpentine Gallery identity

Above

Marina Willer/Bryan Boylan: Serpentine Gallery identity

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Marina Willer/Bryan Boylan: Serpentine Gallery identity

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About the Author

Rob Alderson

Rob joined It’s Nice That as Online Editor in July 2011 before becoming Editor-in-Chief and working across all editorial projects including itsnicethat.com, Printed Pages, Here and Nicer Tuesdays. Rob left It’s Nice That in June 2015.

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