A New Look for IIT College of Architecture
The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) Institute of Design recently received a beautiful new rebrand courtesy of COLLINS, and this year, it’s the IIT College of Architecture’s turn to get a new look.
A Rich History
The IIT is steeped in history. It became a global centre of modernism under the leadership of Mies van der Rohe, one of the pioneers of modern architecture and one of the directors of the Bauhaus. Mies van der Rohe created 21 buildings on IIT’s campus, including the iconic column-free SR Crown Hall.
New Branding
The new brand was created by Span, whose task was to convey this history in a way that would appeal to potential and current students. As you’d expect from an architectural college, the new brand is all clean lines and sleek edges. The backbone of the new look is the newly released Neue Galerie, a digital revival of Mies van der Rohe’s Allzweck typeface. Based on Mies van der Rohe’s personal sketches, Neue Galerie was created by bBox Type foundry and is also used in the new logo. In a beautiful font pairing, The Future is also used to add energy.
(Image credit: IIT College of Architecture)
New Website and Photography
The new website is built on a grid that uses the same 2×1 proportions as the Crown Hall and has generous portions of white space dotted throughout, which a press release describes as a “visual nod to Crown Hall’s open floor plan”.
Photography was also important in this project, and Span worked with the IIT team to organize over 8,000 images to help tell the story of the brand.
(Image credit: IIT College of Architecture)
Design Director’s Perspective
“We’re a branding-led design studio that works across all media and this project perfectly encapsulates that,” says Span partner and design director Bud Rodecker. “We’re not following trends, we are designing with intention and purpose – immersing ourselves in the subject matter to create work that feels authentic and resonant.
“More than that, we’re giving the current faculty and students a brand platform that enables them to work together to design and build the future of architecture. We believe the new brand will help this storied institution continue its modernist tradition, reflecting it in ways that are unexpected, engaging and deeply effective.”
Conclusion
The new brand for IIT College of Architecture is a beautiful representation of the institution’s rich history and commitment to modernism. With its clean lines, sleek edges, and thoughtful typography, the brand is sure to appeal to potential and current students alike. The new website and photography also showcase the college’s dedication to storytelling and showcasing its architectural achievements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who designed the new brand for IIT College of Architecture?
A: The new brand was designed by Span, a branding-led design studio.
Q: What is the inspiration behind the new brand?
A: The new brand is inspired by the college’s rich history and commitment to modernism, as well as its iconic architecture and design.
Q: What is the significance of the Neue Galerie typeface?
A: The Neue Galerie typeface is a digital revival of Mies van der Rohe’s Allzweck typeface, which was created based on Mies van der Rohe’s personal sketches.
Q: What is the purpose of the new website and photography?
A: The new website and photography are designed to showcase the college’s architectural achievements and tell the story of its brand.
