Collage of colorful posters featuring geometric designs and text against a vibrant blue background.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART

Visual Identity

Typography

Developing a future-proofed visual identity and guidelines for the world’s most influential postgraduate institution of art and design.

The Royal College of Art is the world’s most influential postgraduate institution of art and design. Following a major audit, it recognised the need to refresh its brand identity (originally developed by Brody Associates in 2012) and unify its design system through new guidelines.

The Royal College of Art is the world’s most influential postgraduate institution of art and design. Following a major audit, it recognised the need to refresh its brand identity (originally developed by Brody Associates in 2012) and unify its design system through new guidelines.

A digital mockup of an open book featuring colorful pages with text and graphics, on a blue background.
A digital mockup of an open book featuring colorful pages with text and graphics, on a blue background.
A digital mockup of an open book featuring colorful pages with text and graphics, on a blue background.
A digital mockup of an open book featuring colorful pages with text and graphics, on a blue background.
Three smartphones displaying colorful screens with various app interfaces, set against a dark background.
Three smartphones displaying colorful screens with various app interfaces, set against a dark background.
Three smartphones displaying colorful screens with various app interfaces, set against a dark background.
Three smartphones displaying colorful screens with various app interfaces, set against a dark background.

Our task was to add clarity around brand components and usage, ensure accessibility, and future-proof the design system to improve application across digital, rich media and social needs.

The result was a highly practical, scalable brand identity suitable for a global university, while simultaneously allowing individuality and creativity to flourish in line with the institution’s ethos.

A person stands beside a large book titled "Demystifying Leadership" against a stone wall.

A key component of the design system is the headline typeface Calvert Brody — a reworking of the RCA’s existing typeface developed by renowned British designer Margaret Calvert.

The result is more exaggerated with higher contrast, a stencil effect, and a more industrial and contemporary feel used in select applications for high impact, such as building signage.

The result is more exaggerated with higher contrast, a stencil effect, and a more industrial and contemporary feel used in select applications for high impact, such as building signage.

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