Treasury joins Government push

Evidence is mounting that design is assuming greater importance in Government communications, after reports this week that the Treasury is considering a complete identity overhaul.

The Treasury admits that it is redesigning its website with Bates Interactive, at a cost of up to £150 000 and standardising its corporate stationery and signage to cut costs. However, it denies national newspaper reports of an identity overhaul, which includes proposals to remove the royal coat of arms from its logo and drop the HM from its official title.

A Treasury spokesman says that the department is “not looking at revamping itself. No decision has been taken on losing the HM and we haven’t hired a design consultancy to redo our logo”.

Design Council design manager Jill Wildman sees the Treasury’s activity as part of the Government’s modernising agenda and believes it is paying greater attention to how it communicates with the public. The Design Council is involved in an on-going initiative to improve the Government’s design management.

A central Government website offering an advanced information search engine is on test and due for launch in the spring.

The Partners has been appointed to create the name and identity for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. The Team rebranded the Home Office’s entire operations last year. Redweb has created a website for the UK Passport Agency.