British Library seeks designer for £100,000 branding project

The library requires an identity for a new initiative, which looks to create a “single digital presence” for public libraries across the UK.

The British Library is looking for a design team to brand its new digital platform, which aims to unite the UK’s public libraries in one place.

Supported with funding from Arts Council England, the “single digital presence” will look to provide a platform local libraries can use to reach a national audience. The British Library says the mobile-first platform will “transpose the enriching experiences of a local library, its people and its content into the digital realm”.

A brand to “deepen affection” for public libraries

The maximum value of the contract will be £100,000, which will include the development of a name for the platform, alongside a visual identity and brand guidelines.

The British Library says the brand will need to “raise and re-energise” the profile of libraries, as well as “deepen affection for them and increase their usage”.

“We’re looking for a creative partner who can help us bring to life the uniquely welcoming character of a local, high street library in a digital space,” says British Library chief librarian Liz Jolly.

£3.4 million for the whole project

Work for the project, which is currently known as Single Digital Presence, began in 2018 with a two-year research phase that examined the effectiveness of such a platform and existing international equivalents.

The naming and branding of the platform is part of the next phase, which will also see a public-facing version of the platform built and beta tested.

Arts Council England has pledged £3.4 million to the whole project. This includes the £100,000 branding contract, as well as £1 million to help local libraries in England upgrade their IT capabilities to be compatible with the platform.

Application details

Those interested in applying for the work should complete an application form, which can be found via the Delta eSourcing platform. This should be done by 12:00 noon BST on 15 August.

Studios and designers that make it past this round will then be invited to meet with the British Library project team in September and October, followed by pitches to a panel of stakeholders.

More information can be found on Contracts Finder.

Banner image courtesy of Shutterstock.

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