TC-W brands arts projects

It is not only exhibition and interior designers who are benefiting from the swathe of Lottery-funded arts projects. When a scheme involves new build or major revamp, graphics play an important role in raising consumer and industry awareness, and attracting additional funding.

The Manchester Museums and Galleries Project involves the refurbishment of Manchester City Art Gallery, Manchester Museum and The Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester, which together have secured £60m of funding. New exhibition space, facilities and services are in line for the centres.

Tucker Clarke-Williams – which is moving offices from Stockport to Manchester next week – was appointed in May to create an identity, literature, on-line marketing, and an exhibition to publicise the project during the first year.

The venture already had an existing logo comprising three scrolls, which consultancy creative director Phil Skegg chose to use as the starting point for the rebrand.

While one logo is to represent all three venues, the aim was to maintain the individual identities of each site, and give each equal importance. The new identity achieves this by introducing different coloured swirls to represent each building.

The marque has then been developed for other applications such as advertising – hence a cog for science, a painting for art and a mummy case for the city museum.

This identity will work in conjunction with the strapline: stimulate fascinate innovate.

Other consultancies involved in the projects include architect Michael Hopkins & Partners and heritage architect Peter Inskip & Peter Jenkins Architects at Manchester Art Gallery.

Designers at the science and industry museum include architect Austin Smith Lord, Conkey Chadwick Design working on the new restaurant, Rawfish Design which is creating the new shop, and Mather and Company for orientation.

The project launches on 27 October.

Design: Tucker Clarke-Williams

Creative director: Phil Skegg

Client: Manchester Museums and Galleries Project