Sendai space observatory gets Johnson Banks identity

London consultancy Johnson Banks has unveiled the identity it has created for the Sendai Astronomical Observatory in Japan.

Johnson Banks creative director Michael Johnson says the designs are intended ‘to make the subject of space less baffling’ and take everyday images and pair them with space shots.

The illustrations include a ‘feast’ lollipop with a bite taken out of it revealing a scientific diagram of the earth, and a cup and saucer image with a section showing the rings of Uranus (both pictured).

Alongside 15 of these illustrations, Johnson Banks has created a logo depicting an arrow that links the Sendai Astronomical Observatory name, which is written in both English and Japanese.

The graphic logo, which uses a Berthold Akzidenz-Grotesk BE typeface and a Pantone 125 colour scheme, will be rolling out across stationery, banners in the observatory, signage on the front of the building and in the restaurants and cafés, and will also be applied to carrier bags, alongside the images.

Johnson Banks was appointed in 2006 (DW 20 April 2006) by Japanese exhibition design group Total Media Development Institute, which created the observatory’s interpretation and exhibition space.

The building was designed by architect NTT-F Co, a division of the Japanese technology giant NTT Group.