PROJECT OF THE MONTH

The New York Public Library has introduced a new identity designed by the inhouse graphics team under the leadership of Marc Blaustein. The logo for the venerable institution is based on its famous lion statues, and is intended to emphasize openness, with flowing lines speaking to momentum and forward motion. At a special event in the Trustees room, attended by GDUSA, President Paul LeClerc said that "the new visual identity reflects the accessibility and dynamism of today's library. Blaustein (shown here) and his staff began the first stage of the redesign in 2008 with the designers sketching and photographing the statues. Dozens of iterations, realistic and conceptual, pencil and digital, drew inspiration from periods and themes including 16th century printers' marks, Art Nouveau, stained glass, and Japanese woodcuts. The result: a balance between organic lines and geometric shapes that represent movement and fluidity. The new logo is versatile and can be used in various forms and colors, reproduces well at small sizes, and reads in online and print. In addition to Blaustein, who did most of the drawings and design concepts and art directed the project overall, credits go to Manager Tina Hoerenz, who handled logistics, and Designers Daniel Um, Katharina Seifert and Matthew Poor.