True North brands new Bristol museum M Shed
True North brands new Bristol museum M Shed
Manchester agency True North has created the identity for M Shed, the new £26.5m Museum of Bristol.
M Shed is due to open in spring next year and promises to "celebrate the stories" behind Bristol's history and its development. True North has created the brand proposition: "M Shed, home of Bristol's conversations, past and future".
The brand idea has been encapsulated in the changing M of the M Shed logo. The M comes in several varieties (see gallery) and is made up of "real stories" from Bristol residents.
Alan Herron, True North's creative director, said: "The name and identity has geographical and social resonance within the city. And it makes sense to have a fluid, dynamic identity which can evolve and change over time, just as the city does".
The M will change over time to represent the "stories" and exhibits on show at the museum.
Bristol City Council appointed True North last year to rebrand its Museums, Galleries and Archives service, the new museum and the existing Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.
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Great job but odd choice of agency for Bristol City Council. Manchester-based and called "True North". Bristol is neither "True" nor "North"; it is, of course, south west. And has heaps of creative talent. I'm surprised the council agreed to PR this; I wonder what the SW regional media will have to say. (And that will, of course, generate further great coverage for True North!)
This project got terrible press - http://bit.ly/c2ZCo6
A spokesman for the Taxpayers' Alliance said: 'The 'M Shed' is in danger of becoming the latest buzz-word for waste, replacing the Dome and the Scottish Parliament as the national by-word for profligacy with taxpayers' money.
"The private sector, having gone through a phase of rebranding companies with incomprehensible names, is now reverting back to describing 'what's in the can'.
"Hence 'Consignia' reverting back to the Royal Mail. Bristol should stick with the Museum of Bristol.
"Not only would it have saved the £100,000 which has now been flushed down the drain, it would have been immediately comprehensible to tourists and locals alike."
To be fair, jobs like this always get a bad rep in the local press whether the agency is local or not. Bear-baiting newspaper journos and local MPs are always quick to slate branding jobs if they cost public money.
I hate the argument about non-local agencies, it's pathetic! It's a big world out there and we're all up against agencies from across the UK. I would imagine that Bristol Council chose True North because they have a history of producing good work in this sector and probably represent good value for money due to their experience. The people who pop up with this argument should only be allowed to work for council/companies in their locality! Grow up man!
I actually agree with 12:54. Plenty of good agencies in the South West, it's a shame the Council felt the need to go to Manchester.
Oh, and I'm in Birmingham so I'm not biased.
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