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Vanguard School
By : Maître D
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Communication & Branding
Categories : Brand Design / Brand Identity Creation and Update
At Vanguard School, everyone believes that every student can learn if given the time and the right resources. For 50 years, this private, public-interest school has offered educational services adapted to students with learning disabilities.
To celebrate half a century of successfully tackling challenges, the school has teamed up with Maître D to redefine its branding. This change is intended to enhance the school’s reputation among its student clientele, from grades 2 to 11, who are studying in both French and English. Next come all the other target audiences: the education community, parents, staff, public decision-makers, Foundation’s donors and general public.
A logo portraying the students
The rebranding process begins with a more contemporary logo, focused on the symbolism of knowledge transfer, elevation and perseverance. This Olympic torch analogy uses the base of the “V” shape as a flame proudly rises.
The official logo was created to be declined in different ways. Student Life, the Vanguard School Foundation and Alumni (alumni services) all have their own visual identity. Each symbol stands apart while remaining aligned with the overall branding.
The 50th anniversary is also highlighted with a specifically designed logo.
An inclusive and accessible vision
While the transition to school represents a challenge for many young people, the students at Vanguard School see their studies as an insurmountable journey. In order to foster their sense of pride and inclusion in the student community, universal accessibility is respected in all areas.
The colour palette and contrasts meet AAA accessibility standards. When we look at colour psychology, blue and yellow dominate through their association to knowledge, curiosity, self-esteem and success.
The typefaces were chosen on the basis of research into text comprehension in dyslexia and dysorthographia. The clean lines of Helvetica Now Text, the official font, stand out and make for easy reading. For the web, the Roboto font meets the same requirements. The Foundation and Alumni stand out with the Lora font, with serifs that accentuate the characters’ uniqueness.
The new visual identity is now present everywhere: on the website, social media, and internal communications. Visual consistency sets the school apart from other educational institutions and highlights its excellence and commitment to making a difference.
