Designed under the direction of Jan Jancourt, in collaboration with MCAD DesignWorks, this identity system for the Minneapolis College of Art and Design — completed in 2004, and then retired in December 2010 — was the first re-branding the college had undergone in 30 years. An evolutionary system born out of collaboration between the MCAD student-body and end-users, this flexible and organic system was designed to work for — and reflect the spirit and individuality of MCAD. Within the stationery the end-user can select and place images known as “pics” (small graphic illustrations donated by students). By doing so, they are able to engage in the final “design” of their stationery. Beyond the specific confines of the stationery, the system has successfully evolved over the years — as was intended. New “pics” are commissioned and added to the library annually, while DesignWorks’ revolving staff of student designers are continually finding new and inventive ways to implement the system — including a flash-based program that is able to generate expressive, organic, and print-ready “pic” compositions in a matter of minutes.
Design Director: Jan Jancourt
Designer: Matthew Rezac
Type Design: Spektro by Andrea Tinnes
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Evolutionary, Flexible