Several components within a single organisation which want to present themselves outwardly as a unit, while still maintaining their individuality. The Royal Tropical Institute (Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen) sought a solution to this.
Edenspiekermann developed a coherent house style, the main part of which was the new logo: the tree of knowledge. This consists of people working together. In this way the KIT shows that it is a knowledge institute with a mission. The collective logo ensures the various parts are identifiable.
The Royal Tropical Institute is a centre for knowledge and expertise situated in Amsterdam. It focuses on international and intercultural cooperation. Apart from the Tropical Museum and Theatre, the institute also comprises other departments, including development cooperation and biomedical research. These different components did not previously have a collective appearance.
The new style offers the various components the opportunity to express themselves. This enables the Tropical Museum, Tropical Theatre and KIT Publishers to communicate with consumers as separate brands.
Key words like “non-western”, “global”, “sharing knowledge” and “cooperation” form the basis of the visual identity. These characteristics also occur in the logo, layout and photography.
The logo refers to the mission of helping people in second and third world countries. Cooperation and knowledge are of great importance in this. At the same time, the logo shows that the institute is concerned with nature.
The clear colours and natural tints have been inspired by non-western art, referring again to the mission. Abstract forms are used in the layout, based on the illustrative forms in the logo. In this way Edenspiekermann has created a coherent unit.
The new house style of the Royal Tropical Institute lends a global character which suits all the different components. The name structure is clear and forms a unit.
This house style was nominated for the 2006 Dutch Design Awards.
