Drawing inspiration from city life

A lovely summer evening in Amsterdam. I make my usual way home from Edenspiekermann. The terraces along the canals are filled with people. There's a lot happening on the water as well. Locals maneuver their small boats along the many tour boats. There's laughter, waving, drinking and the pleasure of food. Somewhere on a bridge, a group of youngsters are lined up. One of them gives a sign. The lot of them commence on their ways. Most likely on their way to the next task of their initiation to one of the many student unions. I cycle on, shaking my head. The freshers are back in town.

The academic year has started again. The new students have found their places to stay in the city. They study at one of the two universities of Amsterdam. The elder of the two, the University of Amsterdam (1632), is one of the top national and international universities with over 30.000 students. The city of Amsterdam and the university have always had a strong connection to one another, symbolised by the three Andreas-crosses in both of their logos.

Short after the City of Amsterdam also the UvA has now launched its new website. The most important motive was the disintegration of the content over several sites. It lacked a coherent style. Besides, it was unnecessarily difficult for users to find the relevant information. The website has therefore had a thorough redesign. Content and structure have been re-written. Separate sites have been integrated. A new CMS has been implemented. And the site has been given a totally new look. UvA asked us to do this job. The visual language has consciously been kept simple, open and direct, with typical Amsterdam flair. The web typography is bold and oversized, drawing attention to the content. Photography emphasizes the connection between city and university.

The new look of UvA will become more visible in a short while. In the coming months, the special websites for students and employees will be further developed. By now, the first offline material with the new look is being developed as well. And much more is to come. One thing is certain. The connection with the city of Amsterdam will always inspire. Just like my daily cycling trips through the city, which vary from one day to the other.