Royal Society of Chemistry Rebranding

Background

Since 1841, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has been the leading society and professional body for chemical scientists and has a global membership of over 46,000. It is actively involved in education, qualifications and professional conduct. It runs conferences and meetings for chemical scientists, industrialists and policy makers at both national and local level. It is a major publisher of scientific books and journals. In all its work, the RSC is objective and impartial, and it is recognised throughout the world as an authoritative voice of chemistry and chemists.

The RSC is in the process of transforming its historic library into a modern, flexible venue in the heart of London. The library and many of the meeting rooms in Burlington House will form the new Chemistry Centre. Due to open in September 2009, it will help to celebrate the excitement of chemistry past, present and future. The space will host members’ events as well as workshops, debates and lectures for school children, students and teachers.

The Brief

Design a new identity for The Royal Society of Chemistry Centre. You can use either the full name (The Royal Society of Chemistry Centre/The RSC Chemistry Centre) or create a new name, for example.

The Base

The knowlege centre of the Royal Society of Chemistry

Spark

The Royal Society of Chemistry Centre

The identity should be striking and distinctive but clear, visitors should not have to work hard to understand what is being communicated. It can be either purely typographic or use a mark or symbol

Audience

The key target audiences for the centre are: 

Practicing chemical scientists (members and non members)

Chemistry students 

Teachers

Employers of chemical scientists

Researchers

Historians

The public who take an interest in science or who have children who are studying science at school

Requirements

Ideas book

To show research and development and how a series of ideas have been developed before producing the final concept.

Logotype

The Royal Society of Chemistry Centre identity

Styling guide

Include a guide to the visual identity that shows how the logotype should be used in a variety of sizes, in black and white and reversed out. Related typefaces and how they should be applied, a colour palette, and if images are used, a guide as to how they should appear.

Applications

The applications that are mandatory are the ideas book, logotype and styling guide. The rest is up to you, but at least one addition element should be chosen from the list below.

— Website homepage

— Visitor guide

— Postcards

— Merchandise (T-shirts, mugs, any item that could be sold in the Library shop)

— Exhibition posters for Chemistry Week 

7 - 15 November 2009 

Title: Food for thought. How will we feed the planet?The physical venue

The space will host exhibitions and large-scale events, including activities for Chemistry Week 2009, will also be held in the venue, which is ideally placed to attract and appeal to a wide audience: the Burlington House complex accommodates many other societies, with over one million visitors passing through the courtyard every year.

Burlington House

Burlington House is a building on Piccadilly in London. It was originally a private mansion, and was expanded in the mid 19th century after being purchased by the British government. The main building is at the northern end of the courtyard and houses the Royal Academy, while the Geological Society, Royal Astronomical Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry occupy the two wings on the east and west sides of the courtyard and the Piccadilly wing at the southern end.

RSC mission statement

Role of the RSC

The 21st century poses many challenges to humanity including climate change, feeding the world and building a sustainable environment. The chemical sciences will play a key role in the search for solutions to these challenges as well as continuing to underpin many improvements in the quality of our lives, from healthcare to fashion. Since 1841, the RSC has been the leading society and professional body for chemical scientists and we are committed to ensuring that an enthusiastic, innovative and thriving scientific community is in place to face the future.

Research starting points

Galleries

The Wellcome Collection

National History Museum

Royal Armories Museum

Tate galleries

Online

http://www.rsc.orghttp://www.nhm.ac.uk/

http://www.wellcomecollection.org/

http://www.royalarmouries.org/home

http://www.tate.org.uk/

http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content