The Observatory for Mathematical Education, based at the University of Nottingham, is dedicated to advancing mathematics education through longitudinal research. Established to build on the University’s prestigious research legacy and partnering with hundreds of schools, colleges, universities, and other stakeholders, the Observatory aims to be a central resource for educational systems analysis from primary education to postgraduate studies.
Requiring a strong visual identity that could encapsulate its longstanding academic heritage and its contemporary mission to lead and innovate in mathematics education, the challenge was to create a design that would resonate across diverse platforms and among different audiences, including educators, policy makers, and academic peers. It was crucial to develop a branding approach that highlighted its role as a dynamic hub for educational research and discourse, and convey innovation in all design elements to ensure broad appeal and functional adaptability.
We developed a complete design package for The Observatory, which included creating a logo that represents its academic and research-oriented ethos, establishing brand guidelines, an engaging animation and social media assets. All elements were designed to ensure consistency and to create recognition for The Observatory’s brand across various platforms.
Senior Operations Manager at The Observatory, said:
“Working with Creative Triangle was a real pleasure. Their communication was efficient and friendly and they lived up to their name by delivering a pleasing range of initial ideas for our logo and each of our other assets. What particularly impressed me was the way that the Creative Triangle staff then responded to our comments and ideas, making this a genuine partnership and resulting in finished branding that we were all delighted with. So often when working with experts, there’s a tendency for them to override the ideas coming from inexperienced clients. Creative Triangle, however, worked hard to present, discuss, and then adapt ideas in a true partnership arrangement. None of us within the Observatory had had any involvement with creating an animation previously, for example, but Creative Triangle worked with us step by step so that we could be fully involved and develop our ideas as well as theirs. I would definitely recommend them as a design agency, particularly if you would like to be fully involved in the creative process.”
