Established more than 50 years ago, The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. Its collections contain more than 150 million items, in over 400 languages including books, magazines, manuscripts, maps, music scores, newspapers, patents, databases, philatelic items, prints and drawings and sound recordings. In short, in order to find what you're looking for, it requires a highly sophisticated way-finder system. Enter illustrator Andrew Joyce!
When the library contacted us last year, they were looking for a full suite of characterful illustrations to adorn their new way-finder signage, both inside and outside of the iconic site, as part of a colourful brand update.
Following a VIP tour and site visit, Andrew studiously immersed himself in the Library's brief, thoughtfully crafting each illustration with meaning and a touch of humour. He carefully depicted details like the distinctive round windows of the Members' Room and the Library’s study chairs, even contemplated the question: "Did Leonardo Da Vinci ever doodle?".
Now installed, the new signage combines a clear and functional visual identity with Andrew's illustrations. Employing Andrew's trademark bold visual language, intuitive icons, and high-contrast colours, the design ensures easy navigation while complementing the Library’s architecture. The illustrated assets work to enhance accessibility and efficiency, improving the visitor experience for the library's thousands of annual visitors.
