Designer Harry Pearce from Pentagram joins communications specialist Sue Keogh to talk about the visual identities he’s developed for V&A South Kensington, Liberty and Moth drinks – and why brand guidelines are critical in keeping everything beautifully consistent across print, packaging and digital formats.
We also take a look at NASA, and how their Graphic Standards Manual shows the brand evolution from a meatball...to a worm.
If you walk through the British supermarket Waitrose or a major department store like John Lewis or Liberty London…Or if you visit a world-class gallery like the V&A South Kensington….or pour yourself a cocktail from Moth drinks in its beautifully textured tin...you'll see Harry Pearce's work.
He's a graphic designer from celebrated design studio Pentagram, a collective of partners worldwide, formed in 1972, who are behind the brand identities for names you might just recognise – like Channel 4, Pink Floyd Records, Reddit, Natural History Museum, Rolls Royce…it just goes on and on!
You'll see beautiful examples on the portfolio pages on their website, along with the brand guidelines that underpin all this striking work and hearing Harry explain how he developed the visual language for Liberty’s new line of gender neutral fragrances LBTY.
And in this episode you'll find out why brand guidelines exist, why they're important, or what the damage can be if we don't stick to them!
We'll also take a look at NASA and how their brand has moved from a meatball...to a worm. And the guidelines that helps everyone get it right!
Show notes
Harry works alongside so many creative geniuses on these projects, including designer and Pentagram partner Marina Willer, who created the Young V&A identity work. Writers on the overall V&A project were Naresh Ramchandani and Ashley Johnson.
- Creative Review article on the new V&A Museum branding and visual identity
- Pentagram case study: Liberty LBTY
- Pentagram case study: V&A South Kensington
- Harry’s bio on Pentagram
- NASA Graphics Standards Manual from 1975
- NASA Brand Center
- NASA Brand Guidelines 2024
About Harry Pearce
Having studied at Canterbury College of Art, Harry co-founded and ran Lippa Pearce Design before becoming a Pentagram Partner in 2006.
He has devised identities, installations, posters, packaging, books for; Liberty, Thames & Hudson, Guggenheim, Royal Academy of Arts, Phaidon Press, Pink Floyd, Shakespeare’s Globe, PEN International, and the UN. Since 1993 he has been an active member of the advisory board for WITNESS.
Books; Typographic Conundrums and Eating with the Eyes.
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