Utrecht Manifest

Projects for Utrecht Manifest corporate identity and visual communication includes the design of typographical identity and house style, various publications, events, graphic exhibition design and motion graphics.

Solar Initiative were picked from a shortlist of design studios by the Utrecht Manifest initiators. The brief was to develop the identity for Utrecht manifest, design accompanying visual communications plus a large part of the graphic design for the exhibitions. The development of a ‘sustainable’ identity, and keeping the duration of the biennale (10 period) in mind, the relationship between content and design as well as the choice of materials to be used were all taken into consideration. Alongside of these considerations there was a need to communicate through the design, key themes such as ‘growth’, ‘development’ and ‘ engagement’.

Utrecht Manifest is a new biennale for engaged design and is organised by the ‘Stichting Utrecht Biënnale’. Utrecht Manifest 2005 was the first edition in a series and to be followed up in 2007, 2009, 2011 en 2013. Utrecht manifest questions the role of the design industry, the cultural sector and the designer. In today’s society geared towards consumption and the importance of the individual, it seems that lifestyle, image and maximum profit are core to this. Utrecht Manifest highlights and stimulates socially responsible design.