Visual Inspiration

@harrywpearce and team have created a visual identity and name for Manchester’s ambitious new £1.7bn science and innovation district @sister_manchester.        A joint initiative between @officialuom and @bruntwoodscitech, Sister is centred around some of the city’s most iconic architecture bringing science, tech and community together to create a district filled with a mix of offices, labs, creative spaces, homes, shops, and a new arts centre.         Collaborating with @greenormal and @life_by_naresh on the overall strategy, and with The Draft who created the new name, the team created a distinctive visual identity that blends Manchester’s rich scientific heritage with its forward-looking vision.        A major figure in Manchester’s scientific history, Alan Turing was one of the pioneers of computer science and AI. The custom typeface, Sister Mono is inspired by the letterforms found on code-breaking machines and Turing’s early computers. The monospaced typeface brings a versatile and industrial aesthetic that captures the spirit of innovation.         The Sister logotype draws inspiration from the Manchester Code, a data-signaling system developed at the University in the 1940s, and the winding River Medlock that runs beneath the district.         The logotype’s modulating line wraps around the letterforms, symbolising the porous edges of the district and its connection to the city’s history, as well as the interflow and movement of ideas, people and the institutions.        The line also appears in the Sister symbol, a shorthand expression of the visual identity that also informs the signage. A set of icons mirrors the visual language of the symbol, appearing across the site, reinforcing the district’s multi-use nature.        With a core colour palette of black and white, complemented by bright, confident secondary colors, Pentagram’s design captures the spirit of Sister—a bold, optimistic district that reflects Manchester’s legacy of innovation while driving future progress.        Project team:    @johannes.grimmond    @tiffanyf66    @marionalegre Hyo Lee @tom_baber     See more via the link in our bio!        #sistermanchester #brandidentity