It was great to see that our university branding work for Cardiff University has been featured on Brand New, one of the world’s leading platforms for branding and identity design. This recognition highlights the subtle yet impactful changes we made to help Cardiff University present a more confident and cohesive look.

Established in 1883, Cardiff University is one of the UK’s leading research institutions and a proud member of the Russell Group. With nearly 34,000 students from over 138 countries, Cardiff University consistently strives to rank among the top 100 universities globally. Our task was to help them refresh their university branding to reflect that ambition, without losing the gravitas of their rich history and academic excellence.

The new university branding involved a series of improvements that contribute to a significantly more polished and confident identity. One of the standout features is the refreshed Cardiff red, a more vibrant and exciting hue that breathes new life into the brand.

As Armin Vit noted for Brand New, "improvements ensure better performance and longevity for the brand. The identity is built around just a few elements—two colors, black and red, and two typefaces, Darby Serif and Marr Sans—but it does a lot with very little. The bold use of Marr Sans and the incredible Welsh language ligature glyphs give the identity a unique yet grounded look. Simple blocks and thick stripes of color add a sense of boldness and energy without overwhelming the design."

The review celebrates the brand's strength in its simplicity and cohesion. As Brand New put it, our university branding gives Cardiff a “confident look that more evidently conveys its top-tier ranking.”