Les Champs Libres visual identity

Les Champs Libres is a cultural institution situated in the Rennes métropole. It brings together three entities under the same roof – the library, the Museum of Brittany, and the Espace des Sciences. The project born in 1992 had initially chosen the name “Les Champs Libres” to evoke a source of life, a nourishing space without borders, owned by everyone, in keeping with the cultural lineup.

Graphéine accompanied this institution in the conception of a common visual identity, linking its three constituent entities.

A brand new monogram for Les Champs Libres: The interlaCing. In painting and sculpture, interlacing is an ornament that evokes entangled cords without ends, and is usually symmetrical. Constructed with a single line, the interlaced emblem symbolizes different paths that intersect and meet at a point like an agora. Its construction also brings flexibility and a human touch that contrasts with the architecture. A simple and original symbol with great signage strength.

Previously, the Les Champs Libres logotype was composed using the typeface FF Minimum in its Bing version, designed by Pierre di Sciullo in 2004 (the original Minimum dating back to 1986). His drawing is inspired by the grids formed by the pixels of the first personal computers. The result is a highly technological-looking typeface, with a strong 1990s style. A typeface that reinforced a rigid, inflexible image, ignoring the human aspect, which remains at the heart of the institution.

The new wordmark uses Raisonné, designed by Benjamin Critton in 2010 and available from Colophon foundry. It has these geometric and playful qualities whick make a strong connection with the interlaCing monogram.

We selected two typefaces to create a singular and cohesive identity system through all media supports. The primary typeface is Oldschool Grotesk by William Montrose (Kilotype, 2019) and it is used to set big headlines and graphic assets with the interlaCing emblem. The secondary typeface is Calibre by Kris Sowersby (Klim Type Foundry 2012). Calibre is a contemporary neo-grotesk sans serif, which make a good fit when used for body texts.

The new visual identity takes up the challenge of bringing together its entire cultural offering under a single identity. The message has been made more readable and in line with the values of the place which has a strong social and human commitment.
A cultural link!

Learn more about this project on our website, in English or in French.