Université de Lille visual identity

In January 2022, five institutions located in Lille joined forces to create one of the largest European universities: Université de Lille – a university at the heart of global transitions, a major force in higher education. With more than 80,000 students, Université de Lille aims to develop new ways of reinventing progress, creating new training courses and innovating through research, while developing its links with the metropolitan, regional and international ecosystem.

Université de Lille is a new “EPE” (experimental public institution), now including the students of the former Université de Lille, Lille School of Journalism (ESJ Lille), Lille National School of Architecture and Landscape (ENSAPL), National School of Textile Arts and Industries (ENSAIT) and Sciences Po Lille. Université de Lille is the university of social, economic and environmental transition. It’s a project that brings the completeness of French knowledge to the doors of Northern Europe.

Graphéine accompanied Université de Lille in the definition of its visual identity, its brand architecture and its graphic guidelines in a co-construction process. Several workshops were conducted between June and July 2021. These co-creative workshops led the participants to question the values of the project, the symbolic vision of the university and the image of Lille territory.

Three L’s for Lille form the U of University. Their interlocking shape evokes the leaves of an open book, symbolizing the mission of higher education to transmit knowledge. We can also see the furrows of the mining industry, those of agricultural crops and the lines of the looms of Lille’s economic past. The curved emblem speaks to us of the warm hospitality of Northern France. Finally, a mark is emerging, one that marks the future and initiates the signature “Let’s inspire tomorrow”.

Two typefaces are used within the layout. Rational by René Bieder and Eliza by Camelot Typefaces. Their association transcribes the perfect agreement between French tradition and European modernity. This duo gives relief to the titles and its italic directly echoes the emblem.

This new unifying identity, gives birth to a new version of the University of Lille and translates its openness, interdisciplinarity and excellence. A joyful and flexible identity to which students, staff, researchers and teachers are already united!

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