The Gissing Trust:
A brand that celebrates Victorian novelist, George Gissing.
Approach
The Gissing Trust was established in the late 1970s by members of Wakefield Historical Society and Wakefield Civic Society, with the support of international scholars. Its purpose was to save the childhood home of the late Victorian novelist, George Gissing.
A small museum was eventually established at the family’s former home on Thompson’s Yard, just off the busy Westgate. The Centre celebrates the stories, interests and achievements of all members of the Gissing family, whilst raising awareness and appreciation of other local writers, covering all genres both past and present.
It seemed appropriate that the design style was rooted in tradition, harking back to the late Victorian era. Heritage greens form the backbone of the colour palette with a flash of pink giving a contemporary flare.
Inspired by traditional wallpaper, the repeating tiled pattern formed of fountain pen nibs gives texture, and hints at the subject matter. The logo illustration also nods to heritage, depicting a portrait of George Gissing surrounded by an oval locket shape. Use of both traditional and modern typography blends the classical with the present-day.