Client: Trafford Libraries
Year: 2012
Brief: Brand identity, signage and wayfinding
The challenge
Trafford Council appointed Creative Spark to reimagine the identity and experience across Trafford Libraries, with Urmston Library leading the way as the flagship redevelopment.
The challenge was making one identity work across a very mixed estate. Some libraries were newly refurbished. Others were long-standing community spaces with different layouts, budgets and limitations. The system had to feel modern and connected, but still practical enough to flex.
Our approach
We developed a full brand identity and an internal signage and wayfinding toolkit that could adapt to each location.
A bright, accessible icon palette gave the identity personality, while a more neutral signage system kept everything clear and easy to use. It meant each library could apply the brand in a way that suited its own space, without losing consistency across the wider network.
The result
A flexible identity system that helped modernise Trafford Libraries while keeping each location grounded in its own community.
The project was well received by the Trafford Council team, especially for the usability of the toolkit. The system is still in use today, which feels like the real result: a library brand with enough structure to stay joined up, and enough flexibility to last.
