Collège de Maisonneuve is a francophone public college (CEGEP) in Montreal, Quebec, serving roughly 7,000 students. Its visual identity has undergone two documented phases: an original mark dating from 1967 and a comprehensive rebrand launched in December 2014.
Design and History
Collège de Maisonneuve’s original visual identity dated from 1967. In December 2014, the college announced it had updated this identity as part of a project to review its brand image, a process informed by discussions around its strategic planning. The new identity was designed to bring all of the college’s services and entities under a single banner.[1]
The college’s communications team worked with the agency LG2 (referred to as lg2boutique in some coverage) on the brand image and visual identity update, and with Mégavolt for the redesign of its website.[1][2] The institution wanted to unite the breadth of its offerings under a common, evocative brand, and the new identity was intended to highlight the college’s dynamism.[2]
Meaning and Symbolism
The 2014 logo is built around a blue square containing a mix of forms that bring out the letter M, described as the key element of the Maisonneuve brand. According to Brigitte Desjardins, then director of corporate affairs and communications, the square was chosen as a geometric figure with strong presence that reflects the college’s emblematic place within its community. The three forms composing the logo were developed to highlight the letter M and ensure continuity and understanding of the new identity across different audiences.[1]
The college stated it wanted to communicate the idea of a whole, a crossroads where forms meet. The blue color was retained because it had been used by Maisonneuve since its beginnings, and it was applied consistently across all of the college’s services and entities.[1]
Logo Index is an independent educational archive covering logos, visual identities and graphic design history. All trademarks and brand assets remain the property of their respective owners.
