Chris O’Brien Lifehouse is a not-for-profit, comprehensive cancer hospital in Camperdown, Sydney, Australia. The organisation was originally known as the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA, a name later shortened to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. Its visual identity centres on a device the organisation calls the “star of hope,” a symbol that has remained fundamental to the brand’s recognition through a 2023 refresh.
Design and History
The original identity for Lifehouse at RPA dates to 2008, when it was created by the Australian design agency Cato Partners. The mark was classified as a representational logo, with design tags including buildings, holding shapes, houses and stars. [1]
In 2023, the Sydney design agency UntilNow was engaged to update and refine the brand’s visual identity. UntilNow described the existing brand as having “a strong brand presence,” but noted that the brand documentation was extensive and confusing for internal teams, and that the identity was not originally designed with the extent of digital application expected of modern brand identities. [2]
During the refresh, UntilNow revised the shape of the “star of hope” device, creating more balanced geometry and revealing the star at the centre more clearly through negative space, which helped with recognition on smaller applications. The typesetting of the wordmark was rebalanced to give “Chris O’Brien” more prominence, and a more vibrant green was introduced. The project also simplified the overall colour palette, reduced the number of logo variations, improved visual accessibility through higher contrast, and added a handscript tagline. [2]
Meaning and Symbolism
The “star of hope” device is the central symbol of the identity. UntilNow described it as “fundamental to the brand’s recognition” and worked to preserve the equity the asset had built over time. [2]
The name and the hope motif trace back to the organisation’s founder, Professor Chris O’Brien AO, a head and neck oncologist who conceived the Lifehouse before his death from cancer in 2009. His stated vision was: “Everyone needs hope. We live on hope.” [3] The “star of hope” name for the logo device is consistent with this founding emphasis on hope, though the specific origin of the star shape itself is not publicly documented.
Typography and Design
Documented typography details are limited. The 2023 refresh rebalanced the typesetting of the wordmark to give “Chris O’Brien” more prominence within the lockup. [2] The specific typeface used in the wordmark has not been publicly identified by the organisation or the design agencies involved.
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.
