| Title | BlackRock Visual Identity System |
| Brief | There were two overarching challenges for Turner Duckworth to solve. The first was to express the new purpose in a differentiated, impactful way while maintaining trust in the brand. The second was to design a system that would endure for the long-term. The new VIS would need to resonate globally and act as a foundation for the rest of the BlackRock family, including iShares and Aladdin. We redrew the logotype to have more confident heft, and to be distinctive and timeless. The category is a sea of blues and greens, so we introduced a warmer color palette, with no blue in sight. A whimsical, but appropriate, illustration style aids in the communication of complex ideas. Typography, influenced by the new wordmark, communicates clearly across all media. |
| Agency |
Turner Duckworth
|
| Campaign |
BlackRock Visual Identity System
|
| Advertiser |
BlackRock
|
| Brand |
BlackRock
|
| Posted | November 2021 |
| Business Sector | Banking, Finance, Law & Insurance
|
| Story | As the world’s largest and most influential fiduciary, BlackRock found themselves in a precarious place in 2017. They had been historically lumped with Wall Street (even though they are decidedly not part of it), and were facing imposition from established and emerging technology brands. They engaged Turner Duckworth to transform the visual identity in an effort to counteract these challenges and to express an empathetic new purpose: We help more and more people experience financial well-being.There were two overarching challenges for Turner Duckworth to solve. The first was to express the new purpose in a differentiated, impactful way while maintaining trust in the brand. The second was to design a system that would endure for the long-term. The new VIS would need to resonate globally and act as a foundation for the rest of the BlackRock family, including iShares and Aladdin.With nearly $7 trillion in assets under management, it’s difficult to describe BlackRock without mentioning their size. Exactly the problem. We sought to change the conversation, and to shake off irrelevant negative associations with finance.A sense of calculated irreverence runs through the entire identity—from the inclusion of the color pink, to witty illustration and a highly-curated image library. Every element is intended to warmly connect with audiences on a level that most in the financial category don’t consider.We redrew the logotype to have more confident heft, and to be distinctive and timeless. The category is a sea of blues and greens, so we introduced a warmer color palette, with no blue in sight. A whimsical, but appropriate, illustration style aids in the communication of complex ideas. Typography, influenced by the new wordmark, communicates clearly across all media.The new identity launched in the U.S. in May 2020 and is continuing to roll out globally. |
| Media Type |
Case Study
|
| Account Director |
Kate Wierman
|
| Account Director |
Katie Monahan
|
| SVP Director of Client Services |
James Bailey
|
| Executive Creative Director |
Andy Baron
|
| Creative Director |
Chris Partelow
|
| Implementation Director |
Jeff Jones
|
| Designer |
Ian Brignell
|
| Illustrator |
Andreas Samuelsson
|