The Royal Astronomical Society was founded in 1820 to encourage and promote the study of astronomy, the solar system and geophysics from its headquarters in London. The Society shares discoveries and inspiration with over 4,000 Fellows via journals, discussions and meetings, maintains a research library and advises the UK government on astronomy education. Its medals and grants reward and recognise the world’s leading thinkers in the field.
The Society is using its 200th Anniversary to increase and broaden its reach, attract a younger and more diverse membership and better reflect its purpose – to explore our planet and the Universe around us and to share its learning for the benefit of society.
Their legacy symbol featured an engraving of the telescope designed by their first ever president, Sir William Herschel. In the digital age, this didn’t reproduce well in small sizes or on screens. It didn’t communicate who they are or what they do.
Their new symbol takes its inspiration from several sources: the Society’s motto ‘Let whatever shines be observed’; the vision and discovery that characterises two centuries of study; and its work with both astronomers and geophysicists.
Stepped spokes are repeated and rotated to form a symbol that can be interpreted in multiple ways – a stylised eye or planet with an orbiting moon – reflecting the many different sides of the Society’s work. It is also turned 23.5 degrees to reflect the Earth’s angle of tilt from the plane of its orbit around the sun.
A lead core colour palette of black, white and grey was chosen to hero and complement beautiful images of the sky, planets and geological formations.
The secondary colours allude to the land and sky, whilst echoing the colour palettes already in place for the Monthly Notices and Geophysical journals.
Illustrated below are work-in-progress designs for merchandise, stationery, banners and posters. A simplified version of the legacy emblem is retained for certificates and medals.
Awards
- 2020 D&AD | Branding | Logos | Shortlisted
- 2020 Brand Impact Awards | Professional services | Shortlisted
The team
- Telescope illustration by Alan Levett