Creative Places: West Cork Islands Brand

Creative Places is a programme that aims to build sustained arts investment and create opportunities for communities across West Cork’s seven inhabited islands; Cape Clear, Sherkin, Heir, Whiddy, Bere, Dursey, and Long Island.  The initiative required a brand system that reflected the islanders' unique perspectives while encouraging participation in the arts.

Through ongoing dialogue with island representatives, we recognised the need for a brand that could be activated by the islanders themselves, combining both in-person and digital touchpoints. A key challenge was the geographical isolation of the islands, with no direct ferry routes between them. Inspired by local rope-making and nautical traditions that connect the islands' communities, we developed a seven-looped knot as the logomark, each loop representing an island.

The brand system included a colour palette reflecting the islands' geography, a mix of professional and user-generated photography, and illustrations created by the community using rough, inked brush strokes. These illustrations, depicting elements of island life, were chosen by the islanders themselves. Additionally, we focused on making arts programming more accessible by utilising the local island radio station, digital platforms, and delivering the annual report as a local newspaper. This approach helped unite the islands and celebrate their unique cultural heritage.