New UKRI brand supports vision and ambition as a world-class funder – UK Research and Innovation

10/10/2019

UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) new brand provides a strong identity for the organisation as it realises its ambitions as a world-class funder delivering global impact.

The new brand reflects UKRI’s vision along with the identities and remits of the nine councils that form the organisation.

UKRI will now begin a phased introduction across the organisation and the facilities it manages.

UK Research and Innovation Chief Executive, Professor Sir Mark Walport, said: “UKRI has an important role to play and an important story to tell. The unified brand will help us to tell this story nationally and internationally.

“It shows how the organisation brings together the seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK to deliver on our ambitions as a world-class funder, creating knowledge with impact across society and the economy.”

Creative agency Dragon Rouge was commissioned to undertake the brand project following a competitive tender process, and it has been developed with extensive input from staff and external partners.

UKRI’s new visual identity builds on the strengths and heritage of its constituent councils and retains their individuality through a common design system. It will create a clear consistent approach across our portfolio of projects, centres and partnerships.

Katrina Nevin-Ridley, UKRI Director of External Relations, Communications and Public Engagement, said: “Our new brand provides clarity and consistency across the organisation, and the bold colour palette helps to illustrate the innovative nature of the research we fund.

“It has been fantastic to work with colleagues right across UKRI and the Dragon Rouge team to create a system that reflects the individuality and the proud history of UKRI’s councils yet makes sense of the organisation as a whole.”  

Dragon Rouge Creative Director, Becky King, said: “It has been a privilege to work with UKRI and to create a refreshed brand, that not only helps tell a clear story of togetherness, but visually demonstrates it in a surprising way.

“Everything from the image style to highly contrasting colours and bold typographic treatment expresses their impact on society and generates an excitement that is fitting with their innovative and intelligent organisation.”

We will work with our partners on a phased roll out of the UKRI brand, being mindful of sustainability as to ensure that assets, such as printed material carrying the previous identity, are not wasted. Following the launch UKRI will communicate guidelines on the implementation of the brand to our communities.

Please sign up to our weekly newsletter to keep up to date: