Client
None

The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artefacts in digital form. Like a paper library, we provide free access to researchers, historians, scholars, the print disabled, and the general public. Our mission is to provide Universal Access to All Knowledge.

(Source: archive.org)

mathieucremers is always looking for new opportunities and mostly likes to challenge himself in his free time. So he stumbled upon the archive.org website and he instantly noticed that it could really go for a good make-over when it comes to their brand visuals. 

Disclaimer: even though this is a fictional assignment and archive.org has never approached mathieucremers (or the other way around). He only wanted to do a total re-design of the website/brand, just for fun. Using archive.org basically as “fake” costumer.

This is always a good exercise for a designer, to keep yourself tapped in and do what you think is right – without any parties involved – and see what you would do if you have all the freedom to design anything…

Strategy
Seeking a new (interactive) website, “they asked” mathieucremers to develop a new identity and an online concept that would reflect what they stand for; universal access to all knowledge. So basically what you do on Archive is gathering information, research, documents, films, audio any files. You are basically “archiving” and creating your own database for specific use. Thats the sole purpose of this website, finding the things you need. Putting emphasis on this concept of you being an “archiver”.

mathieucremers developed an identity that’s based on the interactivity of a user. So you basically build your own identity by gathering things. See it as your bookshelf at home, if you have a lot of cookbooks, it basically represents your identity, as you being a good chef or food lover. And you are keen on learning new recipes. This is a representation of who you are, your identity.

It’s the same for archive.org, so let’s say I gather a lot of documents on Mondriaan, art history and Jeff Koons. One might think I am an art lover, or an artist or an art historian. Based solely on what I have on my “bookshelf”. This is another representation of who I am. But we don’t have to take it literally, it can also just be a representation that is visually more distinguished and abstract.

Design
Following this concept of building your own identity based on what you gather. mathieucremers created an interactive interface, where the social media is key, where you can also connect with others, where you can see who you are and share your findings with one another.

So you literally gather components that are put in different categories like; Web, Visuals, Text, Audio/Video and Software. So just like Google, you can search for anything, just by typing it in. Afterwards it is able for the user to add it to your own personal “database”. Based on your findings your database will grow, so let’s say you gather a lot of Audio/Video, which is marked in red, your identity growth will show more red. It will be more prominent, since you are more into gathering Audio/Video samples, could you be a photographer, filmmaker or DJ?

These abstract shapes, will take over the screen (eventually) and represent (literal) clouds of information. Which gives way of colourful bubbles or web of information all linked together. Of course every person is different, so you would never have the same kind of “identity” because everyone gathers different things.
This is a nice way of showing that a digital “library” doesn’t have to be like your typical dusty bookshelf loving environment. It can be clean, fresh, modern and catchy. Making people excited to gather information and showing off who they are, and sharing it with the world. After all “universal access to all knowledge.”

Services
Branding, Graphic Design, Identity, Logo, Poster, UI, UX, Web