Pilecki Institute USA
Client:
Ministry of Poland
Role:
Art Director
Collaborators:
Expand for Full List
The Pilecki Institute USA launched as the first American branch of a European institution, entering a new market without an established identity. The challenge was to create a system that could remain structurally aligned with branches in Warsaw and Berlin while adapting to the cultural, institutional, and operational demands of a U.S. market.
Brand Identity
Spatial Design
Digital Design
Outcome
Secured Ministry-level approval of the identity system, enabling the U.S. branch to move directly into public rollout.
For those passionate about Polish studies, finding a space that bridges rigorous historical research with forward-thinking interdisciplinary dialogue means navigating a landscape that often stays rooted in the past — making the pursuit of cutting-edge, culturally inclusive academic exchange harder than it should be.
The interior design system was rooted in natural textures and materiality — a sensibility that carries through the broader brand identity. My contribution focused on ensuring conceptual continuity between the spatial direction and the visual identity system, maintaining coherence across both environments.
Initial boards for visual direction were presented in meetings with the head of the branch to further refine the conceptual fit
Select Pages of Brand Guidelines- Typography & Type Hierarchy
The color system draws from the architecture of Poznań Old Market Square, using tones found throughout the square to ground the identity in a recognizable cultural reference. Reds, blues, teals, and greens were desaturated to create a more controlled palette that balances cultural richness with academic clarity.
A subtle New York influence positions the identity as a convergence rather than a direct translation. Grit is implied through tonal restraint instead of overt texture or visual noise.
The result is a disciplined palette that reflects both Polish and New York influences while maintaining institutional authority.
The pattern functions as a secondary identity system for merchandise and retail applications. Built from the existing logo and brand colors, the institutional mark was deconstructed into modular forms and reassembled into a repeatable graphic system.
The goal was to create a recognizable asset that could function independently while remaining connected to the broader institutional identity. The system maintains alignment with the global Pilecki Institute network while establishing the New York branch as a distinct extension and the first U.S. location.
The result is a scalable pattern system applied across merchandise, physical environments, and supporting brand applications.
PREVOUS PROJECT
For its first U.S. location, the Pilecki Institute needed an identity that could translate its rich European legacy into a clear, contemporary presence. The result is a system shaped by narrative, materiality, and accessible design, creating an environment where history becomes approachable, relevant, and alive for New York audiences.
Pilecki Institute USA.
Pilecki Institute USA.
Janay Davison — Art Director
Janay Davison — Art Director
Pilecki Institute USA.
For its first U.S. location, the Pilecki Institute needed an identity that could translate its rich European legacy into a clear, contemporary presence. The result is a system shaped by narrative, materiality, and accessible design, creating an environment where history becomes approachable, relevant, and alive for New York audiences.
