The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet was in the process of relocating to new premises in Bjørvika, Oslo. They needed a new institutional name and a united, modern identity.

The 500 employees had been situated in different locations, they were also part of different cultures and they did not reflect the same identity. Producing a unifying identity with such a long name was deemed to be a major challenge. After a lengthy and thorough process, it was decided to go with “The Norwegian Opera & Ballet”.

The jury's verdict:

The Norwegian Opera & Ballet is one of Norway’s most important cultural institutions, and is an important area of focus in Norwegian cultural politics. The new building at Bjørvika had become a national symbol even before it was completed, and it will also be an icon in Norway’s capital. Sky-high expectations from all sides and constraints from several quarters have made it quite a challenge to arrive at a name and a profile. It is therefore a great pleasure to ascertain that they have managed this challenge convincingly and stylishly.

The solution comprises all three senders – but it is unifying, it uses elements from the former logo of the Norwegian National Opera and the new building, it reaches out to people from all walks of life and it appeals to the business market. Furthermore, it has a stop effect and a high recognition factor, the name and the line work well on many levels and the angle used creates strong associations to the building. It is fascinating, bold and controversial to claim title to a line! All in all, the visual expression gives one a sense of diversity that is elegantly held together by conscious choices in terms of content, lines, structure and interaction between the elements.

Company: Den Norske Opera og Ballet

Design: Dinamo Design

Award / year: Award for Design Excellence - 2008

Category: Visual communication