Everyone is invited to use the signature celebrating Montréal’s designation as a City of Design member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
An imprint for Montréal ─ City of Design member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
A stencil’s outline, letters in motion,
the weave of a map — the shape of a city, ours to reinvent.
Design impresses its stamp on the cityscape.
Montréal architects and designers as well as all individuals and companies invested in the city’s development: you’re invited to include the Montréal Ville de design signature to their print and digital communications tools. This way, along with us, you’ll highlight Montréal’s membership in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Design.
By displaying the signature, you embrace the values of Montréal, City of Design and acknowledge:
- the role of design as a strategic factor in the sustainable development of the metropolis
- the potential of designers to contribute positively to the future of our city
- our collective commitment to using that strength to enhance quality of life for all Montrealers
Lastly, you accept the invitation to help develop Montréal around its creativity in design.
The signature was originally developed by graphic design studio FEED in 2011 and updated in 2025 to adhere to UNESCO standards.
Download the colour version of the signature
Download the black version of the signature
Download the white version of the signature
Download the standards guide (French only)
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About the signature
“In 2008, two years after Montréal was designated a UNESCO City of Design, the Réalisons Montréal, UNESCO City of Design project was implemented in order to stimulate design creation in Montréal and showcase initiatives in this field. A competition was launched to create a new visual identity for the project, and the winner was FEED, an independent graphic design studio. The identity it submitted is based on a graphic interpretation of the urban grid and evokes the notion of construction. It invites designers to make Montréal and to be proactive agents in the city’s future.
“On the occasion of the designation’s fifth anniversary, the project’s identity is evolving. With a history of strong accomplishments, all Montrealers are now invited to openly display their recognition of the role of design in Montréal’s development. Since we are already firmly engaged in creating the aforementioned future, Montréal, UNESCO City of Design is now being expressed in a simpler, bolder way.
“Graphically speaking, this shift translates into a change in scale. There is a feeling of closeness to the goal, progress. There is a movement toward a sort of simplification. The colour palette is reduced, the plays on transparency are being left aside. The symbol that accompanies the project’s graphic signature is imagined as an imprint, a form of stamp offered to all Montrealers, who are invited to share it and use it for themselves. It evokes the cut-outs of a stencil, a typeface in movement, the street lines on a map, the shape of a city: Montréal, City of Design.”
– Anouk Pennel, Studio FEED, April 2011
Components
The label is composed of two parts: the imprint and the Montréal, City of Design wordmark.
The label must not be altered.
Clear Space Area
A clear space area surrounds the label. It corresponds to the space between the imprint and the wordmark. It is important to keep the clear space areas free of text or any other graphic elements.
Minimum Size
The Montréal, City of Design label can be reduced in function of available space as long as its minimum size of 7.6 mm in height is abided by.
Colours
To ensure optimum visual impact, the label is used in its two-colour version, made up of primary red and pure black. Monochrome versions of the label can also be used. The black version is used on a light background. On a dark background, the label is used in white. No version of the label can be converted to grayscale.UNESCO
Download the colour logos
Download the black logos
Download the white logos
The Imprint
To highlight the fifth anniversary of the designation of Montréal as a City of Design, you are invited to show your support for this recognition of Montreal’s growth through design by using the Montréal, City of Design imprint to create your own promotional pieces or personal projects.
By downloading the Imprint you agree with the values of Montreal, City of Design:
Click here to download the color imprint
Click here to download the monochrome imprint
Click here to download the inverted imprint
The Montréal, City of Design imprint is constructed on a grid measuring 13 units in width by 14 units in height. The imprint represents an indivisible unit.
Clear Space Area
A clear space area surrounds the imprint to ensure its legibility. It corresponds to a 5 unit square.
Size
The imprint can be used in any size as long as its minimum size of 5.5 mm in height is abided by. There is no maximum size for the imprint, it can be enlarged as you see fit.
Colours
The imprint’s initial colour is primary red. However, to encourage its appropriation, it can be used in the colour of your choice. On a dark background, it is used in white.
Positioning
It is suggested to position the imprint in the lower left corner of your promotional or personal pieces. When necessary, the imprint can also be placed in one of the other four corners of the application, or any other clear area where it can be properly displayed.
