Ontario Association of Architects Launches New Logo and Website – Canadian Architect

The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) unveiled its new Leo Burnett Canada designed logo and new website during a special online launch.

The logo shows the Ontario Association of Architects as a place to bridge communities. The central circle, which doubles as an O for Ontario, is representative of the community and inclusivity of the membership, the outer pieces framing this circle are representative of the architects space, and create two Asa nod to Association and the two member types: architects and architectural technologists (Lic.Tech.OAA).

The predominant brand colours are black and white for their contrast and clarity of information, along with an array of greys. Accessibility was key for the primary typeface, Akkurata grotesque sans-serif typeface created by Swiss designer Laurenz Brunner and released through the Lineto type foundry.

We are thrilled to have worked in partnership with the OAA to develop a timeless new identityan identity that ultimately distilled down to fundamental shapes representing space and community, says Lisa Greenberg, CCO of Leo Burnett Canada. Its an identity that can last a lifetime, just like structures and buildings.

The OAA also released a new website and design experience in collaboration with Enginess.io and Sputnik Design Partners. The organization re-envisioned its decade-old site to meet accessibility standards, provide clear information for both members and the public, improve transparency, and offer responsive design for tablets and phones.

We know our website is our digital headquarters. Its a space that is used by members to access an important body of knowledge as well as to build community, and its a place for the public to find information or gain a better understanding of this profession, its role, and the uniquely trained and skilled individuals who are part of it, says OAA President and architect, Kathleen Kurtin.

It has been an incredible journey and an extremely rewarding experience working together with the OAA in the creation of their new website, says Sputniks owner, David Sacha. Sputniks mission was to create an online presence that would better reflect the current vision and offerings of the OAA, while still delivering all the tools needed to support and engage the architectural community in Ontario. The result is one of collaboration and ingenuity that saw several creative disciplines working together to craft and engineer an artistic, engaging, and forward-thinking website.

Enginess Director of Digital Strategy, Simone Abel, calls the new website an impressive showpiece of a content- and user-first approach to digital experience design.

The new website comprises two separate, but connected, domains for public and member audiences. The OAAs mission of protecting and serving the public interest is made explicitly clear, allowing users to quickly learn about the architecture profession and the OAAs regulatory role, or gain more information about illegal practice, complaints and discipline processes, or registrar investigations.

Members of the public can find out how to become an Architect or Licensed Technologist OAA, with the website showing the paths to licensure for students and interns within Ontario, as well as for those currently studying or practising outside the province. The website also includes a directory that allows the public to search through the membership and those who hold status with the OAA.

The OAA Website offers access to the Practice Advisory Knowledge Basea digital library of resources, articles, tools, documents, and publications, searchable through key words, filters, and tags.

The site also includes updated information related to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with portals for resources related to carbon stability and sustainable design, as well as a database of the OAAs government relations outreach.

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Ontario Association of Architects Launches New Logo and Website - Canadian Architect