Mont Saint-Michel Develops New Visual Profile

The small French tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel introduced its new brand identity this month.

Founded in the 8^th century as a religious site, the island became a major center of pilgrimage during the Middle Ages. It earned designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979 for its striking architecture, dramatic tidal setting, and historical relevance, Brand New notes. And today it attracts an estimated 2.5 million visitors per year.

The new logo and brand identify for the site was commissioned by the Établissement Public National du Mont Saint-Michel, a public body created by the French government. And was designed by the French design studio Graphéine.

Ultimately, the uniquely stacked text of the new logo aims to echo the silhouette of Mont Saint-Michel itself in the collective imagination, Graphéine’s project page says. An image that’s associated with France internationally.

Most representations of Mont Saint-Michel in the press, on postcards, on the web, or in our minds are associated with this unique silhouette, says Graphéine. In fact, there are already hundreds of logos featuring it.

The challenge was therefore to find an original way to represent the Mont that would give this public brand a unique identity while also guaranteeing it solid legal protection.

In keeping with the logo design, an original typeface was also developed in collaboration with Blaze Type. This typeface draws inspiration from the medieval Gothic scripts found in the manuscripts of the island’s Mont-Saint-Michel abbey. Its design is based on a subtle balance between finesse and power.

Intended to soar vertically, the typography echoes the architectural principles of the abbey itself. It’s thus not only functional or aesthetic, but also designed to provoke a form of inner elevation.

The colors of the new identity range from soft shades directly inspired by the Mont-Saint-Michel Bay to more vibrant hues intended to reflect the actions and events promoted by the public institution, says Graphéine.  

While the logo frames the Mont, the new brand identity’s illustration system invites us to view and admire the bay in its entirety. The text appears on the horizon and floats, as if in constant motion. Iconography blends into the landscape and creates a layered effect.

The result is an ethereal and contemplative universe, reflecting both the natural and the protected character of Mont Saint-Michel.