FOUR DIFFERENT PHYSICAL LOCATIONS. Five separate and distinct collections. One hundred and fifty staff. A design panel of six design studios. Numerous signage companies and various museum departments creating a multitude of signs, exhibitions, advertising, posters and leaflets. All in Irish and English with up to seven additional language translations – it all added up to communications mayhem!

Especially as the Museums of Archeology, Country Life, Natural History and Decorative Arts & History, which form the National Museum, did not necessarily speak the same brand language and were in effect managed by separate teams.

THE RESULT WAS A FREE FOR ALL that was proving incoherent, disruptive and expensive.

We were asked to identify the problems, review communications and set the Museum communications on a new footing.

THE FIRST THING WE DID TO ESTABLISH a base line to carry out a brand communications audit. This quickly revealed the design elements and practices.