Unleash ingenuity:
A new vision to unlock new possibilities

For over 150 years, Polytechnique Montréal has been boldly reshaping the future. Our brand identity must reflect our essence.

We have kept the iconic elements of our identity to which we are all attached, such as our colours and emblem, and modernized them. Our logo and complete visual identity now have a cleaner, more contemporary look, honouring our heritage while expressing our vision for the future. This evolution reflects our raison d’être: to question convention, explore the unknown and imagine solutions to the major challenges of our time, such as climate change, artificial intelligence, managing and sharing resources, social impact and equity.

“Our entire community can take pride in our brand identity, which embodies our creative capacity,” says Jacqueline Wallace, Vice President of Communications, External and International Relations. “By aligning our image with our values, it crystallizes one of the key objectives of our strategic plan: showcasing our commitments, our successes and what makes us unique.”

The tagline Unleash ingenuity sums up Polytechnique’s community’s drive to innovate and make an impact in the world. It means transforming the future of engineering in Quebec toward a significant and sustainable global impact.

By unleashing our ingenuity, we are educating the leaders of tomorrow, pushing the boundaries of innovation and building a fairer, more sustainable world. It is by unleashing ingenuity, with courage and authenticity, that technological and social progress is achieved.

 

Elements of our brand identity

 

Main Logo

 

The Polytechnique Montréal logo consists of two words aligned to the right. The words are never in colour.
 

Clear space

For optimal visibility and recognition, the logo must be surrounded by clear space equal to the width of the “P” in “Polytechnique.” This exclusion zone must be kept free of any typographic, graphic or visual elements.
 

Special-use logo

This version combines the logo with a thin vertical colour strip. It is used exclusively in specific situations where no other brand elements are present.

• Applications: University banners, rows of institutional logos, ceremonial contexts.
• Technical limitations: This special-use logo may only be used against a white or black background.

 

Seal

Function and symbolism

The seal is a symbol of prestige and institutional affiliation that ensures the visual consistency of the brand while recalling Polytechnique Montréal’s historical heritage.

Applications

The seal can be used on various communication materials, including flyers, posters, brochures, reports and other institutional documents.

• Positioning: It is placed discreetly in a corner of a visual, at the edge of a document or next to an image, without dominating the composition.
• Fixed proportions: At its minimum size, the seal must maintain the same height as the word "POLYTECHNIQUE" in the main logo. At its maximum size, it must never exceed the height of the main logo.

Colour palette

Inspiration and symbolism

Polytechnique Montréal’s visual identity is based on a colour palette inspired by the Lassonde pavilions. Each colour has a symbolic meaning: red represents molten magma; orange, the earth; green, the plant world; and blue, the sky. This palette is a unifying element that endows the brand image with visual impact and dynamism, in keeping with Polytechnique’s contemporary vision.

CMYK



RGB

Use of white

White is the main background colour in our visual identity guidelines, providing a clean and contemporary look that highlights the other visual elements of our brand.
 

Colour strip

General characteristics

• Emblematic: This distinctive element of our brand is part and parcel of the university’s physical environment and vividly reflects Polytechnique Montréal’s identity. It is adaptable and its size can be adjusted to fit the context.
• Pervasive graphic element: When detached from the logo, the colour strip becomes a central, recurring graphic feature in all Polytechnique communications.
• Orientation: It must always progress from magma to sky, whether in a horizontal or vertical format.
• Monochrome version: A single-colour version of the strip is available for communications focusing on a specific field of engineering.

Configurations

• The colour strip must be used in one of the following three configurations:
• Thin strip on the edge: The colour strip is positioned along one edge of the document. It can be placed at the top, bottom or left-hand side (opposite the main text). It must touch the edge of the page.
• Thin strip in an image: The strip is placed at the perimeter of an image, either at the top, bottom or side. Note that it must not extend to the edge of the page.
• Wide strip without image: This can be used only if there are no images in the layout.

 

Typography

GIORGIO CONDENSED SANS (modified)

This font has been adapted specifically for Polytechnique Montréal. Accented capital letters and the letters Q and Ç have been custom redesigned to allow for tighter line spacing.

Use: Reserved exclusively for main titles and must always be in capital letters for maximum visual impact.

 

FEATURE CONDENSED

This font was chosen for its academic character and evocation of knowledge. It perfectly reflects Polytechnique Montréal’s mission.

Uses

• Feature Deck version (default): Use for subtitles and standard body text. This version offers the widest range of characters and guarantees the best readability and visual consistency across all communications.
• Feature Display version: Preferred when the font size is larger than 40 points, as it provides optimal visual rendering at large sizes.
• Feature Text version: Use for extended body text (publications, blog articles, long paragraphs). This non-condensed typeface ensures optimal readability of small body text.
   

Sample brochures with new brand guidelines

    

 

For inquiries regarding Polytechnique Montréal's brand guide and its use, to obtain official logo files, or to request authorization for the  production of items featuring the Polytechnique Montréal logo, please contact the Communications Office at communications@polymtl.ca.