Undeb Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Aberystwyth University Students’ Union is an award winning charity with a history as long as its name. Based in the heart of Mid Wales, the charity has represented its approximate 10,000 members for over 100 years, and operates under a policy of Welsh-English bilingualism.

Following a governance review in 2012, the organisation sought to restructure itself, including changing from a Guild to a Union; meaning a whole new identity had to be developed for its offices, venues, and publications, with sub-branding for each of its activities and departments.

The project presented an interesting challenge in that the brand had to presented bilingually at all times, with both English and Welsh languages treated equally; including on physical signage, staff clothing, online, and in print. The client wanted to keep their current typeface, Gill Sans, but the version lacked all the required characters and marks for full bilingual usage, so an extended recut character set was developed for internal use. 

Departments used a simplified icon from the overall identity, and were distinguished primarily by colour and pattern, with the choices made paying homage to Welsh cultural associations, local history, and contemporary usage within the the sector.