Wichita Public Library

Gardner Design / 2026
The Wichita Public Library engaged Gardner Design to evolve an identity that had served the system for decades. The new visual language is built from structure, repetition, and clarity—qualities shared by the library’s architecture and its public purpose.
Built in 1967, the former Central Library is one of Wichita’s most distinctive Brutalist landmarks, defined by exposed concrete and a rigorous rhythm of repeated forms.
The new mark draws from that architectural language. Radiating forms gather around an open center, suggesting books, light, and access to knowledge. The modular structure extends beyond the symbol, giving the wider system a consistent framework for typography, information, and imagery.
Working within the constraint of the library’s existing typeface, Muli, we chose not to disguise its neutrality but to lean into it. Its directness supports a utilitarian language suited to the library’s civic role.
The palette extends this logic: high-contrast, decisive building blocks that reinforce material honesty, with enough variation to introduce moments of lightness.

CREDITS

Creative direction — Bill Gardner
Account + strategy — Toni Gaston
Art direction — Adam Anderson
Design — Tyler Frisbee

© 2026 Tyler Frisbee

New York