Leopold Bloom
The Leopold Bloom Award is a key platform in Hungary’s contemporary art scene, supporting local artists and fostering international dialogue. Founded by Mary McLoughlin and John Ward, it celebrates paradigm-shifting art, travel, and the Irish-Hungarian connection. The redesign introduced a refined visual identity — from branding to exhibition graphics — honouring the award’s ethos while opening space for renewal.
Event design
Event design
Editorial
Editorial
Background
The Leopold Bloom Art Award, established by the Irish–Hungarian Leopold Bloom Foundation, supports contemporary Hungarian artists in gaining international recognition. The visual identity refresh focused on refining the award’s perception while retaining the essence of its previous look. The task was to communicate prestige, heritage and cultural connection through typographic means alone, uniting the award, the foundation, and its art collection under one cohesive system. Acting as design director and strategic partner, the goal was to translate the institution’s values - elegance, credibility, and cultural dialogue - into a timeless visual form.
Outcome
Built entirely on typography, the identity combines classical proportion with contemporary restraint. The design relies on refined serif typography, clear spatial rhythm and generous negative space, achieving a balance between British typographic discipline and continental sensitivity. A quiet green-and-white palette evokes the Irish–Hungarian link and a sense of understated ceremony. The system functions seamlessly across formats - from exhibition graphics and printed catalogues to digital communication and the engraved glass award. The result is a unified, confident visual language that restores the award’s authority and reflects its cultural significance within and beyond Hungary.
Credits
Date: 2022 —
Background
The Leopold Bloom Art Award, established by the Irish–Hungarian Leopold Bloom Foundation, supports contemporary Hungarian artists in gaining international recognition. The visual identity refresh focused on refining the award’s perception while retaining the essence of its previous look. The task was to communicate prestige, heritage and cultural connection through typographic means alone, uniting the award, the foundation, and its art collection under one cohesive system. Acting as design director and strategic partner, the goal was to translate the institution’s values - elegance, credibility, and cultural dialogue - into a timeless visual form.
Outcome
Built entirely on typography, the identity combines classical proportion with contemporary restraint. The design relies on refined serif typography, clear spatial rhythm and generous negative space, achieving a balance between British typographic discipline and continental sensitivity. A quiet green-and-white palette evokes the Irish–Hungarian link and a sense of understated ceremony. The system functions seamlessly across formats - from exhibition graphics and printed catalogues to digital communication and the engraved glass award. The result is a unified, confident visual language that restores the award’s authority and reflects its cultural significance within and beyond Hungary.
Credits
Date: 2022 —
Background
The Leopold Bloom Art Award, established by the Irish–Hungarian Leopold Bloom Foundation, supports contemporary Hungarian artists in gaining international recognition. The visual identity refresh focused on refining the award’s perception while retaining the essence of its previous look. The task was to communicate prestige, heritage and cultural connection through typographic means alone, uniting the award, the foundation, and its art collection under one cohesive system. Acting as design director and strategic partner, the goal was to translate the institution’s values - elegance, credibility, and cultural dialogue - into a timeless visual form.
Outcome
Built entirely on typography, the identity combines classical proportion with contemporary restraint. The design relies on refined serif typography, clear spatial rhythm and generous negative space, achieving a balance between British typographic discipline and continental sensitivity. A quiet green-and-white palette evokes the Irish–Hungarian link and a sense of understated ceremony. The system functions seamlessly across formats - from exhibition graphics and printed catalogues to digital communication and the engraved glass award. The result is a unified, confident visual language that restores the award’s authority and reflects its cultural significance within and beyond Hungary.
Credits
Date: 2022 —