The Netherlands Embassy, Washington | NY400: Holland on the Hudson

NY400: Holland on the Hudson
visual identity and website

creative direction, concept, web design, visual identity, and production

The year 2009 has been one of celebrations to mark the enduring friendship between the Netherlands and the United States. Four hundred years ago, a Dutch ship called the Half Moon sailed to the shores of what is now New York City with Captain Henry Hudson at the helm. This led to the establishment of New Amsterdam and the New Netherlands colony. NY400 celebrates the free spirit, openness, entrepreneurship and tolerance of those Dutch-American pioneers, and their continued relevance today and beyond.

design The Dutch government asked five design firms to submit design proposals for the visuals to accompany the celebrations. COMA won the competition and created a visual identity, items of stationary, and the website, which is updated daily. The identity combines the identities of New York and the Netherlands by fusing the shared DNA of both flags in the familiar colors of white, blue, and red. The resulting silhouette became the logo that graced letter paper, invitations, press kits and the like.

client
The Netherlands Embassy, Washington