On the occasion of the opening of the new SIRAMUSE gallery, third-year Visual Arts students from the MADE Program collaborated on the design and development of the museum’s visual identity, transforming a concrete assignment into a collective project of cultural communication.
The name SIRAMUSE combines Siracusa and Museo (from the Greek Μουσεῖον, “the sacred place of the Muses”), defining a conceptually solid identity deeply rooted in the city’s cultural heritage. The symbol and logotype were designed on a modular grid that recalls the museum’s initial and evokes the linearity of projections and the movement of the sea — visual elements that reflect the landscape and imagery of Syracuse.
The process, led by lecturer Francesca Pavese in collaboration with Civita, guided students through every stage of the creative journey: from historical and iconographic research to visual synthesis, and finally to the practical application of communication tools.
Students reinterpreted key figures from the city’s history and imagination through original illustrations, identifying them as the true narrators of the museum. Each character was associated with a distinctive pattern, designed to express their personality and become a recognizable graphic element. These patterns, in addition to giving voice to the chosen protagonists, became the symbols of SIRAMUSE’s visual identity, applied to gadgets, communication materials, and internal signage.
The visual language — built on contrasting colors, original illustrations, and a modular graphic structure — departs from traditional museum communication codes to propose a contemporary and accessible approach, open to diverse audiences, from families to younger visitors. The visual system, applied to urban banners, printed materials, and merchandise, strengthens the museum’s presence within the cityscape, making it instantly recognizable.
Photo credits: Ekaterina Selezneva and Simona Di Giammarino
