Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL)
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL) is a public research university specializing in natural sciences and engineering. For its visual identity, the EFPL uses Diglû, a typeface family by Emphase that includes numerous pictograms. Both typeface and icons are applied in a wide range of communication materials, including the Dimensions magazine as well as notebooks, bottles and other merchandise. Diglû and its icons are paired with three subfamilies from the Suisse collection by Swiss Typefaces: Suisse Int’l, Suisse Works and Suisse Screen.
EPFL Mediacom, the department that developed the EFPL identity, asked Emphase to create over fifty personalized pictograms/icons. As needs arise, the collection of pictograms expands, allowing Diglû to keep evolving. There are pictograms that are very specific to EPFL, such as certain emblematic buildings or pictograms linked to specific fields of research, as well as more general icons linked to transportation or meals.
A selection of the custom icons added for Diglû EPFL
Detail from Dimensions, issue 03: Pictograms from Diglû are paired with Suisse Screen and Suisse Works.
Bottles showing a range of pictograms. EPFL’s slogan “It starts today” is set in Suisse Int’l.
