the story behind the inn logo
by Randy McIntosh
Designing a logo for a research institute isn’t straightforward. We wanted to signal our core commitment to fundamental brain research and capture what makes the INN unique. We settled on three values that encompass everything we do: Inclusivity, Embeddedness, and Innovation.
- Inclusivity means our work is for everyone, and everyone is welcome to contribute. It also reflects how we study the brain: from molecules and neurons to communities and cultures.
- Embeddedness recognizes that the brain doesn’t operate in isolation. It’s shaped by biology, experience, environment, and social context. Our science reflects this complexity.
- Innovation is about forging new paths. We foster fresh perspectives and support the translation of discoveries into educational tools, clinical breakthroughs, and technological advances.
So how do you capture all that in a logo? While running on a beach on Vancouver Island, I started thinking about these three values not as separate elements, but as interconnected forces. Each one can drive change on its own, but it’s in their overlap that something truly powerful emerges. I sketched a Venn diagram with three circles, one for each value, and imagined the brain at the centre, holding it all together.
That image became the inspiration for our logo: a stylized brain nested within swirling, interconnected arcs. It’s a visual metaphor for how the INN brings people, disciplines, and ideas together to co-create meaningful, transformative science.
Welcome to the INN.