Barnsley unveils new name and look for £1.7m digital campus

The name and branding of Barnsley’s new digital business district has been unveiled as ‘The Seam’.

The Seam incorporates established tech business hub DMC 01 and the new DMC 02 building – due to open its doors this month – as well as Barnsley College’s SciTech building for digital learning. Additional retail, residential and travel facilities will be added to the district, off County Way, in coming years.

Barnsley Council partnered with creative agency HemingwayDesign to create the new branding which it says reflects the town’s 21st Century economy and will support the long-term regeneration of the town and creation of prospects for local people.

The Seam’s visual identity comprises a bespoke new typeface a modular system paired with a new colour palette to create a unique identity for the digital campus. Both have been applied to the district’s Digital Media Centres.

DMC 01 is home to a variety of creative and digital businesses as well as the council’s business support team, Enterprising Barnsley. DMC 02 will offer office space for larger companies, as well as a co-working space and a maker lab for hands-on innovation.

Its £1.7m refurbishment has been backed by Sheffield City Region and it is set to support the creation of 100 new jobs.

Cllr Tim Cheetham, Barnsley Council’s Cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture, said: “‘The Seam’ is essentially a reference to what we do here which is bring two parts together. The Seam brings together public and private sector, business and education, enterprise and innovation.

“Our new name and new look will be used to help us raise our digital campus’ profile and consolidate the success of DMC 01 in nurturing local talent and attracting businesses from all over the UK and the world.”

HemingwayDesign founder, Wayne Hemingway, said: “Barnsley Council’s developments are focused on forward-thinking industries, which are vital for the competitiveness and the ‘brand marketing’ of towns like Barnsley.

“I hope this is the start of HemingwayDesign’s relationship with the town.”