Over the past two years, we have been steadily building the activities and identity of Kunsthal Mechelen. It’s time for the next milestone: a brand-new website. With the launch of the new site, Kunsthal Mechelen also introduces a fresh and distinctive visual identity. Designers Victor Verhelst and Corbin Mahieu drew inspiration from the architecture and archival imagery of ‘De Garage’ and developed a custom typeface. The result is a look that is instantly recognisable as Kunsthal Mechelen, on the website and across our social media. The website itself was developed in collaboration with web developer and graphic designer Mathieu Serruys.

Since the start of Kunsthal Mechelen, we’ve worked with artist Victor Verhelst on the visuals of our campaigns and the design of the welcome and public spaces. Today, we continue this collaboration with the development of a dedicated visual identity and a contemporary website. Once again, Victor fully embraced experimentation and innovation. For this project, he joined hands with graphic designer Corbin Mahieu and web developer Mathieu Serruys.

At the heart of the design is a distinctive typeface rooted in the history of the building. Archival images revealed milled lettering and a decorative welded logo that once adorned the façade. These historical elements became the starting point for the design process. The geometric curls from this past were translated into a contemporary typeface developed by Kyiv Type Foundry. Its linear structure resonates with the metal framework of the current façade of Kunsthal Mechelen while also subtly referencing the furniture by Sidequest, the collective consisting of Victor Verhelst, Corbin Mahieu and Niels Raoul Boone, in our Event Space.

On the new website the fresh typography is given plenty of room, but imagery takes centre stage. The team deliberately chose a visual approach, with generous image formats and dynamic slideshows that present exhibitions and activities clearly and vividly.

Victor Verhelst is a Belgian visual artist working both on commission and autonomously. His practice spans digital art, risoprints, tapestries and interactive installations using game technology. Everything begins on a digital canvas, including his ongoing project Trippy Vegas: a visionary virtual city filled with architecture, colour and estrangement. Verhelst is represented by Plus-One Gallery and has collaborated with, among others, Us by Night, Publiek Park, Kunsthal Mechelen, the Permekemuseum, Toneelhuis, Bruges 2030, Nuits Sonores and CORE Festival.

Corbin Mahieu is a Belgian graphic designer and art director, founder of Studio Corbin Mahieu. What started as a one-man initiative has grown into a driven network of creatives. Studio Corbin Mahieu has worked, among others, for Robbrecht en Daem Architects, Pilar Brussels, Kortrijk Art, Kalei Coffee, Atelier José Vermeersch, Liebaert Projects, S.M.A.K., Fuse, and Abrupt.

Mathieu Serruys is a graphic designer and web developer based in Ghent. He works closely with artists and cultural organisations, always starting from content and dialogue. In this way, he creates clear, user-friendly digital environments. He has worked, among others, for Kunsthal Gent, Playground Museum M, Cas-co, Rekto:verso, Art Cinema OFFOff, and 019.