In 2027, Hull University will officially be 100 years old and will be celebrating its centenary. These anniversary campaigns celebrate an organisations history while also creating excitement for its future. Many other universities and organisations have already celebrated their centenaries marking 100 and sometimes even 200 years.
The University of Reading celebrated their centenary in 2026, approaching it with a varied range of celebrations including public events, launching anniversary merchandise, and also a collection of archives and memories that they showcased by creating an exhibition of these made out of windows.
These window displays showed a wide range of old and new imagery, and also used digitally created design aspects to elevate its appearance, including this repeated pattern design that is full of small pattern details that has been manipulated into the overall shape of a ‘100’ to represent their centenary.
Another example of a organisation celebrating that has approached their celebrations in a similar way is New York public library’s centenary where they formed the number 100 from objects within its collection, such as books, coins and many more objects.
Both of these centenary projects have been very effective because it’s communicated their 100 years of history in a creative and engaging way which was guaranteed to attract attention from the public. I could use a similar approach for my project by taking inspiration from both case studies in different ways, for example, creating repeat patterns targeted towards exploring Hull University’s history, and using New York library’s more hands on approach of creating relevant centenary inspired imagery out of suitable materials and things which could include historical photographs or even new features such as newer buildings and structures that celebrate how Hull’s past has shaped the University.
Reading University Sources:
A Window into Our Past | Art Collections
Cheers to 100 years! Highlights from 1986-2006 – Connected
New York Library Resources
Celebrating 100 Years: The Centennial Exhibition | The New York Public Library
Exhibition 100 years New York Public Library – Fonts In Use
(All accessed 20th October 2026)
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