MALEK FAHD
ISLAMIC SCHOOL
Rebranding one of the biggest Islamic private schools in Sydney
đź“Ť WESTERN SYDNEY
PROJECT: REBRAND
Malek Fahd Islamic School is a deeply important institution for the Muslim community of Western Sydney. Spanning three campuses across Sydney, the school wanted to rebrand and tell a new story about who they are and where they are heading. S1T2 was commissioned to help translate that story visually, starting with the logo and extending into a wider brand system and school uniform.
ROLE: LEAD DESIGNER
I was lead designer on the project, working under a Muslim Creative Director. Together with a wider team and in close collaboration with the school, teachers, parents and students, I led the design across brand, typography, colour, website and uniform, guiding the work through a democratic and highly consultative process.
READ THE S1T2 CASE STUDY
This case study is written from my perspective focussing on design, its process, craft and outcomes. S1T2 has a full case study about the wider project from content to technology which you can read here. For Francisco’s design process stay right here.
S1T2 CASE STUDY An icon of Australian Islamic education
Across three campuses in Western Sydney, Malek Fahd Islamic School is one of the most recognised and established Islamic educational institutions in the community. For generations of students, parents and teachers, it has been a central part of Muslim life, carrying deep cultural and educational significance. Our design needed to honour that scale and importance, resonating with real people while balancing heritage, pride and progress. It was a genuine mix of honour, pressure and responsibility to get right.
An Islamic first direction
The school was seeking a full rebrand and a new way to tell its story. Our initial creative directions spanned widely, while remaining rooted in Islamic philosophy. The first presentation to the committee explored three distinctly different directions, each expressing a unique voice through colour, typography and mood.
This democratic process included teachers, parents and students. Once the creative direction centred on the idea that Islam is a way of life was chosen, a second round of art direction followed. This helped define the visual language, logo and overall style that carried through the rest of the project.
Rooted in Islamic Heritage
Our art direction was grounded in Islamic philosophy, which led us to Islamic geometry as the core visual language. Drawing from traditional geometric forms, we framed the pattern within the architectural dome of the school’s mosque, forming the foundation of the brand system. The colour palette was inspired by Islam, using green refined with blue to create a deep teal that felt authentic yet premium. This was paired with a modern, accessible typeface to reflect the school’s quality, confidence and contemporary approach to education.
With new uniform designed by me
While the logo and brand system set the foundation, the uniform is what people see and wear every day, both in school and out in the community. We were given the creative freedom to be practical rather than conservative, informed by conversations with teachers and young people about what they wanted and needed from a uniform. It was a genuine honour for me to design something that would be worn daily, and that sense of responsibility guided every decision in the final outcome.
Designed for all
With the brand established, the uniform became the most visible expression of the school both in the classroom and out in the world. It needed to be affordable for families with multiple children and designed with a unisex approach so brothers and sisters could share items when needed. One of my personal favourite outcomes was the coach jacket, which replaced a blazer that students were not wearing and found a middle ground between that and the overly casual hoodie. The result was a jacket that felt shareable, functional and practical, while still maintaining a smart, casual look that reflected the school’s identity.
Speaking with young Muslim women
A game changing moment in the project was speaking directly with young Muslim women who had lived experience of wearing school uniforms. Many were creative, hijab wearers, and graduates of similar schools. They spoke openly about growing bodies, comfort, confidence and the desire for expression within clear boundaries. Just as importantly, they talked about pride and representing their culture in public spaces. These conversations helped ground the uniform in real life and ensured it was designed with empathy, dignity and relevance.
A website that shimmers with islamic geometry
As a digital designer, the website became my main portal for interactive storytelling. Visually, Islamic geometry was carried into the digital space as a subtle background pattern that gently shimmered as the cursor moved across the page. Stories were told in an editorial manner, balancing warm sand tones with the teal from the brand palette. A personal highlight was the Celebrate section, where real imagery of students brings warmth, pride and humanity to the experience.
95% Sold out
This was a long and complex project with many stakeholders and perspectives, balancing an Islamic way of life with positioning the school as a premium and accessible place of education. When the new brand and uniform launched, the response was immediate, with nearly 95% of stock selling out and additional orders required. Hearing parents say thank you for practical decisions and seeing students genuinely happy wearing the uniform was a powerful and rewarding outcome.
