the ensemble wanted a redesign to become more visible in the digital space. while the existing identity had a strong and recognizable color palette, it often appeared overly technical and dark. inconsistencies in typography and social media usage further weakened clarity and recognition, making it harder to communicate who Ensemble X is and how to get involved.
the redesign focuses on openness, warmth, and accessibility. i refined and lightened the existing color palette to create a more inviting and contemporary feel while maintaining recognizability. the typography was redefined to combine expressive, bold headlines with a softer, more approachable body typeface, balancing strength and sensitivity. hand-drawn arrows were preserved as a familiar element and complemented by new abstract, organic shapes derived from the “X”, expressing movement and transformation.
a modular social media system translates this visual language into clear, adaptable templates. strong headlines, balanced layouts, and a flexible combination of colors and graphic elements improve readability, create consistency, and make the ensemble’s communication more engaging and accessible to a broader audience.
after several years without a distinct logo, they felt it was time to establish a visual identity that extends beyond individual event posters.
i created a 100% custom font–based logo, emphasizing the concept of “illusion” through distorted and complex letterforms. the collective wanted to distance itself from all-black, techno-esque aesthetics and instead cultivate a warm, inviting, and playful atmosphere — achieved through bouncy shapes, a handwritten character, and bright, nature-inspired colors.
i developed two versions of the logo: one for their club nights and one for ambient listening sessions. in the latter, the letterforms resemble rising tea steam and fluid movements, reinforcing the softer and more immersive tone of these events.
with their mother organisation being urbane liga in berlin, they branched out in 2022 to start similar projects in the ruhr area – and needed an updated logo and visual identity for their new project.
the brief was about taking the original logo and making it more ruhr area. more dirty, more diy.
i replaced the “ur” in “urbane” with a graffiti-style “ruhr”.
for a cohesive brand identity, i created several assets and illutrated icons in a similar style – roughly sketched or sprayed on, a vibrant and young vibe, effortlessly incorporated into their existing CI.
with a strong connection to the ruhr area in the name (beton = concrete), I wanted to play with the regions contrasts for the logo. while being unarguably ugly, grey and encased in concrete, there is a sort of magic about the area and its people. ruhrpottromantik is hard to explain, if you get it you get it. think of a flower growing out of concrete or watching the sun set over an abandoned industrial site.
this contrast of harsh and fragile is reflected in the choice of typography for the logo. having a clean and thin sans-serif for the syllable “TON” (=sound) surrounded by a very bold typeface resembling blocks of buildings, while at the same time looking futuristic and therefor making the connection to cyberspace, where the radio is happening.
as all IVORY members are quite different in music taste and their events cannot be pinned down to one thing only, a wordmark consisting of 4 different typefaces was the way to go.
while being different, together they create a harmonic look. the straight balances out the wobbly, the delicate balances out the bold.