A new DesignMarch identity by Strik Studio

Design March 2025 takes place on April 2 - 6, for the seventeenth year in a row, and now with a new brand identity and visuals, designed by the creative agency Strik Studio.

Last year, the Icelandic Design and Architecture called for proposals for a new approach to the identity, voice and experience of DesignMars and DesignTalks. The brand image and communication of the festival have been in constant development since the beginning, as it is essential to create a clear and strong framework for it while at the same time reflecting the creative and ever-changing environment of the disciplines. Many proposals were received, and Strik Studio's proposal was chosen for the project.

Snorri Eldjárn, Viktor Weisshappel, Jakob Hermanns and Auður Albertsdóttir are the team behind Strik Studio. The design agency specializes in branding and image creation, along with consulting in the field of communication. The team works in branding, illustration, animation and 3D design.

With the new identity of DesignMars, the team sought to show the diversity that the festival stands for.

"DesignMarch gives people the opportunity to get to know various angles of Icelandic design and even from a new perspective. We used these perspectives as a starting point and tool to create an exciting look that reflects the festival's diversity. We felt it was important to create a strong character that has the ability to take on the changing theme of each year."

Strik Studio chose the font Bon by the font designer Gabríel Markan, the font is highly stylish and fits well with the overall look of DesignMarch. The team got Gabríel Markan to implement a back-italic and italic version of the unpublished typeface Bon that he has designed, in that way the font creates certain perspectives and offers play in the message and identity.

The theme of Design March 2025 is "Source," and it is most common to think that the source marks a moment in time when something begins or comes into being. The team approached this year's theme futuristically, where the designers' photographs are in the foreground and form a fascinating, vibrant combination of colours and shapes.

"This year we are focusing on the movement of photographs to visualize the theme of this year's festival, which is "Source". The photographs from the designers of the festival are in the foreground of the visuals. With the movement of the photographs, living forms are created that we use in visuals and graphics. Certain fundamentals of the look, such as the colours and shape of the logo, remain unchanged, but we made changes where we felt it was relevant. Now, the label has the flexibility to be shortened to  "HMDM" for a smaller format, which gives the brand more flexibility."

Design March is approaching, and engaging events, exhibitions, lectures, happenings and installations organized by Icelandic designers and architects, companies, and institutions will be celebrated from  2 - 6. April.  The international conference DesignTalks is the key event of the festival and will take place on Wednesday, 2nd of April in Harpa.

DesignMars is the country's main design festival and one of Reykjavík's City Festivals. From the very beginning, the festival has left its mark on the city, where diverse and engaging exhibitions, events and conversations are celebrated, and at the same time provide participants and visitors with inspiration and insight into new solutions and creative ideas that reflect contemporary challenges. The festival is organized by Icelandic Design and Architecture and has been held annually since 2009. It is one of the leading promotional projects for Icelandic designers and architects domestically and internationally.