Schrecklicher

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Cities compete with each other and therefore need a strong brand to differentiate themselves from one another to remain attractive to residents, tourists and the economy. In order to differentiate these brands visually the cities are searching for unique selling points which can be found among other things in a city coat of arms.

Based on this statement I wrote and designed this book for my theoretical part of my bachelor thesis. My goal was to research the redesign process of city brands with the focus on city coat of arms, their historical development and current potential in the implementation.

Year

2020

Strategy

The book is structured into three chapters to explore the topic from different perspectives: the history and heraldic origins of city coats of arms, the redesign process of city brands, and a visual analysis of selected case studies. Interviews with Creuna and type foundry Dalton Maag, both experienced in developing city brands, complemented the research with professional insights.

Design

The main challenge was to present a large amount of research in a way that felt clear, accessible and engaging. A structured editorial layout, generous displayed imagery and IBM Plex as a font create a consistent visual language. Between chapters, the interviews introduce a change of pace through full-colour spreads and oversized typography, giving them a distinct visual presence within the book.

Results

The book was produced in a limited edition in collaboration with bookbinder Friederike Goll. Uncoated paper and a red Swiss binding emphasise the tactile qualities of the publication and complement its editorial design. The result is a physical extension of the research, bringing together content, typography and material into a cohesive whole.