Redefining Trondheim’s Cultural Heart

Developed by Nonspace, the visual identity for Nye Hjorten Theater enriches Trondheim’s cultural landscape with a bold and beautiful design system. It revitalises the essence of 19th-century variety theatre while embracing a contemporary, dynamic branding approach.

The challenge for the design agency was to craft an identity capable of spanning a wide range of performances — from musicals and stand-up comedy to lectures and classic dramas — all while maintaining a unified brand presence. Nonspace achieved this through a scalable identity system, built around two structured identity boxes that form a negative space ‘H’, serving as a visual stage for creative expression.

Typography plays a pivotal role in the theatre’s branding, with a flexible framework allowing different fonts for each production, giving each show a unique look while staying within the overarching identity. The primary typeface, Isola and Isola Mono, including backslanted and slanted versions, adds an expansive appearance to the identity.

The logo system playfully blends stylised tragedy/comedy masks with the distinctive Trøndersk moustache. Inspired by the theatre’s exterior, a vibrant red palette establishes the theatre as Trondheim’s cultural heart.

Client: Nye Hjorten Teater
Design: Nonspace
Primary Typeface: Isola and Isola Mono
Film production and special effects: Helmet
Visual of building: Skibnes Arkitekter AS