The Theatre of Letters

The new brand identity for the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe was conceived and designed by Studio Geissbühler, whose creative vision defined both its visual expression and its strategic foundations. Their work shapes the identity of one of Germany’s most critical multi-genre theatres. Alongside its core disciplines of opera, drama, ballet and concert, the Staatstheater also embraces a wide range of innovative formats, thus reaching a broad and diverse audience.

The visual identity focuses on artistic diversity. It brings together the theatre’s many disciplines in a straightforward but flexible system. At its core is the idea: Let Type Talk, shown through the typeface Recife Display.

At the heart of the idea lies the notion that typography itself conveys the message. A striking play with type lends drama to titles and thematic content alike. Words are made to resound: they speak, act, sing, make music and dance. They shift shape, open new perspectives and stir emotions: at times earnest, at times playful, always with a sense of delight. And, on occasion, simply with beauty.

This guiding principle is already expressed in the brand’s logo: to make words resonate. A subtle intervention (the rotation of just two letters) creates a meaningful distinction, pointing to the transformative power at the core of the concept.

Customer: Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe
General Director: Christian Firmbach
Head of Marketing & Communication: Nico Enger
Creative Lead: Nadine Geissbühler
Strategy Lead: Pascal Geissbühler
Typeface: Recife Display and Europa