MATT+FIONA is an architecture education organisation that believes every young person should have the opportunity to understand how the built environment is shaped and to influence the places around them.

They approached me to create the visual identity for THINKING SPACE, a series of resources that helps teachers explore architecture and the built environment with their students.

The aim was to create an eye-catching yet approachable visual identity that would appeal to both teachers and students. As teachers have limited time to find the right resources, a key part of the brief was to design an animated thumbnail that clearly communicated their purpose while being playful and joyful.

Through a series of workshops with the client, we developed a DIY-inspired aesthetic that feels engaging and relatable.

The logo expands and contracts to reveal the toolkit’s strapline, drawing on the idea of playing and experimenting with the spaces around us. The typeface Ruma features strong geometric shapes that echo building blocks.

The minimal but vibrant colour palette brings energy to the identity. The pink is inspired by the tape used to build the paper tube modules, while textures add a sense of tactility and reflect the hands-on nature of the activities.

The typography combines Ruma with Bariol, the typeface used in MATT+FIONA’s own brand identity, creating a visual link between the two.

The result is an inviting identity that feels as hands-on, flexible and full of possibility as the resources themselves.