Justified Studio’s bold identity for KIOSK brings colour, character and conversation to the news

In an attempt to create conversations around the news, innovative Danish media platform KIOSK allows its users to contribute content by voting and putting forward suggestions; resulting in more diverse stories and greater engagement between its editorial team and audience.

Tasked with creating its name, positioning and visual identity, London-based Justified Studio began by developing an overarching concept based around the idea of ‘new media’ coming from traditional methods. This directly inspired the name, with the studio referencing the street-side newspaper and magazine vendors that naturally create conversations around the news for passersby due to their open displays.

Visually, Justified Studio’s solution is inviting, bold and effortlessly playful; revolving around an interactive system of colourful speech bubbles. Representing the notion of conversations coming together, the organic and imperfect execution of the speech bubbles feels contemporary and fresh despite their traditional, and perhaps, overused place in visual communication. “We took a lot of influence from Saul Bass and Mattise to give the speech bubbles that imperfect, cut-out feel,” Justified Studio’s Founder and Creative Director Joshua Ogden tells us, which he feels gives “added character and a sense of fluidity to the brand.”

Supporting the speech bubbles is the outrageously characterful Blazeface from OH no Type Company. Employed for KIOSK’s wordmark, Ogden explains that “its relaxed look is perfect for heading up a platform designed to change the rules in the world of journalism.” Its eccentricity is accompanied by the intentionally contrasting choices of Displaay Type Foundry’s geometric sans Roobert and Lineto’s serif Bradford. Speaking about the latter, Ogden details that “its clean, editorial feel balances well with the colourful, imperfect speech bubbles,” while they “liked the idea of using a typeface that is reminiscent of old-world journalism but with a fresh, modern touch.”

Justified Studio