MISKA’s elevated identity for Resonnaire marks the rug brand’s balance of modernity and history

“The name Resonnaire is a portmanteau of the words ‘resonant’ and ‘debonair,’” Creative Director Elena Miska tells us, discussing the concept behind the name Resonnaire – a luxury rug brand that partnered with NYC-based design and art direction studio MISKA STUDIO to craft their identity. “Both words stemmed from discussions with the client about how they wanted the brand to feel and be portrayed,” she recalls, noting the personality and history that the brand hoped to convey. “Of course with an invented word, there’s an element of the unknown,” Miska suggests, “a little like a mystery that acts as a curiosity gap propelling consumers to investigate further into the brand.” This sense of intrigue continues across the breadth of the identity, manifesting in a chic, elegant and confident brand that successfully combines its modern context with a legacy of artisanal craftspersonship.

This elevated aesthetic comes through not only from its organic graphic compositions but from the equally refined choice of Domaine Text, Grtsk Peta and Medium as the brand’s typefaces. “Resonnaire’s rug offering combines exceptional quality with more affordable price points,” Miska explains, “so deciding on typefaces came down to what spoke to this juxtaposition of ‘affordable luxury,’” she suggests. “We landed on Grtsk Peta for sub-heads, the hard-working body copy and any small type because of its versatility,” she recalls, noting the typeface’s versatility in print and digital spaces. “In regard to the headline typeface, which is Klim’s Domaine,” she continues, “we actually used the text style because this mostly shows up digitally in sizes that don’t warrant the high contrast of the display style.” Adding that “Domaine felt perfect because it’s elegant and distinctive but also has a contemporary feel to it.”

Resonnaire’s notable sense of modernity is due primarily to the weaving-inspired graphic patterns and earthy colour palette that inhabit the brand. “Resonnaire’s rugs are made from natural fibres,” Miska explains, “whether that be wool, silk, sisal, or jute,” recalling the importance of highlighting these natural materials in the identity. “By creating a palette consisting of warm and cool, and light and dark colours,” she tells us, “the patterns were able to be configured in a multitude of eye-catching colour combinations,” working comprehensively both in isolation and collectively.

In direct reference to the physical marks of historical furniture makers, Resonnaire’s brand is supported by a distinct ‘R’ logomark, the high contrast of which conveys an innately hand-crafted physicality. “We tried several options for the secondary mark,” Miska notes, “from designs based on looms and weaving techniques to more graphic and stylized ‘R’s,” landing on their preferred choice due to its tie-in with the expanding visual system. “The patterns we developed are directly based upon weaving patterns and techniques,” she concludes, “so having a bold ‘R’ that has both weightiness and fluidity to it fits in seamlessly with the rest of the system.”

MISKA STUDIO

Resonnaire