Perspective play: Strik Studio’s dynamic rebrand reflects the creative energy of DesignMarch 2025

For 17 years, DesignMarch has been Iceland’s premier celebration of design and architecture, transforming Reykjavík into a creative playground. The spring of 2025 marked a significant milestone for the festival, as Reykjavík-based creative agency Strik Studio unveiled a fresh identity that captures the event’s vibrant, multifaceted nature. The festival’s approach to its identity has always embraced evolution, with new creative teams invited every few years to reinterpret its image. “We were honoured to receive the torch this year,” explains Creative Director Snorri Eldjárn. “The project was twofold: we were asked to create a flexible, future-proof brand book while also designing an identity that could speak directly to this year’s theme, Source.” “Our central concept became ‘Shifting Perspectives.’ We built dynamic visuals that reflect the breadth of the festival and offer a flexible framework for future editions,” notes Creative Director Viktor Weisshappel. This strategic approach allowed the identity to celebrate the diverse range of participants while maintaining visual coherence. “DesignMarch is where designers, architects, and thinkers take to the streets of Reykjavík – quite literally. We wanted the identity to spotlight them,” Art Director Jakob Hermannsson explains. “By creating an ever-evolving image library, we let their work take centre stage. The result is a living identity that reflects the diversity, energy and variety of the festival.” The translation of the ‘Source’ theme into visual form took an unexpectedly chaotic approach. “By using the designers and their work as a key visual, we had a rich source of material to work with from the start,” Hermannsson reveals. “The images are generated into an endless source of creativity, embodying the festival’s schedule. We embraced the chaotic nature of the visuals – kind of like a cluttered desktop of a designer looking for inspiration.”