To say more with less: Estudio República’s brand for RN Arquitectura™ is soaked in a quiet elegance

Rocio Navarro, keen to create a unified brand for her business, RN Arquitectura™ (RN A™) – an architectural and interior design practice – sought the expertise of Estudio República. This design studio based in Málaga, Spain, was tasked with creating a brand that would appeal to a diverse audience that not only includes upscale clients, but also construction companies and suppliers. So, the team took a comprehensive approach, creating not just the identity for the practice, but also brand assets such as stationery, hoardings, and presentations. The aim was to reinforce the business’s purpose and create an identity that was not only elegant but also functional and easy to use. As such, Estudio República focused on a wordmark-led direction for its simplicity and directness. As Miguel Ángel Salido, one of the Partners & Graphic Designers at the studio explains, the wordmark represents the name of the person behind the practice, and is a functional element in daily communication. It also allows the brand to say more with less, avoiding unnecessary symbols or distractions. The typeface chosen for the project was Basel Classic from Optimo Type Foundry, designed by Chi-Long Trieu, and selected for its elegance and distinct look and feel. “We wanted to steer away from the robust, grotesque, geometric typefaces commonly used in architectural firms and construction companies, opting instead for something solid yet refined, and at the same time, steady and readable in different sizes,” shares Partner & Graphic Designer Javi Medialdea. The same typeface was used throughout the system – with the exception of Courier Prime from Google fonts in technical documents – helping to establish a strong brand identity. “This was an interesting exercise for us – to design the whole brand with just a single weight of Basel Classic, and challenging ourselves to really play with it,” adds Partner & Graphic Designer Gonzalo Vera.