Daily Updates: Dec 16
Design Spotlight is a curated database of design cases, showcasing daily updates from various design studios and agencies. Here are the updates from Dec 16.
U Of Phoenix Tortoise And Hare by Buck
Mixed-media Anthem Film For University Of Phoenix
Buck partnered with University of Phoenix to create an anthem film that reimagines the tortoise and hare a century after their race, set in a subtly dystopian world where speed is outlawed. The narrative follows Harold the hare and Tori the tortoise as they enroll in courses to learn, adapt, and pursue a faster path to success. Buck developed concept art to define mood, lighting, and color, then built practical miniature sets of a Pacific Northwest–inspired town and offices, complemented by bespoke props, graphics, and screen content. The production blended live-action stopmotion, 2d, and 3d animation, with meticulous wardrobe design and a continuation spot featuring Tori leading a game design project. Sounds Delicious provided music and mix, with Open the Portal collaborating on stopmotion production.
Boston Landing Neighborhood Branding by Proportion
Brand Strategy, Identity, And Website For A Boston Neighborhood
Proportion partnered with NB Development to reposition Boston Landing from a corporate-feeling development into a lively, mixed-use neighborhood centered on wellness, innovation, and entertainment. Proportion delivered brand strategy, identity design, web development, signage, and placemaking, creating a visual and verbal system that reflects the area’s energy and movement. Built on a geometric grid, the icon fuses an abstracted b with a hidden l, its curves inspired by the New Balance headquarters architecture. The campaign line “Landing here is just the beginning” frames the district as a launchpad for days that span morning workouts to evening concerts. A new website serves as the digital front door, shifting perception from corporate campus to vibrant neighborhood and inviting locals and visitors to explore. The refreshed brand positions Boston Landing as a destination for work and play, encouraging discovery across sports, culture, and everyday city life.
Yoshi Matcha Liqueur by Saint Urbain
Brand Identity And Packaging For A Premium Matcha Liqueur
Saint-Urbain created the brand identity, packaging design, and storytelling for Yoshi, presented as the world’s first premium matcha liqueur. The engagement established a bold positioning and cohesive visual language that elevates matcha within the spirits category while remaining true to its craft roots. Deliverables included a comprehensive identity system, packaging across touchpoints, and narrative elements anchored by the phrase “crafted for the bold.” The work introduces Yoshi with clarity and distinction, translating the essence of matcha into a shelf-ready liqueur brand designed to stand out and communicate quality.
Bitsoffreedom 2 Copy by KesselsKramer
Campaign Copy For A Dutch Digital Rights Organization
KesselsKramer created campaign copy for Bits of Freedom, the Dutch digital rights organization, under the rallying cry “Blijf Luid” (“Stay Loud”). The writing establishes a clear, urgent tone of voice that encourages people to speak up for privacy and freedom online, translating complex topics into accessible, memorable lines. KesselsKramer developed headlines, taglines and supporting texts that work across social posts and campaign materials, helping the organization mobilize supporters and spark public debate. The copy centers on collective action and personal agency, making abstract issues tangible and actionable for a broad audience in the Netherlands.
Brand Strategy And Identity For A Crypto Asset Manager
At a pivotal moment in finance, 21Shares needed a brand that bridges traditional markets and digital assets. The project established a clear strategy positioning the company as a trusted partner in a volatile category, cutting through noise and removing friction across the investor journey. The identity centers on a unifying idea—the Bridge—connecting elements in a coherent visual system to translate complexity into human clarity. High-contrast execution pairs elegant typography with simplified data charts and a bold editorial voice. Art direction places crypto in real-life contexts through expressive flash photography, while tactile, cut-out illustrations add warmth and personality. A distinctive coral accent punctuates a largely monochrome palette, signaling approachability and trust. The result is a coherent brand ready for what’s next: crypto made clear, credible, and accessible.
Jane Austen S House 250Th Anniversary by Pentagram
Anniversary Visual Identity For Jane Austen’s House
Pentagram developed a nature-inspired identity for the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth for Jane Austen’s House. Building on the museum’s existing brand, the London team led by partner Domenic Lippa introduced a suite of botanical and historical motifs to frame and embellish the original logo. Elements include the Blush Noisette rose from the house’s doorway, an oak leaf and acorn referencing a Wedgwood dinner service and a descendant oak in the garden, and the period Chawton Leaf wallpaper from the dining room where Austen wrote. The system brings a sense of occasion across events at the museum and online while respecting the established mark, creating a flexible graphic toolkit rooted in the site’s landscape and artefacts.
Rounded Grotesque Typeface For Contemporary Screens
Dinamo created Camera Rounded, a neutral, toned-down grotesque that reimagines light traps first used in the 1960s and 70s to keep text readable on television screens. By adapting this historical technique for today, Dinamo focuses the family on clarity and restraint, aligning it with digital environments where legibility matters. The project shows how broadcast-era solutions can inform contemporary type, yielding a calm, functional voice suited to varied on-screen applications.
Creative Direction, Packaging, And Merchandise For A Collaborative Ep By Oscar And The Wolf And Roméo Elvis
Davy Denduyver led creative direction and graphic design for “Jardin,” a 2025 collaborative EP by dreamy pop artist Oscar and the Wolf and French rap phenomenon Roméo Elvis. The scope spanned packaging and merchandise, building a visual world that frames the project as a radical romance and a modern-day Romeo and Juliet. The work unified two distinct musical identities through cohesive art direction and graphic systems, aligning release materials with photography by Evan Justins and Daniil Lavrovski. The project emerged from summer garden sessions and culminated in an EP release at the end of 2025, with clients including Owtwo, Oscar and the Wolf, and Roméo Elvis.