Uppsala Makerspace
Uppsala makerspace had been around for 10 years and started seeing rapid growth of their member base after the pandemic. The home made identity was much loved but also gave some grief considering it was tricky to work with in small sizes or with tools like clay or 3D printing that are restricted in resolution. It was time for a new visual identity to carry Uppsala Makerspace into their next era.
Like any visual identity, the identity for Uppsala Makerspace needed to show the true colors of the association it represents.
They believe if you need something - you make it.
They believe in community.
They believe creativity can come in many forms.
They believe creativity is the joy and freedom to create in your own way.
We needed to give them an identity that allowed them a lot of freedom. It should be transferrable to almost any media. Be it print or digital, clay, wood, leather, plastic, resin or fabric..it needed to hold up to a lot. And allow for a lot of creative freedom.
Our solution became a custom font that would not only allow us to create their logo but also help them speak their beliefs in the makerspace way. Of course - a makerspace makes - and so the font should be made - by hand - by the members in their own way.
Organising a communal project to hand craft each letter in the alphabet requires patience and time. Good thing neither makers nor designers are lazy.
What we did for Uppsala Makerspace.
Visual brand
We made it easier to differentiate a maker from the made object and also from the space. The organisation is very much the space but also the brand mark of Uppsala Makerspace. Whilst the object can be marked UMS.
Physical font
Make a sans, TBD Foundry
We stated clearly from the start that this would be a physical made font, and logotype to follow. Made by the members of UMS, by hand, in the materials of choice. No not just makings of a letter but making it, in a slightly new way. The font is under progress, and will be released as classic, and full colour bitmap.
What’s TBD Foundation?
At TBD we believe good design should benefit the many. Unfortunately the many who would stand to benefit the most from it often don’t have the means to afford it. This is why we started TBD Foundation.
