GLOBAL — A new chapter in creative experimentation emerges as Iori Ottmann, a conceptual collective blending art, people, and space, launches a radical brand identity crafted in collaboration with Stink Studios.
Iori Ottmann defies traditional definitions. Neither a person nor a conventional studio, the collective’s name is an anagram of “art in motion” – chosen for its ambiguity and its European, unisex resonance. Positioned as a fictional figurehead, “Iori Ottmann” functions less as a brand name and more as an evolving narrative, embodying the group’s ethos of experimentation, collaboration, and perpetual transformation.
At the heart of the new identity is a living signature – a handwritten mark that changes with every contributor. This visual device, whether static or animated, ensures that the collective’s identity remains in constant flux, echoing its philosophy of radical collaboration. Supporting this is a bold secondary symbol – the letters i and o, formed by the collision of three distinct elements, symbolizing the convergence of diverse disciplines.
The design system reaches beyond the digital space, extending into physical artworks. The mark itself can be rendered in 3D, with materials ranging from ice to steel, directly linking the identity to the sculptures and installations it represents. The choice of Pelikan, a unicase typeface where all letters share equal height, further reinforces the idea of equality among contributors – no single voice stands above another.
This dynamic system expands across social media, web platforms, CRM, and even accompanies each artwork with its own distinct logo mark, signed by all collaborators under the shared mantra of Iori Ottmann.
Viv Greywoode, Head of Design at Stink Studios, says, “With Iori Ottmann, we weren’t just designing a brand; we were cultivating a living organism. The ever-changing signature, the collision of elements in the ‘io’ mark, and even the democratic nature of the typeface, all speak to a system that’s as dynamic and experimental as the art collective itself. It’s a brand that’s constantly shaped by the hands that contribute, making the identity a direct reflection of their ongoing creative dialogue.”
Didier Schwarz, Co-founder and Director of Iori Ottmann’s studio, says, “The challenge taken on by Stink Studio was complex: to successfully create a strong shared identity that sincerely and consistently embodies the studio’s values while highlighting our most important resource—people. This shared identity, represented by the anagram ‘Iori Ottmann,’ is perfectly embodied through everyone’s handwritten signature, inviting us all to contribute to a vision greater than ourselves.”
