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Four orange posters with white typography are arranged in a grid against a grey background. The posters feature a mix of dates, lists of words and the word “Dimension” rendered in various distorted styles.

Bob Design creates simple and impactful identity for Swiss bookbinding company Bubu

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Date
17 May 2016

London and Zurich-based graphic design studio Bob Design has created this identity for family-owned binding specialist Buchbinderei Burkhardt. Started in 1941, the company name is now shortened to Bubu and is run by third-generation family members. To keep things fresh, Bob Design was brought in to revise its visual identity and connect its digital and print-based communications.

As well as the logotype, the studio has designed business cards, envelopes, packaging and signage. The stationary is where the branding really shines as simple, orange shapes have been used decoratively throughout to mimic the different binding techniques Bubu uses including; comb, staple and glue and lock stitch. Utilitarian yet still impactful, it’s interesting to Bubu shy away from the tradition and heritage aesthetic many brands seem to be trying to get back to in recent years.

A white business card featuring a bold orange logo that reads “bubu”. To the right, contact details for Bubu AG in Switzerland are printed in a smaller orange font.
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Bob Design: Bubu

Four white envelopes are arranged in a grid on a grey background. Each features a different orange cutout pattern along the top edge and the text “We bind” in the centre.
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Bob Design: Bubu

A white card features a jagged orange graphic and text in four languages. The words read “Wir binden”, “Nous relions”, “Rileghiamo” and “We bind”.
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Bob Design: Bubu

A range of white stationery items with orange graphic details, laid out against a grey background. The items include a brochure, a booklet and a spiral notebook, each featuring a different orange line or pattern and a descriptive label.
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Bob Design: Bubu

A magazine spread featuring columns of German text and a small black and white photograph of two figures walking. Large, interlocking orange circles are layered over the page, containing the phrases “We Bind”, “Nous Relions” and “Wir Binden”.
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Bob Design: Bubu

A close-up of a white notebook with orange horizontal lines. Text on the right side reads “Wir binden”, “Nous relions”, “Rileghiamo” and “We bind”.
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Bob Design: Bubu

A stationery set featuring a letterhead, envelope and business card on a grey background. Each item displays the “bubu” logo in bold orange lowercase type.
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Bob Design: Bubu

A grey notebook with a black and white graphic cover featuring zig-zags and loops. The “bookfactory” logo appears at the bottom, and the notebook is open to show orange accents on white pages.
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Bob Design: Bubu

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About the Author

Rebecca Fulleylove

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Rebecca Fulleylove is a freelance writer and editor specialising in art, design and culture. She is also senior writer at Creative Review, having previously worked at Elephant, Google Arts & Culture, and It’s Nice That.

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