A brave, illustration-based identity for Piano Circus

If you say Piano Ensemble, I think tuxedos and stuffy cruise ship entertainment that smells of old vol-au-vents. Turns out I’m all wrong, if six-piece Piano Ensemble Piano Circus is anything to go by. The group makes minimalist, bold music; and as such needed a bold, brave identity to herald its 25th anniversary relaunch concert.

Created by London agency Uncanny Editions, the new look uses an illustrative approach that aims to “invoke the overlap of the pianos and the sharpness and minimalist dimension of their music,” it says. The illustrations used in many formats throughout the identity were created to form an ever-changing visual language, using multiple colours and Riso-, screen- and offset-printed pieces.

These are used with a new bespoke typeface, created by Xesta Studio, which aims to “further reinforce the minimalist dimension of Piano Circus’ music,” according to Uncanny Editions. The characters are also based on the hexagon shape formed when the six pianists are performing.