​​A Minimalistic Rebranding for Stink Studios References to Pre-emoji Webdings Typefaces

Where it was previously colourful and playful, creative studio Stink Studios is moving in a minimalistic and monochromatic direction with its new branding. This decision is made even more interesting in that the studio is drawing from the ever-so-current y2k nostalgia wave without going for the baby pinks and blues so infamous to that era and instead looks to y2k internet culture. 

Where it was previously colourful and playful, creative studio Stink Studios is moving in a minimalistic and monochromatic direction with its new branding. This decision is made even more interesting in that the studio is drawing from the ever-so-current y2k nostalgia wave without going for the baby pinks and blues so infamous to that era and instead looks to y2k internet culture. 

After examining the original character sets of Webdings and Wingdings with Erkin Karamemet, Stink Studios selected objects that “felt relevant to its culture” for the typeface, also taking on internal “ding-ideas” from within its company. Interestingly, the Stink Dings are also functional. Stink Studios has utilised OpenType features to create slash command text inputs that call up characters and offer contextual suggestions – in the same way your smartphone would for emojis.

Throughout the rest of the identity, design is “simple” and “direct” and features only system fonts such as Times New Roman, Helvetica, and Courier.

The studio leaned into this style once more for the rebrand, this time incorporating early web aesthetics, after realising the connection between the two “looks”. The studio leaned into this style once more for the rebrand, this time incorporating early web aesthetics, after realising the connection between the two “looks”.

On the challenges of creating Stink Dings, Dinamo designer Erkin Karamemet and assistant Gregor M. Sahl explain: “As a type designer, there are always situations where you have to deal with new character forms. In this case, however, it was something special. The inspiration and origin of the Stink Dings is very familiar to computer users — almost legendary.” While Stink Dings gives the “impression of very freely interpreted characters”, different from “corporate icons that follow a simple logic”, Erkin and Gregor explain, the formula is complex and multi-layered. “We found it most exciting to merge illustrative aspects with the criteria of the type design process.”