At the heart of the new identity is a striking logo, created in Helvetica Neue, that nods to both the unique properties of sound and the power of sharing stories. Featuring a ‘rising volume’ shape, with typefaces increasing in size, it goes straight to the heart of the content and serves as a clever signpost for the platform. An animated version of the logo sees the letterforms undergo a subtle shift in weight as they move left and simultaneously expand right. Odysseas explains that this discreet animation is not only fun to watch, but also hints at the way in which sharing stories opens up new perspectives, as well as fostering resolution and harmony.

Elsewhere in the brand, the influence of storytelling remains evident. Istorima’s seven content categories – Crime, Culture, History, Nature, Relations, Society and Tradition – each feature a different display typeface to match their respective genres, based on “the theme and overall feel of the stories (being told)”. Attention has also been paid to the brand image, much of which incorporates cinematic qualities such as film grain and film-style colour grading.

Speaking of color, the final piece of the puzzle Høly had to figure out was the color palette for the platform. Once again, the design team looked to the content for inspiration, opting for a rich palette of dark, neutral, and fluorescent hues, “systematized in a way that creates high contrast and reflects the disruptive nature of the stories.” The overall palette is somber in places and punchy in others, complementing the design and visuals. The subtle smoothness is reminiscent of other podcast and film platforms like Mubi and Letterboxd, and exudes professionalism and maturity for Istorima’s emerging brand.