Rebranding is complex, but what's even more challenging is the combination of a rebrand and a renaming all at once. Essentially, you're starting from scratch while still having to educate your clients that you're still the same old guy, but, well, different. And hopefully better.
Recently, independent branding agency Mother Design worked with Realm, previously known as Serial Box, an original podcast and audiobook company that creates original fiction works. Realm works with well-known fiction writers, directors, artists, and voice actors to make and create these successful stories that transport listeners to unexpected worlds.
And if you take a look at the identity system that Mother Design developed for the creative organization, you'll find a mysterious yet friendly piece of branding that begs you to dive into the audio rabbit hole.
For starters, the color palette strongly emphasizes purple hues, exuding a sense of enchantment, creativity, and mystery. The complementary tones of orange and off-white bring in a playful and vibrant side with energy that matches that of the stories they love to share.
Realm also just so happens to be the perfect name for a brand that's all about discovering new worlds and intimately exploring them. The name oozes with warmth and adventure just as a media company of this nature should. Changing from "Serial Box" to "Realm" also makes plenty of sense for a multitude of reasons; the brand is more than stories about serial killers, and you'll find original content about tech companies competing for the chance to bring Artificial Intelligence to Mars, a secret black-ops team backed by the Vatican to protect humanity from an apocalypse, and even a romantic comedy about the day before a royal wedding. It also helps with the brand's searchability and encapsulates the diverse realms of the stories within.
The new "R" shaped wordmark, also known as the brand's mascot Ruby, acts as a spiritual guide to help listeners embark down the trail of auditory inspiration and stimulus. Ruby is warm and inviting, yet somewhat weird and mysterious; the type of person you're fascinated by and could see yourself being close friends with, yet you're just slightly too intimidated to make the first move.
The bold font seen throughout the system pairs well with the wordmark as it's an inviting typeface with many different weights and styles so that it can easily get used in a multitude of ways. The Baskerville typeface is known as one of the most popular within the design of books, so to honor it, they utilized the modern and digitally readable version Libre Baskerville throughout.
So, whether you’re cleaning your kitchen or relaxing on the couch, pop on a pair of headphones and listen to the countless stories created by Realm. You won’t be disappointed; in fact, you’ll be the opposite.
So whether you’re cleaning your kitchen or relaxing on the couch, pop in a pair of headphones and listen to the countless stories that Realm has lined up. You won’t be disappointed, in fact, you’ll be the opposite.
