Isinglass Theater Company
A progressive theater company in Chicago, Isinglass' visual identity uses abstractions of shapes found in masks from a variety of cultures and time periods to form a unique alphabet. This alphabet is then used to create unique masks on all branded material using the letters contextually within a given piece. The identity applies to the theater's name, to the plays it will put on and also on collateral tailored to the company's theatrical directors. Part homage to the history of theater and part opening act to what theater can become, the identity is limitless in its possible visual executions.
Silkscreened posters of the alphabet and the names of various plays the company intends to run.
The Isinglass alphabet. Vowels are shaped to reference eyes so that each mask is recognizable as a face. When a mask is created, all letters must be used at least once or may be doubled for symmetry. This ensures each mask's visual execution resembles a face to the human brain (which is wired to see faces wherever it can) and allows long words to be shortened.
The theater company's identity - a neverending combination of masks.
The company's business cards use the identity to create a mask for the owner's name. Here, the last names are used.
