Codeluxe creates a powerful identity for Topography of Terror

It’s surely not the easiest of tasks designing for an exhibition about the Nazi regime’s terror. But Berlin-based agency Codeluxe has done something of a refined and sensitive job of it, in this project for Topography of Terror, a major centre for research on the third reich.

Codeluxe was briefed to create a visual identity for the organisation’s March Formations. The Nazi Party Rally Grounds in Nuremberg exhibition. The agency explains: “We developed a visual concept related to the flack-headlights the Nazis used during their huge choreographies to light up the places and create an atmosphere of strength.”

The identity is used across all touch points including interior and exterior graphics and signage, merchandise and the exhibition catalogue. “The challenge was to find a way to communicate this exhibition with a strong identity which catches people’s attention without judging the subject matter in a positive or in a negative way,” say the designers. “It was also important to us to develop a design which ‘hurts’ the observer the same way it hurts us when we think back and confront ourselves with Germany’s dark past. The exhibition is also saying a lot about rhythm, structure and monotonic procedures. This context got us from the beginning and we wanted to transform into a strong visual language.”

Codeluxe adds: “We experimented a lot with powerful shapes and on the other hand also with typography. During the process we concentrated more and more on an idea based on the shapes. The key visual was born and so we focused on finding a good typography for all text issues. Therefore we decided very early to work with Akzidenz Grotesk because we wanted to work with a typeface, which has a strong relationship to this time and history.”