There was a time when not one, but two Fabians decided to develop a contemporary sans serif. The occasion was the KD Lounge at the HTWG Konstanz – an exhibition of works in the field of communication design. So Fabian Fohrer and Fabian Huber set to work in 2015 and developed the font ‘Moderat’ in regular and bold weights. Six years and 40 typefaces later, a design student is sitting in a lecture hall somewhere in Düsseldorf and decides to analyze this font and use it as a typographic playing field.
My compendium deals with the question of how to use this moderate-looking font in an interesting and exciting way. To this end, it was analyzed down to its smallest components and used in a wide variety of scenarios. The meme and internet pop culture was chosen as the overarching theme due to its modern orientation, with the phenomenon of the dogecoin in particular playing a key role and setting humorous accents. The minimal stroke contrast and the characteristic combination of geometric shapes and angular accents give the font a wide range of effects and open up a world of different application scenarios. The result is a 110-page hardcover book that illuminates the font from every conceivable angle.
In the following case study you will find some excerpts.
Phone
nearBees connects people with regional beekeepers and sells honey from their own neighbourhood. To bring this idea into people’s homes, we developed bee Clever, a board game concept that turns bee knowledge, local honey and family time into a playful brand experience. Built around a set of friendly bee illustrations, the game makes learning about bees feel light, funny and approachable.
The concept was extended into a 360-degree awareness campaign under the line “Honey from next door”, combining OOH, social media, supermarket activations and local digital ads.
nearBees is all about proximity: honey from local beekeepers, delivered from your own neighbourhood. The board game translates this idea into a format that can enter one of the most personal spaces of all: the family table.
Instead of being just another promotional gift, bee Clever gives people a reason to spend time with the brand. Fun facts, quiz moments and playful tactics help families learn more about bees, regional honey and why both are worth protecting.
– Collect nectar (in the form of small stones)
– Get into the beehive
– Be the first
– Approx. 90 min
– Can be played several times
The visual world of the game is built around a cast of friendly bee characters. Their soft shapes, warm expressions and playful details make the topic of bees feel approachable, while giving the game a distinctive and memorable look.
For the campaign, the illustration style becomes more graphic and is combined with real photography. This creates a bridge between the playful world of the game and the real everyday places where people encounter honey, from breakfast tables to supermarket entrances.
A board game alone is not enough if nobody knows it exists. That is why bee Clever was designed as part of a wider awareness campaign under the line “Honey from next door”. The campaign focuses on the idea of proximity and translates it differently across each channel. OOH brings the line into public space, local social ads create playful moments around neighbourhood honey, and supermarket activations meet people exactly where they already think about food. The tone is funny, approachable and slightly cheeky, supported by comic-like elements, bold typography and the bee illustrations.
bee Clever turns nearBees’ sustainable mission into a playful brand experience that can live beyond advertising. The game brings the brand into the home, while the campaign creates visibility in public space, social media and at the point of purchase. Together, game and campaign make regional honey feel closer, more emotional and easier to talk about.
