The aim of our new visual identity was to create a distinctive visual language that represents Katona, evolves alongside the theatre’s artistic direction, and – like the theatre itself – is rooted in freedom, creativity and diversity.

At the heart of the new identity is Katona Flex, a typeface designed specifically for the Katona József Theatre. The typeface breaks with the constraints of traditional visual identities: thanks to variable font technology, it can be transformed across an almost limitless range of dimensions and styles without losing its distinctive character.

In the new visual system, the typeface is not simply a fixed form, but a dynamically evolving universe. Its shape, lines and style can be pushed to extremes, allowing it to take on virtually any role – equally at home in the world of classical drama and contemporary theatre. It was important to us that the predominantly black-and-white visual language should be both timeless and capable of evolving alongside our diverse repertoire and the many different ways in which we communicate. Throughout these changes, it retains Katona’s distinctive and recognisable visual worls.

At the end of the summer, we introduced the new visual language across the theatre: in the foyer, on our website, and throughout our printed and digital materials and platforms. The new identity is accompanied by a new series of photographs. Hanna Rédling created new portraits of our ensemble, while we worked with Éva Szombat on OFFSTAGE, a photographic series set in the theatre’s backstage and working spaces.

Credits
Head of Communications: István Gricz
Visual identity, Katona Flex typeface: Marci Kenczler, Tibor Szikora
Graphic Designer: Róbert Báthori
Communications Coordinator: Dani Keresztes
Portrait photography: Hanna Rédling
OFFSTAGE photography: Éva Szombat