About
Afrika Design Studio GmbH
Ahornstrasse 47
CH–4055 Basel
Switzerland
Albisriederstrasse 82
CH–8003 Zürich
Switzerland
mail@afrika.to
0041 44 520 29 38
Afrika is a design studio founded by Florian Jakober and Michael Zehnder.
Working on commissioned projects for Swiss and international clients, we provide design services for application in print, screen and space. Within this, our specialist focus lies on visual identities and type design.
Our clients are artists, designers, curators, publishers, musicians, entrepreneurs and scientists. Many of them are long time collaborators. Design approaches and co-operations therefore often thrive and evolve over several years of continued partnership and synergetic efforts.
Practice
We are design engineers. Both analogue production processes and software driven procedures define our thinking and lead us to innovative solutions. Science and history form the foundation upon which we build our practice, linking up existing concepts and technologies with novel ideas and approaches.
After studying Visual Communication together at the Zurich University of the Arts, we gained valuable work experience at international design studios in England, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Denmark.
We are part of a forward thinking international design community that engages in a vivid design discourse and exchange of ideas. We also regularly share our knowledge with design students through workshops and lectures.
Case Studies
Through the following case studies we give detailed consideration to a selection of projects, bringing the process that lies behind our work to the fore:
Contributions
WORKSHOPS & LECTURES
- Design Entrepreneurship, Bern University of the Arts
- Type Direction, SUPSI Comunicazione visiva
- Master Talk, HSLU Design und Kunst
- Copy Shop, Zurich University of the Arts
- Time is Money, Bern University of the Arts
- AGI Open 2015, Biel/Bienne
- San Alejandro Art Academy
- Universidad Iberoamericana Mexico
- MX design conference Mexico
Exhibitions & Publications
- Novum 01/18, 2018
- It's Nice That 2017
- Designpreis der Gebert Stiftung für Kultur, 2016
- Stealing Swiss in Shanghai, 2016
- Étapes 229, 2016
- Weltformat, Fresh Tourism Posters 2015
- Dampfwalzen Plakate, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, 2014
- Soirée Graphique N°7, Bern, 2014
- Swiss Graphic Design in Seoul, 2014
- Konzertplakate – Ein Einblick in die Schweizer Grafik, 2013
- Imprint Fair Mainz, 2013
- The Most Beautiful Swiss Books, 2011
- Im Westen nur Neues, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, 2009
Selected Clients
- Agroscope, Reckenholz
- Andrea Bandoni, São Paulo
- Apart Consultants, London
- Atelier für Architekturfotografie, Zurich
- Bern University of the Arts, Berne
- Booth-Clibborn Editions, London
- Bringolf Irion Vögeli, Zurich
- Campus Lab Verlag, Zug
- Colors Magazine, Treviso
- CSEM, Muttenz
- Danmarks Designskole, Copenhagen
- Den Danske Filmskole, Copenhagen
- DisruptiveDesign Exhibition, New York
- Duo Luna Tic, Olten
- Edition Patrick Frey, Zurich
- Eduardo Iborra Wicksteed, Barcelona
- Eva Biedert, Basel
- Foam Magazine, Amsterdam
- Foodways Consulting, Berne
- Fundació Gossos, Basel
- Galerie NMariño, Paris
- Galerie Susi Brunner, Zurich
- Geo Studios, Berne
- Gigon Guyer, Zurich
- Heller Enterprises, Zurich
- Hier + Jetzt Verlag, Baden
- Holzer Kobler Architekturen, Zurich
- ICN Global, Zurich
- Komplott Shop, Basel
- Mesmer Société, Basel
- Metal Magazine, Barcelona
- Mobile Basel, Basel
- Musée Visionnaire, Zurich
- Naturkraftwerke, Seegraben
- North See Jazz Festival, Rotterdam
- Peter Müller Fashion, Basel
- Pfadfinder Schweiz, Berne
- Pflegeheim Rehalp, Zurich
- Rico & Michael, Zurich
- Roskilde Festival, Roskilde
- Schmauder Rohr, Zurich
- Studio Omar Sosa, Barcelona
- Swiss Films, Zurich
- Swisscom, Zurich
- Tektonik Arena Sardona, Chur
- Unión Suiza, Barcelona
- Vitrine Galerie, Zurich
- Voces Suaves, Basel
- Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich
Newsletter
Stay updated about font releases and other studio activities.
Internships
We do not offer internships, but are always keen to see interesting portfolios. Please direct PDF portfolios to the following email address: mail@afrika.to. Stuff sent by postal mail cannot be returned. We kindly ask for your understanding.
Website Credits
Development: Süpèr
Writing: Corinne Gisel
Typefaces: Favorite