About
Nils Zimmermann is a founder of Studio Chapeaux.
SourceFounded
In their own words
It has the same rough edges and corners oysters have in nature. Irregular. Unpredictable.
Type accounts for 60% of how a bold commercial package is perceived – that’s not up for debate.
It has to hold its own from a shelf’s distance, survive the compression of print onto a curved can or a tight label, and still carry personality at two centimetres high.
Our amuse-bouche from the kitchen: what happens when a typeface is built to fit a product perfectly.
Oysters are usually paired with a classic serif – that’s exactly what we didn’t want. We wanted to prove the opposite: that a distinctive, courageous typographic solution generates far more resonance.
The best market research actually happened on the sixth floor of KaDeWe itself.
KaDeWe’s strongest brand asset is its six letters. So why not go all in and create a full alphabet based on this icon?
The fact that our design holds its ground in that environment? That’s something I’m really proud of.
Every new challenge is a thrill – that’s what makes our job so rewarding.
Whether I love a brand or not is a bit like how I feel about a song I hear.
Articles & interviews3
- Why Brands Are Replacing Celebrities With Ordinary People
Hamburg-based Studio Chapeaux has launched SC Ostrea, its first typeface and a bold display face designed specifically to perform on product packaging. The studio tested the typeface through Broken Oyster Club, an in-house oyster-and-canned-beer brand that demonstrates its use across labels, product naming and packaging identity.
- Studio Chapeaux Redesigns KaDeWe's Private Label with Architectural Flair
Studio Chapeaux created an elegant, architecture-inspired brand identity and packaging system for KaDeWe’s private label food products. Drawing from the department store’s historic entrance gate, the design features custom typefaces, foil finishes, and distinct color palettes for two product lines. The project has already won major design awards for its refined execution and ability to stand out in a luxury retail environment.
- “Every new challenge is a thrill.” Introducing the resonant, sensory world of Studio Chapeaux