Malte Gruhl
Founder · Creative Director
In their own words
Our research led us to position MOSS as a brand that values the precision of a laboratory but possesses the soul of a sculpture.
We see ourselves more as a creative studio than a classic design studio.
There is no rebrand anymore without delivering content and motion.
We made the conscious decision to stay deliberately boutique, and this is quite freeing.
We are past the point of chasing trends. We need to connect a brand to its place in culture.
The fact that they operate at this intersection gave us an interesting baseline approach to work with elements from two different worlds.
Silver foil in packaging as a symbol of futurism, a strong use of blue for the science aspect, and jewellery-like 3D assets combined with a very clean yet contemporary graphic design language.
We are all part of culture and need to understand and communicate where our influences come from and why we want to tap into them or adapt them to create something new and interesting.
Whether it’s quite raw, brutal 3D elements coming from digital art and VJ sets before the internet, or a slightly off-colour palette, everything always traces back to the 90s.
When we create a brand identity from scratch for new brands, we need to keep in mind that their strategy often adapts, and we need to give them enough freedom in our work so that our design system can adapt to these changes.
Articles & interviews
- Studio Gruhl on positioning a lighting brand between craft and precision
Studio Gruhl developed a new brand identity for German lighting company MOSS Objects, balancing technical precision with handcrafted warmth. The identity, described as 'Technical Poise,' features a custom logomark, modular typographic system using Hellix, and a material-inspired colour palette. The project extends into digital and photographic art direction, emphasizing the brand’s modular and sculptural qualities.
- Studio Gruhl Crafts Cross-Cultural Visual Worlds
Creative Boom profiles Berlin-based Studio Gruhl and its founder Malte Gruhl, exploring how the studio blends cross-cultural influences, craft, and strategic thinking to create emotionally resonant design work. The article highlights the studio’s boutique approach, its focus on collaboration and cultural context, and its resistance to trend-chasing in favor of meaningful, system-driven creativity.
- Studio Gruhl Blends Jewelry Aesthetics with Swiss Precision in Performula Rebrand
Studio Gruhl has unveiled a futuristic rebrand for German health-tech start-up Performula, merging Swiss design precision with jewellery-inspired 3D visuals. The identity system balances scientific clarity and premium aesthetics through a Swiss-grid framework, AI-driven imagery, and metallic textures. The project reflects a sophisticated intersection of technology, health, and luxury design.
- Studio Gruhl Revives 90s Berlin Techno for Spellbound Identity
Studio Gruhl created a raw, adaptable brand identity for Spellbound, a new female-led techno label founded by DJ Shaleen in Berlin. Drawing inspiration from the city’s 1990s techno scene, the studio developed a modular system combining a grid, logomark, and 3D assets with textures and scanned posters. The identity balances nostalgia with flexibility, allowing the brand to evolve alongside its music and collaborators.
- New Logo & Branding for Spellbound by Studio Gruhl
BP&O features Studio Gruhl’s new brand identity for Berlin-based techno label Spellbound, founded by DJ and producer Shaleen. The identity draws from Berlin’s underground club culture and 1990s DIY aesthetics, combining a modular grid system with over 50 graphic elements, 3D textures, and open-source typography. The result is a dynamic, evolving visual system that balances digital precision with tactile, analogue influences.
- Studio Gruhl Designs Evolving Identity for Spellbound Techno Label
Studio Gruhl developed a flexible, collage-based identity for the Berlin techno label Spellbound, led by DJ Shaleen. Drawing inspiration from 1990s Berlin club culture, the system combines 2D and 3D elements, scanned textures, and open-source typefaces to create an adaptable visual framework. The identity is designed to evolve over time, encouraging collaboration and reinterpretation by other artists.
- Studio Gruhl unveils new identity for digital-first branding
Studio Gruhl, led by founder Malte Gruhl, has unveiled a new identity and website that reflect its focus on digital-first branding. The rebrand, guided by the studio’s manifesto ‘Dream More,’ emphasizes motion, interactivity, and AI-generated content over traditional print applications. In the interview, Gruhl discusses the studio’s evolution, collaborative approach, and vision for agile, adaptive brands built for the digital age.
- Logo & Branding for House of Reptile by Studio Gruhl
BP&O’s Emily Gosling reviews Studio Gruhl’s evolving brand identity for electronic music label House of Reptile. The Berlin-based studio developed a dynamic system where each record release introduces new logos, icons, and colors while maintaining a cohesive attitude. The project embraces motion, earthy tones, and glitchy custom typography inspired by subcultural and cryptic visual references.