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FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS ABOVE 60€ - WE ARE FROGS TO PRINCES - WE PROUDLY CREATE REFINED STATIONERY & LIFESTYLE DESIGNS IN COLLABORATION WITH ARTISTS & ARTISANS
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FtoP FrogsToPrince

10 DEC 2023

Words by: Eliza Soufli / Photography: Margarita Nikitaki

Visiting Bob Studio

We visit Bod Studio for our new creative collaboration

The first Frogs to Princes product that caught my attention -before even joining the team- was the “Xematiasma Candle" (a candle to repel the evil eye). The thought of my grandmother made me smile. She was the best at repelling the “evil eye” (the best all around her small village and all around town). The wonderful packaging makes the product stand out. The imaginative copy, written in a distinctive black font, explains what “Xematiasma” is, when you need to light the candle. Wishes that are part of the process can also be read. Soon, I would get to know more about the studio behind this creative design.

The "Hymns to Patents & Landmarks of Greek Reality," with humor, highlight everyday aspects of modern Greek reality that we can relate to. Just a glance brings back memories and enjoyable moments of our past and present. Everybody has at least once had "cheese pie and chocolate milk" for breakfast or tasted a hot plate of our national dish, “fasolada” (soup with beans), specially made by their mother on a cold day during wintertime.

Bob Studio is an independent, award-winning design studio based in both Athens and London. Founded by Aris Tsoutsas, Andreas Thanos, and Miguel Rodrigues, it’s been synonymous with creativity and innovation in the fields of branding, packaging design, illustration, identity, and print. Their designs celebrate and exude confidence and positive vibes. The key characteristics of this studio's work are vivid colors and clean lines, with references to Greek tradition and origins, seamlessly combining the contemporary with the timeless.

In their portfolio, you'll find some of the most well-known brands in the Greek market. Each collaboration reveals a unique journey: communication with the client, a path guided by imagination, and ultimately the birth of an artwork transferring the message to the audience. The client’s vision has finally reached the public.

Here’s what I noticed from the first moment, from their very first work that appeared in Frogs to Princes: among dozens of designs, brand identities, and posters, you can somehow distinguish "Bob Studio." Transforming ideas into visuals and striking new realities; the artists at Bob Studio create a new surprise every time.

Let's get to know them!

The calendars born from your collaboration with "Xartovasilion" and "Kontorousis printing house" are turned into wall posters. The "Hymns to Patents & Landmarks of Greek Reality" are now available in Frogs to Princes. How did the idea for the Greek Patents come about?

We all hide the Greek spirit within us. So, the theme emerged somewhat spontaneously. Patents have a regular touch of daily life but also a grandiose vibe at the same time that inspired us to illustrate them, paying tribute to their creators and praising the inexhaustible talent for innovation and creativity of the Greeks, always with a humorous disposition.
Whether it's a very significant discovery in modern medicine like the PAP Test or the pioneering Green Screen special effect technique, Frappé coffee, The Evil Eye Repelling, and the Greek Mother, all have contributed in their own way to shaping Greek reality. Each month was dedicated to each one of them.

This concept was born in 2013. What is its design evolution?

Right from the beginning, the calendar had a pop character, and its purpose was to make our lives a little happier or at least our walls. Depending on the theme, different styles and illustration techniques have been chosen, from hand-painted and engraved to simpler geometric compositions, all under a common pop aesthetic with fluorescent colors and an intense joyful mood.

Pop and Innovation – Tradition and Cultural Origins: How is the balance achieved in a project?

Greek typography and retro aesthetics combined with pop colors and intense illustration style create a modern work with a timeless and nostalgic character.

How is the idea for a new corporate identity born? And how important is research and market analysis in the design process?

In a corporate identity, everything starts and ends with the client. It is very important for us that the identity we design reflects their character, vision, and values, serving them and becoming part of their culture.

Among other things, you also create packaging designs. Would you like to share some thoughts on materials and sustainability?

It is a subject that concerns us every day, and we are regularly updated on the subject. Unfortunately, many restrictions apply to most products produced in Greece, and usually, large investments are needed to change their production specifications.

You have worked on many projects. Was there one that posed a particular challenge?

The redesign of AMSTEL beer was definitely one of the most challenging projects we have worked on due to the brand's iconic character, its long history, and its strong bond with Greek consumers, as well as the many constraints from global management.

Collaboration is key to the successful implementation of each project. What is the dynamic team behind all these designs?

We are a team of 8 people and a dog, and we all work on everything. Each project is the result of collective creativity and participation. We discuss everything together during the creative process and decide what to present to the client.

What phrase would you write in your "Athens Notebook"?

Snails on Stadiou Str and clover on Sina Str. (lyric of a song by Fivos Delivorias)

And really, why Bob? Is your incredible dog, Bobos, the one that inspired the name of the studio? 

We like simple names that convey familiarity and friendliness. So, Bob came up, and from there, Bobos followed (our half-breed boxer), so everything is connected (or not).

 

I pick up my Athens Notebook. I open it to a random page and come across a picture of a graffiti work on some city wall. I write down: "How many secrets do you keep, Athens?" What would you write in your notebook?