The design collective’s new identity for Super Genius Society transforms educational materials into tactile objects of artistic revolution.
Otherwhere Collective has unveiled a distinctive brand identity for Super Genius Society, a new platform that transforms learning into an act of joyful rebellion through handcrafted design and tactile educational materials.
Launched this April, Super Genius Society makes arts, humanities, and philosophy accessible through a visual identity that deliberately rejects the digital perfection dominating contemporary design in favour of raw, analogue aesthetics.
“We wanted to build a brand that didn’t just look different, but made people feel something: surprise, delight, welcome, empowerment—even a little mischief,” explains Andrew Bellamy, founder of Otherwhere Collective, the inter-disciplinary creative practice behind the project.
Child-like handwriting
The comprehensive identity system centres around a custom typeface inspired by confident children’s handwriting, capturing the untamed authenticity of learning before it becomes confined by rigid educational structures. This philosophy extends throughout the brand’s packaging, editorial systems, merchandise and digital presence.
At the heart of the visual identity is Scribble, a logo snake symbolising transformation and the shedding of conventional thinking. The vibrantly coloured character intentionally breaks from the grid and slips outside established design rules, reflecting the brand’s mission to reclaim education from systems that have stripped away its joy and creativity.
The visual language draws cultural references from Monty Python’s wit, Mister Rogers’s principled kindness, and the Beastie Boys’ DIY rebellion, creating an aesthetic that feels simultaneously nostalgic and revolutionary.
Physical products
Super Genius Society has launched with two physical card decks—one exploring music history and another featuring banned authors—alongside apparel and print goods. The products embody the brand’s commitment to tactile learning experiences that encourage handling, sharing and physical engagement with educational content.
The lo-fi aesthetic extends to the brand’s photography and art direction, which embraces raw, imperfect imagery that contrasts sharply with the polished visuals typically associated with educational materials.
Notably, even the digital components of the identity maintain this handcrafted quality, with an interactive drawing tool built using p5.js that encourages users to engage in freeform creativity.
Sign of the times
The brand arrives at a particularly resonant moment in American education. It positions itself as a counterpoint to recent challenges, including creative programme cuts in schools, increased book bans and the spread of fake news.
“At a time when creative programs are being cut from schools, book bans are on the rise, and disinformation spreads faster than truth, Super Genius Society believes that curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking aren’t just valuable—they’re vital,” states the brand’s manifesto.
Rather than rejecting formal education outright, though, Super Genius Society focuses on reclaiming it from systems that have transformed learning into “a tool for compliance instead of curiosity”.
Distinctive model
Super Genius Society exemplifies Otherwhere Collective’s distinctive collaborative model. Founded by Andrew in 2018, the practice operates as a conceptual space rather than a fixed studio or team, bringing together diverse creative talents with complementary skills and perspectives.
This approach has garnered significant recognition, with Otherwhere recently winning two graphite pencils at the 2024 D&AD Awards for their innovative retail font designs, Washi and Blimp. Andrew, a British-American creative director with experience spanning London, Oslo and New York, relocated to Miami during the pandemic. His background includes work with major design consultancies JKR and Interbrand, and he has authored a book on analogue photography that has been translated into multiple languages.
The Super Genius Society identity demonstrates Otherwhere’s commitment to cross-disciplinary design that blends strategic thinking with tactile, human-centred creativity. The brand is already attracting attention from cultural retailers and educators for its distinctive approach to making learning materials that inspire rather than instruct.
