Want to know how we made our mark? Explore how we designed our new logo with Envato author and Norway-based font designer, Milos Mitrovic.
Envato’s recent rebrand journey wasn’t just about giving our brand a makeover—it was about reaffirming our commitment to creativity, collaboration, and community. That’s why we turned to our own talented community to help shape our new visual identity.
“As a company built by creatives for creatives, it was important for us to harness the talent within our own community rather than outsourcing to an agency,” says Arlyn Panopio, Envato’s Head of Brand and Creative.
Enter Milos Mitrovic: type designer, art director, and the creative mind behind Envato Author Mindburger Studio. With over two decades of design expertise and a passion for typography, Milos was the perfect fit to help craft our new logo, wordmark, and brand typeface, PolySans.
Milos brought a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to our redesign project. According to him, designing Envato’s new logo was a career highlight. It was a collaborative effort that sparked a symbol representing the energy and inspiration Envato embodies.
Join us as we chat with Milos about the creative process, inspiration, and his experience bringing our new visual identity to life.
How did you develop a passion for fonts?
Typography has always been my secret love. Even in art school in the ’90s, I saw it as the backbone of visual communication—the tool that translates culture and language into visual narratives.
Are you a one-person team, or do you collaborate with other designers?
Being a type designer is a mix of solo and teamwork. Some projects require isolation, while others thrive on collaboration. I love working with a team for client projects, and over the years, I’ve built a network of trusted collaborators.
Tell us about your collaboration with Envato.
It started when Envato licensed my typeface, PolySans, for its branding. Months later, the Creative team asked if I’d redesign their logo and wordmark. Knowing Envato’s impact on the design community, I couldn’t say no!
The real attraction was meeting the Envato team. They weren’t looking to create something “trendy” but instead focused on designing a more meaningful logo that reflected their commitment to the community. It was clear this would be a collaborative and experimental process.
Have you worked on any other rebrands in the past?
I’ve worked on many rebrands, big and small, both as an art director and type designer. Each project teaches me something new, especially about overcoming creative challenges.
Typeface design is about balancing pre-defined directions with uniqueness. If a project feels too rigid, I might even turn it down. Creativity needs room to breathe.
What inspired the concept for Envato’s logo and wordmark? Talk us through the creative process.
Research is essential, so I first took a deep dive into Envato’s history, culture, and business to understand how the brand is currently perceived. These insights are invaluable.
Then I put pen to paper. Together with the in-house team, I created over 300 sketches for Envato’s new logo! Over many weeks, we continually reworked and refined the ideas, drawing inspiration from classic and modern art to find the right balance. We wanted to create a logo that wasn’t just a crowd-pleaser but had a personal touch.
Inspiration came from the different expressions of the creative mind. Using various tools, we focused on capturing a creative spark visually until we found the right balance and strength in the logo’s expression.
What tools did you use? Do you have any tips or hacks for streamlining the logo design process?
I start with pen and paper to avoid distractions. Once the ideas are clear, I use Glyphs App, Illustrator, After Effects, and Cavalry to make digital sketches. The key is to adapt tools based on the project and requirements.
What challenges did you face when redesigning the logo?
There were moments when we felt stuck, but open communication and the willingness to explore new ideas kept us moving forward. Despite a 10-hour time difference (the Creative team is based in Australia), the process felt natural and collaborative.
The hardest part about rebranding is positioning and communicating your brand’s values. Once you have that, the rest is just technical details. My advice? Know your brand’s essence before diving into colors and shapes.
What advice would you give aspiring creatives dreaming of making a career from their craft?
Be true to yourself and listen to your gut. Be a good listener but also a versatile talker. Creativity is a gift—enjoy it to the fullest!
For more inspiring interviews, check out our chats with world-renowned designer Jessica Walsh, and creative chameleon Rainn Wilson.
