When you’re a King (one assumes) you don’t simply print your letterheads from your office inkjet. When accepting invitations to visit from other global monarchs such as our very own Queen (aka Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith) doing so via a slightly streaky office printout must be somewhat unacceptable.

So Ghana’s King Nana K. Owusu called on the talents of Cologne-based studio Onogrit to put something a bit more special together.

This is a job that runs the risk of becoming twee and stereotyping especially as the studio headed down the “traditional Ghanaian symbol” route. However, they pull it off with style using an earthy green colour palette stamped with gold iconography.

The Sankofa bird and traditional shield icons are especially nice. I’m not so keen on the “humorous” fake chocolate brand they’ve swung in beside it which I think does swing towards a little naff and looks somewhat under designed to pull off the effect fully.

The biggest miss here for me is the lack of Ghanian input. Onogrit have put a fine effort into the project and used some fine looking materials from German paper manufacturers Gmund, but are there no Ghanian designers? No Ghanian paper makers? Perhaps local designers lack the experience of a larger international studio, but for such a prestigious project it would it have been out of the question for Onogrit to have co-operated with some regional talent? Using their experience to bring out and encourage the local marketplace and keeping some of this Kingly cash in the country?

ONOGRIT Design Studio has designed an exclusive stationery kit fit for a king—literally. Ghanaian King Nana K. Owusu requested a stationery set for his official correspondence, including a letterhead, business cards, and invitations.

Source: King Nana K. Owusu Stationery