In the creative world, there’s often a line drawn between those who design and those who build. But the real magic happens when someone steps over that line — when designers become makers and makers embrace design. This rare fusion is the beating heart of Donut Shop, a Detroit-based studio founded in 2017 by Ian Klipa and Jacob Saphier.
Their story began at the Stamps School of Art and Design, where a shared passion for craft and creativity blossomed into a close friendship. Weekends and holidays were spent not resting, but building — tackling personal projects that allowed them to test ideas and push boundaries. It was during these formative years that the dream of Donut Shop took shape: a space where their collaborative spirit could thrive without limits.
Armed with a blend of fabrication, engineering, and design experience, Ian and Jacob took a leap of faith. They officially launched Donut Shop in Detroit, a city with its own rich tradition of making and innovation. Their goal was simple but ambitious — to create meaningful work where design and hands-on craftsmanship were inseparable.
A Brand as Dynamic as Its Founders
As Donut Shop grew, it became clear that their visual identity needed to match the versatility and energy of their studio. For this, they partnered with TwoPoints.Net, a design firm known for creating tailor-made solutions that evolve with their clients rather than boxing them in.
Rather than developing a static logo or a fixed branding style, TwoPoints.Net designed six bespoke fonts, each inspired by a different project from Donut Shop’s growing portfolio. The challenge? Capture the studio’s wide-ranging aesthetic without locking them into a single look.
The answer lay in flexibility. Each font was designed to be mono-spaced, ensuring that every letter combined seamlessly with the next. This mirrored Donut Shop’s own modular approach to furniture and fabrication — diverse yet harmonious. The result is a visual language that’s not just consistent, but endlessly adaptable.
Now, instead of repeatedly stamping the same logo across materials, Donut Shop can generate brand-new compositions simply through text. Every typed word becomes an extension of their identity, giving them the freedom to grow and shift creatively without losing their core essence.
Storytelling at the Core
At Donut Shop, design is never just about aesthetics — it’s about narrative. Each piece they create carries with it a hidden story, a reason for being. This focus on storytelling shapes their entire communication strategy.
Rather than relying on traditional marketing campaigns or flashy advertisements, Donut Shop lets their work do the talking. Their pieces invite curiosity, allowing viewers to uncover the stories woven into every curve, every joint, every surface. It’s a form of editorial design that favors authenticity over spectacle, and subtlety over noise.
This understated approach turns every Donut Shop creation into a conversation starter. Clients aren’t just purchasing a product — they’re inheriting a piece of a larger narrative, one they can share with their own audiences in turn.
Design in Every Detail
The influence of Donut Shop’s flexible branding system is visible across every touchpoint — from packaging tape to sandwich boards to signage. The fonts lend a distinct, recognizable character to even the simplest materials, ensuring that the Donut Shop identity remains strong without being overwhelming.
Each interaction with the brand feels intentional, thoughtful, and alive — a testament to the studio’s belief that good design should permeate every aspect of a business, not just the flashy bits. Whether it’s a handwritten label or a storefront sign, every detail reinforces the values that Ian and Jacob founded Donut Shop on: authenticity, craft, and creativity.
A Living, Breathing Brand
Donut Shop isn’t just a design studio; it’s a living experiment in what happens when boundaries between disciplines dissolve. Ian and Jacob have built more than a company — they’ve built a philosophy, one that champions the messy, exhilarating process of making things by hand, and designing with intention.
Thanks to a bold and flexible visual identity crafted by TwoPoints.Net, they have a brand that grows as organically as they do. One that doesn’t just represent them — it evolves with them, inviting new stories, new projects, and new possibilities at every turn.
In a world often obsessed with polished perfection and rigid branding, Donut Shop stands apart — proof that the best brands are the ones that leave room for change, for creativity, and for stories still waiting to be told.
