In Bed with the Elephant is a podcast for people who crave critical debate and nuanced conversation. I created the rebranding and cover art for Ricochet Media’s interview podcast “In Bed With The Elephant”, hosted by Adrian Harewood. Each episode, the host connects with newsmakers, policy wonks, authors, and cultural figures who can speak to the moment, and help us see the big picture. I developed the concept from scratch: the main logo mark, typography, color palette, cover artwork, and banner designs. My goal was to evoke curiosity while also presenting the podcast in a serious tone.

Brand Identity
Cover Art
Illustration
Banner Design

Primary Logo

The phrase “in bed with the elephant” is an idiom that means being closely tied to or dependent on a much larger, more powerful entity often in a way that can be risky or limiting. In the context of the Canadian interview podcast, the “elephant” is the United States.

The main logo is designed to evoke a sense of claustrophobia and discomfort, reflecting the tension of being trapped in an overwhelming situation. Its compact composition depicts a looming elephant tightly enclosing a person, emphasizing the imbalance of power and lack of escape. The elephant’s ear subtly doubles as a pillow for the figure, reinforcing the “in bed” aspect of the phrase while adding a layer of visual irony.

Wordmarks

The wordmark is designed to reinforce the sense of tension and constraint established in the logo. Large letterforms combined with tight kerning and leading create a compact, compressed composition that evokes limited space and unease. Set in Crimson Pro SemiBold, the typography conveys a serious, grounded tone that complements the concept.

The abbreviated wordmark follows the same visual logic, maintaining internal tightness and pressure within the letterforms. However, its smaller scale within the canvas introduces a contrasting sense of isolation, suggesting loneliness despite the surrounding tension.

Typography

The typography system is designed to support the brand’s sense of tension and restraint while maintaining clarity. Crimson Pro SemiBold serves as the primary typeface, bringing a serious, grounded tone through its classic, authoritative character. Its weight and structure reinforce the feeling of pressure and control present throughout the visual identity.

Inter Medium functions as the secondary typeface, providing a clean and modern contrast. Its straightforward, highly legible form introduces moments of clarity within the composition, balancing the intensity of the primary type while still adhering to the overall sense of order and constraint.

Cover Art

The cover art incorporates the primary color, Autumn Orange, establishing a bold and unsettling visual foundation. The primary logo is positioned in the bottom-right corner, its placement intentionally creating a sense of imbalance and unease that reinforces the underlying theme of discomfort.

To counterbalance the composition, the title and subtitle are placed in the upper-left area, creating a structured layout. This tension between elements mirrors the constrained and uneasy atmosphere central to the concept.