This Thursday at Community Breakfast, we had the pleasure of getting to know Marcus, Associate Creative Director at Self-titled, a Melbourne based design studio, and a new member of the Republikken community.
After six years in Australia, Marcus has returned to Copenhagen, bringing his work and international experience with him.
He shared his journey into graphic design, his approach to branding and creative collaboration, and how he is now helping Self-titled establish a presence in Europe.
From Copenhagen to Melbourne
Marcus grew up in Denmark and moved to Copenhagen from Aalborg when he was twelve.
His connection to Australia began when he met his now wife, who was visiting Europe from Sydney. After a year of long distance, Marcus decided to move to Australia at just nineteen years old.
He had already developed an interest in graphic design and knew that it was the direction he wanted to pursue professionally.
During his studies in Denmark, he had the opportunity to attend Monash University in Melbourne as an exchange student, followed by an internship at the design studio Self-titled.
That experience eventually led to a permanent position at the studio, where he has since developed into his current role as Associate Creative Director.
Finding the Story Behind a Brand
At Self-titled, Marcus works with branding, design, typography, animation, and visual communication.
One interesting part of his presentation was how the studio approaches building a brand.
Rather than starting with a logo or colour palette, the process begins with understanding the business itself.
The team works to identify what they call a company’s “self truth”, the values, purpose, and qualities that make it different from others.
This becomes the foundation for the creative direction and helps businesses communicate clearly, both internally and to their customers.
From there, the studio develops visual identities, typography, websites, animation, and other creative elements that bring the brand to life.
Design That Makes a Difference
Marcus also shared examples of Self-titled’s work, including a branding project for an Australian adventure park company.
The project combined a simple visual identity with a flexible design system that could work across different locations, activities, and levels of difficulty.
An arrow inspired by a tree became a central part of the identity, eventually appearing on everything from printed materials to large signs in the forest.
The project received several design awards and remains one Marcus is particularly proud of.
He also shared his approach to working with clients, where listening and understanding feedback are essential parts of the creative process.
For Marcus, good design is about finding solutions that balance creative ideas with the needs of the business and its audience.
Bringing Self-titled to Copenhagen
After six years in Melbourne, Marcus has returned to Copenhagen with his wife and young daughter.
He spoke warmly about reconnecting with family, friends, and familiar surroundings while bringing his Australian experiences into this new chapter.
Professionally, he is now helping Self-titled expand its reach by establishing a presence in Copenhagen.
While continuing to work with Australian clients, Marcus is also exploring opportunities to collaborate with European businesses, photographers, copywriters, developers, and other creative professionals.
That is also one of the reasons he joined Republikken.
He sees the community as a place to meet new people, share ideas, and create connections that could lead to interesting collaborations.
Creativity Beyond the Studio
Outside work, Marcus has plenty of creative interests.
Music has always been part of his life, and he enjoys everything from singing in choirs to curating playlists for different people and occasions.
He also enjoys football and plays for a team named Rohan FC, inspired by The Lord of the Rings.
And of course, Marcus has already made his mark at Republikken.
Just one week after joining, he won our annual Cake Festival, taking home the famous cake trophy. 🏆
Not a bad start to life in the community.
Why It Matters
Marcus’s story was a reminder that great design starts with understanding people, businesses, and the stories behind them.
His work at Self-titled shows how thoughtful strategy, creativity, and collaboration can help businesses build stronger and more meaningful identities.
It was also a lovely example of how international experiences can open new opportunities and bring fresh perspectives back home.
We are very happy to have Marcus as part of the Republikken community.
Thank you for sharing your story, Marcus, and for giving us an inspiring look into branding, creative thinking, and your new chapter in Copenhagen.