The handwriting

Jeder Buchstabe ein Symbol der Teilhabe. Jede Zeile ein Zeichen unserer Gemeinschaft.

The handwriting of DZ BANK

Every letter, a symbol of participation. Each line, a reflection of our community.

With the DZ BANK handwriting, we visualise the participation and contribution of each individual. Collectively as one.
It’s an expression of the strength that forms when many individuals come together, and that’s what TOGETHER|VALUE stands for. We believe that the expertise of our employees is what drives the future success of DZ BANK.

Das Bild stellt eine stilisierte Darstellung der Erdkugel dar, in der Städte mit orangefarbenen Markierungen hervorgehoben sind, nämlich "New York", "London", "Deutschland", und "Madrid". Es zeigt eine Zahl - "14.000" - die möglicherweise eine Statistik oder einen KPI (Key Performance Indicator) darstellt, begleitet von einem Text, der Hinweise geben könnte über die Beteiligung oder den Input von Mitarbeitenden: "eingereichte Zeichen von 30% der Mitarbeitenden". Dies deutet darauf hin, dass 14.000 Zeichen von 30% der Mitarbeitenden eingereicht worden sind, möglicherweise für ein Projekt oder eine Initiative, die geografisch weitreichend ist oder globales Engagement hervorhebt.

Whether in New York or Hong Kong, Mumbai or Münster. Our expertise extends beyond national borders. We rely on numerous employees in the most important global markets who work together. Thanks to an online platform, each of them, wherever they are in the world, has had the opportunity to participate in shaping our handwriting. Because, as DZ BANK itself, our typeface should know no boundaries. Together, we have achieved this goal. All of DZ BANK’s national and international locations participated, and 30% of all employees contributed. That’s how we collected 14,000 characters, which now form the strong foundation of our shared handwriting.

A collective achievement: the DZ BANK handwriting

After all the preparation and extensive involvement in the project, the time has come:
The DZ BANK typeface is complete and is gradually being incorporated into our brand communication – in ads, at events, on the web and on billboards. As a powerful symbol, expressing the values of DZ BANK in a special way, wherever we want to communicate them in the future.

Connecting the individual to the big picture

Zeitraffer vom typografischen Entstehungsprozess der Schrift

To give the final form to a typeface that was co-designed by people all over the world? That was a very special experience.

Henning Skibbe, type designer

The DZ BANK handwriting style was created by people for people. Therefore, it was clear to us that for the final step of combining the individual handwriting styles, we would also rely on human expertise. Henning Skibbe has this expertise.
As an experienced type designer, he and his team combined the individual characters, layered them on top of each other, and meticulously worked out the special features that make real handwriting unique.
The result was a typeface that doesn’t simply represent the norm, but has its own rough edges. That’s what gives the DZ BANK handwriting its individual character.

Whether in ads, at events, on the web or on billboards.

In the future, our handwriting will be visible wherever we showcase the values of DZ BANK.

The image shows a person's hands typing on a laptop keyboard. The laptop is placed on a white desk. Next to the laptop is a binder titled "Finanzwesen" which suggests it could contain financial or business-related information or documents. The room is lit with natural sunlight, as evident from the shadow and sunlight reflections on the desk. There appears to be some greenery, likely from houseplants, in the background contributing to a bright and refreshing workspace atmosphere.