Sovereign State

Sovereign State Sovereign State is a brand design & idea studio based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

08/18/2026

Wonder Pens began with a fountain pen, a gift from Jon to Liz, and grew into a beloved family-run Toronto stationery shop built around the enduring pleasure of putting pen to paper. Since opening in 2013, their world has celebrated analogue rituals: correspondence, calligraphy, journalling, paper, ink and the simple act of slowing down.

For their new identity, we endeavored to capture that same sense of discovery. We created an illustration-led system filled with curious characters, objects of wonder, elements by hand and the idea that the pen is the starting point. A visual world inspired by the magic of traditional storytelling and imagination.

Wonder Pens is also a family adventure. The Chans have travelled with their children through Japan, visiting stationery trade shows, workshops and manufacturers, turning the business into a kind of travelling classroom in craft, curiosity and making.

Wonder Pens represents what independent businesses bring to our neighbourhoods: character, specificity, community and colour. A local world built through family, obsession, imagination and a genuine love for the craft.

08/10/2026

Founded in 1936 by William Larsen Sr., Genii is the world’s longest-running independent magazine devoted to magic. For nearly 90 years, it has documented the people, ideas and innovations shaping the art, earning a singular place within the global magic community.

We developed a cohesive visual and editorial language for how Genii looked, read and unfolded. Anchored by a custom-drawn masthead, the system brought together typography, colour, iconography, content architecture and the distinct pacing of each section. Clearer hierarchies and more intuitive navigation created consistency across every issue, while a flexible framework accommodated the depth and variety of Genii’s content.

The process was led in close collaboration with Julie Eng, whose vision, experience and deep connection to the magic community guided the work throughout. Key working sessions with Jim Steinmeyer brought an invaluable editorial and historical perspective, helping us understand what needed to be preserved and where the magazine could confidently evolve.

Every element was considered to make Genii more contemporary, engaging and intuitive while retaining the authority, curiosity and sense of wonder that have defined it for generations.

The result is a system designed to honour Genii’s devoted readership while welcoming a new generation into its world. A renewed expression of an extraordinary legacy, created to carry the art, history and future of magic forward.

Your new Cuban link.Handheld delights designed with hand drawn typography and illustrations. For our friends Kinsip
08/05/2026

Your new Cuban link.

Handheld delights designed with hand drawn typography and illustrations. For our friends Kinsip

08/03/2026

“Working with Sovereign State on the branding for Aspect Plastic Surgery was a genuinely meaningful experience for our team.

From the outset, Arnold and Joel approached the project with a level of care and emotional intelligence that’s rare to find. They didn’t just focus on how the brand would look, they took the time to understand how it should feel. They brought a sense of warmth, confidence, and intention into every conversation, and that energy carried through the entire process. Even during more challenging moments or decisions, they remained positive, steady, and solution-focused, which made a huge difference on our end.”

They have a real ability to translate ideas and emotions into something tangible. What we were trying to express, often in abstract or hard-to-articulate ways. They were able to refine and bring to life in a way that felt honest and elevated.

Clear communication, organized timelines, and a team that was always one step ahead. They handled the complexity behind the scenes while making the process feel smooth and manageable for us, which is no small thing.

What we’re left with is more than just a brand and a website, it’s something that truly reflects who we are and how we want people to feel when they interact with Aspect. We’re incredibly grateful for the care, creativity, and intention Sovereign State brought to this project.”

Jess F.

Brand design: Sovereign State
Interior design: Author

A short while back, we developed the custom typography, hand-drawn illustrations and label design for Kinsip’s Wink Gin....
07/30/2026

A short while back, we developed the custom typography, hand-drawn illustrations and label design for Kinsip’s Wink Gin. As an estate distillery focused on considered profiles like wild Ontario sumac, lavender, and hops, Kinsip required an approach that also felt hand authored.

We stripped away unnecessary elements to focus on the line work and the resulting visual identity expresses much like the spirit. Clean, sound, and finishes with a twist.

07/28/2026

“So the bar, like I said, should be an escape. Easy, non-committal. Bring a date, have a meal, watch a game, see a DJ, dance, party. It’s a thing that people need.

We’re going back to what a bar is supposed to be. For dudes our age, we miss those things. But these kids who are, like, 22 to 28, they’ve never experienced it. To them, bars are places where you get ripped off.

So we’re running it back. We want to show them, ‘Oh, this is the way it’s supposed to be.’ The bar can be a lesson in what you’re owed, your right to something better.

We wanted to make sure the food was approachable and the drinks were cheap, but good, and also profitable. It was very calculated.

So it’s an escape, but it’s also a fix. It’s a statement: We deserve better, right? You don’t know how good you can have it until you expect more, or see something that’s been done properly.”

Robin Goodfellow & Aldo Pescatore-Tardioli
Cafe Gigi / Dirty Laundry

Hiring: Intermediate Brand Designer3-Month Contract with Potential Full-Time / In-Studio / TorontoSovereign State is hir...
05/25/2026

Hiring: Intermediate Brand Designer

3-Month Contract with Potential Full-Time / In-Studio / Toronto

Sovereign State is hiring an intermediate brand designer.
We’re looking for someone with strong brand instincts, contemporary taste, and the ability to move from idea to ex*****on with confidence.

This role is for a designer with solid fundamentals and room to grow. Someone with competence in typography, layout, hierarchy, presentation, print production, and the details that bind brand systems.

The work spans identity, digital, print, presentations, signage, production, and client-facing brand applications.

Figma fluency is important, including prototyping, component systems, and polished presentation work.

Strong print production knowledge is required, including file preparation, specifications, supplier coordination, and attention to final output.

We’re looking for someone who approaches challenges proactively, designs with restraint, takes direction well, contributes ideas, and maintains strong attention to detail throughout the process.

This is a 3-month, in-studio contract position in Toronto, with potential to move into a full-time salaried role.

Remote, freelance, and hybrid arrangements are not being considered.

Portfolio and short note of intent to [email protected]

We’ll respond directly to candidates whose work and experience are closely aligned with the role.

Hiring: Senior Brand Designer3-Month Contract with Potential Full-Time / In-Studio / TorontoSovereign State is hiring a ...
05/19/2026

Hiring: Senior Brand Designer
3-Month Contract with Potential Full-Time / In-Studio / Toronto

Sovereign State is hiring a senior brand designer.
We’re looking for someone with practiced taste, strong brand experience, and the ability to carry work from concept through ex*****on with care.

The role spans identity, digital, print, presentations, signage, production, and client-facing brand systems.
Figma fluency is important, including prototyping, component systems, and client-ready interactive presentations.

We’re looking for someone who can think clearly, design with restraint, present ideas with confidence, guide details, and represent the studio well.

An awareness of design, culture, hospitality, and the city is valued.

This is a 3-month, in-studio contract position in Toronto, with potential to move into a full-time salaried role.
Remote, freelance, and hybrid arrangements are not being considered.

Portfolio and short note of intent to [email protected].

We’ll respond directly to candidates whose work and experience are closely aligned with the role.

Thank you to everyone who reached out and applied for our internship position.We received hundreds of responses from loc...
05/19/2026

Thank you to everyone who reached out and applied for our internship position.

We received hundreds of responses from local and international creatives, and we’re grateful for the time, care, and interest shown in Sovereign State.

The position has been filled.

There were many thoughtful portfolios and introductions, and we’ll be keeping a number of them on our return-to list for future opportunities.

To everyone who applied, thank you for sharing your work with us. We wish you the best in your creative journey and hope our paths cross again.

For the original and ambitious.Sovereign State is opening another internship position.We’re looking for an individual wi...
04/06/2026

For the original and ambitious.

Sovereign State is opening another internship position.

We’re looking for an individual with a strong point of view, a sharp eye, and the ambition to do standout work. This is an opportunity to step into the studio and gain real experience across the full brand design process.

Please send portfolios with a clear focus on brand design.

DM us with your portfolio and expression of interest.
Only selected candidates will be contacted.

Thank you.

Address

827 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON
M6J1V4

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

416 835 0802

Website

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