Pan y Circo

CONTEXT

La Corriente del Golfo came to us with a powerful invitation. Diego Luna had created something special for Amazon Prime Video: a space where activists, politicians, artists, and scientists sat down to share a meal and discuss the most pressing issues facing Mexico and Latin America. Gregory Allen contacted us for the second season with a challenge that excited us.

What resonated most with us was the premise of the programme itself: bringing people with different—sometimes completely opposing—points of view together around a table to share something as human and natural as bread. A way of addressing complex social issues in the most human way possible: through dialogue and shared food.

In our first sessions with Gregory, we discovered our real challenge: translating these intimate but complex conversations into a visual system that would amplify their transformative power. It wasn’t just about television design; it was about creating a visual bridge between sensitive topics, diverse characters, and audiences who needed to connect with these vital conversations.

SERVICES

Strategy
Branding
Digital
Audiovisual

INDUSTRIES

Social Impact
Culture
Media

“Creating the identity of Pan y Circo with UNCODE.NETWORK was like finding a creative partner to play, explore, and bring our ideas to life. They truly understood what we were looking for, and the result was incredible – original, authentic, and entirely our own.”

— Paula Amor, General Director of La Corriente del Golfo

CHALLENGE

How do you visualise complex and sensitive conversations?

The briefing presented us with a challenge. We needed to develop a flexible visual identity that aligned with Diego Luna’s directorial tone and could adapt to a different social issue in each episode—from public health to justice, from migration to human rights.

During our co-creation sessions with the production team, something important emerged: each episode demanded emotional sensitivity and political clarity simultaneously. How could we create a system that kept Diego as a recognisable anchor while giving prominence to the issues and voices of each conversation?

That’s when we discovered the essence of our work: to create a visual language that would clarify, not dilute, the political and emotional weight of these conversations. A system that would connect issues, geographies, and perspectives without overwhelming audiences, but inviting them to participate in the dialogue they would see on screen.

APPROACH

01.

Topic-Driven Visual Storytelling

02.

Modular Narrative System

03.

Design Aligned with Direction

01.

Topic-Driven Visual Storytelling

We designed the visual identity to suit the theme of each episode, not just the presenter. In some posters, Diego Luna appears as a recognisable anchor; in others, we give prominence to relevant figures such as healthcare workers, protest scenes or specific geographical contexts.

During the creative process with Gregory, we developed a custom masking technique that integrates fragmented photography into bold, directional shapes. These layered images function as narrative clues, giving audiences an emotional reading of each episode’s focus.

The result was an expressive and editorial system: the posters function as metaphorical guides for the conversations Diego leads, balancing personal narrative with visual coherence. Each design carries the thematic weight while maintaining the recognisable identity of the series.

02.

Modular Narrative System

We built the identity with communicative clarity in mind, not just aesthetic impact. The system needed to work across Amazon’s global interface, social media, press kits, and promotional campaigns—each platform has its own visual demands.

In collaboration with the production team, we designed the visual identity for each episode in a modular way, allowing the series to scale in scope and complexity without losing its voice. Colours, typography, and composition rules hold the system together, while images evolve with each conversation.

Our design does not decorate the content; it helps audiences navigate it. Each visual element serves to clarify, contextualise, and amplify the social message of each episode, turning complex topics into accessible visual experiences.

03.

Design Aligned with Direction

We worked closely with Gregory Allen’s creative direction to ensure that every visual decision served the programme’s social narrative. From the tone of the photography to the rhythm of the graphic elements, every choice was deliberate to reflect the emotional intensity and political relevance of the series.

What we valued most about this process was the coordination between our different locations: strategy from Barcelona, creative direction between London and Mexico City, design from Mexico. Our diverse cultural backgrounds enriched the project, allowing for multiple perspectives on issues that affect all of Latin America.

The goal was never visual impact for its own sake, but rather to create a design capable of carrying the weight of these vital conversations. We embraced this project as our own because generating positive impact in the world is a fundamental part of our purpose as a network.

SOLUTION

Pan y Circo’s identity system became a multi-layered visual language that merges presenter, topic, and episode into cohesive frames. Designed to evolve with each new conversation, it transforms urgent issues into emotive, accessible, and recognisable visuals.

More than just bringing together design and content, the system connects the intimacy of table-top conversation with the complexity of the social issues addressed. Each visual element amplifies the programme’s mission: to demonstrate that human dialogue can be a tool for social transformation.

The result shows that thoughtful design can serve as an ally for social change, translating complex political conversations into visual language that invites viewing, listening and participation. An identity that honours both the humanity of sharing bread and the urgency of the issues that affect us all.