When our hometown of Gdańsk approaches us with (yet another) request, we always say "yes"! This time, we had the pleasure of creating a project for Dolna Brama Center that will benefit not just the institution, but most importantly, the residents.
When our hometown of Gdańsk approaches us with (yet another) request, we always say "yes"! This time, we had the pleasure of creating a project for Dolna Brama Center that will benefit not just the institution, but most importantly, the residents.
The Social Development Department in Gdańsk isn't just a group of bureaucrats; it's a team of energetic and dedicated individuals with a mission. Their work involves mobilizing and engaging residents across various neighborhoods, supporting their growth, and empowering them. Collaborating with them is challenging but for all the right reasons – we all share a common goal of achieving the best possible outcome for our work.
Our client approached us at a rather unusual stage in their project. The Social Development Department already had an idea and even a logo they were fond of, but it was merely the seed of a complete identity. Due to circumstances beyond their control, work on their plan had to be paused. When they were ready to resume, they asked for our help. Taking on a project at this stage is challenging, but we decided to treat it as another creative task.
Together, we conducted an audit to update our client's needs and further action plan. This allowed us to develop a complete identity based on the existing logo, drawing on our experience and unique interpretation. In this project, time was also crucial – the building set to become the headquarters of Dolna Brama Center was already under renovation, making it essential to prepare the entire signage and wayfinding system as quickly as possible.
The logo our client brought to us not only won our favor but also became the starting point for creating the entire system. Its simplicity and ease of understanding set the stylistic direction for the whole system, including the iconography, which is a key element of the building's interior signage.
To meet all the jointly developed goals with the Social Development Department – namely the human touch, sense of closeness, and accessibility – we combined simple geometric forms with hand-drawn elements. Additionally, yellow has been the leading color from the start, as it is designated for social projects in Gdańsk.
This blend of the two worlds allowed us to create a visual identity that does not overwhelm the mission of the place and emphasizes its inclusivity, warmth, and individuality. Simultaneously, our design meets all accessibility standards for people with disabilities, featuring high contrast, simple and clear messages, and information in Braille. Furthermore, the entire information system was developed in three languages: Polish, English, and Ukrainian, as Centrum Dolna Brama has served as an organizational hub for refugees since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
This exceptional project is not just a gratifying job in terms of graphic design or a pleasant collaboration with the client. It is a true demonstration of what graphic design is all about—a form of art that requires no compromise between functionality and aesthetics.
Building brand worlds you want to live in.
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