Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvár
Sometimes I like to participate in competitions where I can express my creativity and try out new things.
I found the competition announced by the Rizling Generáció particularly exciting because I had never tried designing a visual identity that would unify various company signs, vineyard signs, and the map of the region into a cohesive design.
Since there was no specific brief, I had complete freedom, which is why I decided to come up with ideas that are not necessarily graphical but rather offer innovative solutions in terms of execution. Of course, before starting anything, as in other cases, I began by doing some research. The most obvious step was to consult a wine expert, who showed me books and brochures and told me a bit about the wine-growing region.
During the design process, I thought that each winery would likely have a different style and logo, so the company signs would need to adapt to these various styles. I decided to design signs around the different logos that resemble road or street signs. Their appearance had to be eye-catching, simple, cost-effective, and uniform, yet still diverse. I also considered cases where it might not be possible to put up a physical sign, for example on a glass wall, so in such cases, I wanted to incorporate the logo into the overall design using a wave pattern.
The map posed the biggest challenge in terms of scaling. Vectorizing the entire region’s map was a task I genuinely enjoyed because I love this type of work. Moreover, the vector format allows the map to be used at any size, whether for a small flyer or a multi-meter wall. And when we only want to highlight a specific section of the map, grouping the elements becomes extremely helpful.
Finally, regarding the vineyard signs, my idea was that they should be large and eye-catching, with the company logo or information in the center illuminated by discreet LED lighting. To my knowledge, this solution would have been unique worldwide, and depending on the brightness of the LEDs, the vineyard signs would have been visible even from a distance at night. Inside the sign, I designed a separate space where images, rocks, or other items could be displayed.
