ReBrand & UX
NMSGU
Nizhyn Mykola Gogol State University (NMGSU) is a historic Ukrainian institution seeking a refreshed identity that reflects both its heritage and its international outlook. My role was to develop a cohesive rebrand that honours local symbolism while feeling contemporary and scalable across print and digital touchpoints.
Research & Concept
I began with historical and cultural research into the university’s origins, Gogol’s literary legacy, and regional craft and architectural motifs. This led to a concept that combines the national trident and fire symbolism from the existing crest with a simplified, geometric flower form. The new mark is intended to feel resilient, academic, and distinctly Ukrainian without relying on overused tropes.
Final Branding
The primary logo refines the original heraldic elements into a clean, reproducible symbol paired with bilingual wordmarks. Faculty variants use a shared core structure with shifted colour accents, creating a flexible sub‑brand system that stays visually coherent. Clearspace and minimum‑size rules ensure legibility across everything from stationery to social media.
Logo
The palette balances a soft Columbia Blue drawn from the university’s previous web identity with deep Midnight, bright Carrot Orange, and a neutral French Grey. This hierarchy keeps most applications calm and academic while reserving orange for emphasis. A typographic system of Roboto Slab, Arimo, and Montserrat supports both Ukrainian and English content and maintains clarity across headings, body copy, and captions.
Colour & Type
Final Project
I applied the identity to pitch decks, merch, web layouts, and print collateral to test consistency in real contexts. The project taught me how to balance heritage with modernity, and how to handle sensitive cultural symbolism with care. In future iterations, I would further explore how the identity could explicitly respond to contemporary Ukrainian realities while remaining respectful and hopeful.
Applications & Reflection