The
Omnipotent
Arm
City of Nitra
Creating a complex visual identity for a juggernaut of a client – the oldest and probably proudest city in Slovakia – was a high-wire act, balancing tradition and seriousness that it deserved with modern, somewhat playful approach.
Nitra, as the oldest Slovak city, has the advantage of a long tradition of visual design compared to other, younger cities. The city’s coat of arms, an armoured arm bent at the elbow, has been associated with the city since the 15th century. Its long tradition, symbolism and immutability have made it a significant element with which the inhabitants have lived for generations. It plays an important role in the locals’ identity as they have formed an emotional relationship with it, proud of their visual representation.
The visual identity of a city is an element representative of both the private (personal) and public (functional) domains of city life. The strategy in creating this identity was led by sensitivity to sentiment and historical context while at the same time paying close attention to the shifting and ever-changing needs for such a system. The coat of arms, an armoured arm bent at the elbow, was chosen as the main element of the new visual identity. Through the process of visual abstraction, the armoured arm was recreated as the city’s logo. The main aim was to create a connection between the coat of arms and the logo of the city of Nitra, not to create a duplicate logo and inconsistent or chaotic visual communication. The identity system uses the hand of the knight as a new medium that can carry a variety of symbols in countless mutations – e.g. for branding and unifying a number of institutions under the city's governance, communicating notices or seasonal affairs. Another element of the identity is the bespoke typeface Hlaholica Neue, inspired by the first Slavic Glagolitic script, based on the original shapes and strokes of the Glagolitic alphabet, which is historically strongly linked to Nitra.
Client: City of Nitra
Industry: Civic & Public
Type: Identity, Typography
Collaboration: Martin Kahan
Year: 2022
The coat of arms, an armoured arm bent at the elbow, was chosen as the main element of the new visual identity. Through the process of visual abstraction, the armoured arm was recreated as the city’s logo. The main aim was to create a connection between the coat of arms and the logo of the city of Nitra, not to create a duplicate logo and inconsistent or chaotic visual communication.
Another element of the identity is the bespoke typeface Hlaholica Neue, inspired by the first Slavic Glagolitic script, based on the original shapes and strokes of the Glagolitic alphabet, which is historically strongly linked to Nitra.
The Omnipotent Arm
City of Nitra
Creating a complex visual identity for a juggernaut of a client – the oldest and probably proudest city in Slovakia – was a high-wire act, balancing tradition and seriousness that it deserved with modern, somewhat playful approach.
Nitra, as the oldest Slovak city, has the advantage of a long tradition of visual design compared to other, younger cities. The city’s coat of arms, an armoured arm bent at the elbow, has been associated with the city since the 15th century. Its long tradition, symbolism and immutability have made it a significant element with which the inhabitants have lived for generations. It plays an important role in the locals’ identity as they have formed an emotional relationship with it, proud of their visual representation.
The visual identity of a city is an element representative of both the private (personal) and public (functional) domains of city life. The strategy in creating this identity was led by sensitivity to sentiment and historical context while at the same time paying close attention to the shifting and ever-changing needs for such a system. The coat of arms, an armoured arm bent at the elbow, was chosen as the main element of the new visual identity. Through the process of visual abstraction, the armoured arm was recreated as the city’s logo. The main aim was to create a connection between the coat of arms and the logo of the city of Nitra, not to create a duplicate logo and inconsistent or chaotic visual communication. The identity system uses the hand of the knight as a new medium that can carry a variety of symbols in countless mutations – e.g. for branding and unifying a number of institutions under the city's governance, communicating notices or seasonal affairs. Another element of the identity is the bespoke typeface Hlaholica Neue, inspired by the first Slavic Glagolitic script, based on the original shapes and strokes of the Glagolitic alphabet, which is historically strongly linked to Nitra.
Client: City of Nitra
Industry: Civic & Public
Type: Identity, Typography
Collaboration: Martin Kahan
Year: 2022
The coat of arms, an armoured arm bent at the elbow, was chosen as the main element of the new visual identity. Through the process of visual abstraction, the armoured arm was recreated as the city’s logo. The main aim was to create a connection between the coat of arms and the logo of the city of Nitra, not to create a duplicate logo and inconsistent or chaotic visual communication.
Another element of the identity is the bespoke typeface Hlaholica Neue, inspired by the first Slavic Glagolitic script, based on the original shapes and strokes of the Glagolitic alphabet, which is historically strongly linked to Nitra.
Enquiries:
info@andrejandrej.com
(421) 902 118 002
Instagram
Studio:
andrej & andrej s.r.o.
Partizánska 2
811 03 Bratislava
Business ID: 47939206
TAX: 2024156596
VAT ID: SK2024156596
Enquiries:
info@andrejandrej.com
(421) 902 118 002
Instagram
Selected projects
Selected projects
Andrej & Andrej Studio
The studio offers a uniquely bold, experimental and curious approach to visual communication. With expertise in crafting bespoke visual identity systems, brand identity, art direction, custom fonts, editorial design, illustrations, and web design, the studio aims to create its own gravitational pull that attracts clients from across all domains. The studio’s work is a confluence of meticulous research, daring experimentation, and practical application, all delivered with a keen focus on conceptual depth. The team at Andrej & Andrej welcomes challenges, constantly evolving to stay ahead of the curve while staying true to the client’s vision.
Contact
info@andrejandrej.com
(421) 902 118 002
Instagram
Address
andrej & andrej s.r.o.
Partizánska 2
811 03 Bratislava
Business ID: 47939206
TAX ID: 2024156596
VAT ID: SK2024156596
Clients
Academy of Fine Arts and Design Bratislava, Aen Group, City of Nitra, Biela noc, Crafting Plastics Studio, Čierne diery, Energy Manifest Conference, Eyerim, Flaam Festival, Isadore, Medium Gallery, No Cap, NhàBè, People in Peril, Pohoda Festival, Public Defender of Rights, Sam Chermayeff Office, Sensorium Festival, Slovak Design Center, Som Store, Subo, Tatra Banka
Team
Andrej Barčák
Andrej Čanecký
Lukáš Kollar
Services
Creative Direction
Branding
Visual Identity
Digital
Type Design
Editorial Design
Exhibitions
Animation
Movie Titles
Illustration
Album Artwork
Awards:
2022 The Type Directors Club, Ascenders, New York, USA
2022 Slovak Design Award 2022, SK / Identity Award
2021 Tatra Banka Foundation Art Award 2021, SK
2020 Slovak Design Award 2020, SK / Identity Award
2020 Slovak Design Award 2020, SK / Emerging Talent
2018 Slovak Design Award 2018, SK / Jury Price
2016 Best In Design, CZ / Grand Prix
2016 Best In Design, CZ / Communication design
Selected Press:
2023 DennikN, SK ↗
2023 Color Clash, Counter Print Studios, UK
2022 Tabloid, SK
2021 étapes, magazine, FR
2021 StartitUp, SK ↗
2021 More is More, Victionary, publication, HK
2021 Slanted Colors, magazine, DE
2021 Palette 4: Neon, Victionary, publication, HK
2021 BrandNew, USA ↗
2021 C24, DE ↗
2021 Another Graphic ↗
2021 Pretlak, SK ↗
2020 It's Nice That, UK ↗
2020 The Brand Identity ↗
2020 Back Catalogue
2020 Hypeandhyper, HU ↗
2020 Čerstvé Ovocie_FM, SK
2019 BrandNew, USA ↗
2019 Typogaráž Interview
2018 Radio Devin Interview
2018 Radio FM Interview
2018 28th International Biennial of Graphic Design
2018 27th PechaKuchaNight Trnava
2018 Fonts SK
2018 Radio FM Interview
Andrej & Andrej Studio
The studio offers a uniquely bold, experimental and curious approach to visual communication. With expertise in crafting bespoke visual identity systems, brand identity, art direction, custom fonts, editorial design, illustrations, and web design, the studio aims to create its own gravitational pull that attracts clients from across all domains. The studio’s work is a confluence of meticulous research, daring experimentation, and practical application, all delivered with a keen focus on conceptual depth. The team at Andrej & Andrej welcomes challenges, constantly evolving to stay ahead of the curve while staying true to the client’s vision.
Contact
info@andrejandrej.com
(421) 902 118 002
Instagram
Address
andrej & andrej s.r.o.
Partizánska 2
811 03 Bratislava
Business ID: 47939206
TAX ID: 2024156596
VAT ID: SK2024156596
Clients
Academy of Fine Arts and Design Bratislava, Aen Group, City of Nitra, Biela noc, Crafting Plastics Studio, Čierne diery, Energy Manifest Conference, Eyerim, Flaam Festival, Isadore, Medium Gallery, No Cap, NhàBè, People in Peril, Pohoda Festival, Public Defender of Rights, Sam Chermayeff Office, Sensorium Festival, Slovak Design Center, Som Store, Subo, Tatra Banka
Team
Andrej Barčák
Andrej Čanecký
Lukáš Kollar
Services
Creative Direction
Branding
Visual Identity
Digital
Type Design
Editorial Design
Exhibitions
Animation
Movie Titles
Illustration
Album Artwork
Awards:
2022 The Type Directors Club, Ascenders, New York, USA
2022 Slovak Design Award 2022, SK / Identity Award
2021 Tatra Banka Foundation Art Award 2021, SK
2020 Slovak Design Award 2020, SK / Identity Award
2020 Slovak Design Award 2020, SK / Emerging Talent
2018 Slovak Design Award 2018, SK / Jury Price
2016 Best In Design, CZ / Grand Prix
2016 Best In Design, CZ / Communication design
Selected Press:
2023 DennikN, SK
2023 Color Clash, Counter Print Studios, UK
2022 Tabloid, SK
2021 étapes, magazine, FR
2021 StartitUp, SK
2021 More is More, Victionary, publication, HK
2021 Slanted Colors, magazine, DE
2021 Palette 4: Neon, Victionary, publication, HK
2021 BrandNew, USA
2021 C24, DE
2021 Another Graphic
2021 Pretlak, SK
2020 It's Nice That, UK
2020 The Brand Identity
2020 Back Catalogue
2020 Hypeandhyper, HU
2020 Čerstvé Ovocie_FM, SK
2019 BrandNew, USA
2019 Typogaráž Interview
2018 Radio Devin Interview
2018 Radio FM Interview
2018 28th International Biennial of Graphic Design
2018 27th PechaKuchaNight Trnava
2018 Fonts SK
2018 Radio FM Interview