The Decree Chronicles
Work delivered: Editorial brand identity
Editorial Team: Mihai Matei, Diana Oncioiu, Vlad Stoicescu, Diana Meseșan, Octavian Coman, Valentin Santarosa, Andreea Tătaru, Alexandru Mihai
This was not going to be a quiet logo. An editorial project documenting a decades-long human tragedy needed a logo to assert its relevance. It had to be simple, frontal and bold.
Early ideas
My first attempts were, in retrospect, predictable: “hey let’s use Ceausescu’s face.” This approach provided considerable visual impact, but there was a problem: that all-too-familiar mug hijacked the message.
Using famous references in a logo is sometimes practical. However, in this case the dictator's notoriety was parasitic, it grabbed too much attention. This project was not about him.
A better concept was needed, one that could provide its own meaning. After several attempts, one idea stood out: the female symbol, locked behind vertical prison bars. A tribute to the victims of the totalitarian regime's persecutions. A clear, simple symbol.
This approach immediately resonated with the editorial team, so I started to develop the idea into a logo, trying various graphic executions, colors and typefaces.
The final logo (shown above) was quickly delivered, and the project was launched.
Check out The Decree Chronicles website, available in English and Romanian.
