Dezeen School Shows: branding for the Dallas-Fort Worth region, informed by western imagery, is among the projects from the Florence Institute of Design International.

Also featured is a treasure-hunt app for tourists in Lagos, Portugal, and rebranding plans for the Mykola Hryshko National Botanical Garden in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Florence Institute of Design International

Institution: Florence Institute of Design International (FIDI)
Courses: BA Graphic Design
Tutors: Eleanor Ferguson, Emanuele Milanini and Saber Naeemi

School statement:

"The graphic design research project thesis is held during the final year of the three-year BA Graphic Design programme.

"The year is a self-driven body of work generated over a period of 30 weeks, culminating in a final presentation where students are required to demonstrate the extent of their understanding and ability to apply design theory in practice.

"Students are required to form a working hypothesis, around which they must focus on delivering a unique graphic design solution to a real-world problem they have uncovered.

"Each project has its unique challenges and particular design angle requiring substantial primary and literary research on the topic.

"The three-year programme offers an intensive curriculum teaching on various aspects of graphic design to acquire advanced skills and knowledge and develop professional practitioners within the international design community.

"FIDI is an international design school located in the centre of Florence, Italy, with all courses held in English. The BA courses result in a validated bachelor's degree, BA (Hons) Graphic Design, issued in collaboration with Goldsmiths, University of London."

Savorè by Alice Galoppo

"Savorè is designed to bring the ingredients, aromas and warmth of a Nonna's kitchen into its users' home.

"Through her app, Alice Galoppo makes traditional Italian recipes and culture easily accessible to present and future generations of young adults.

"Utilising interactivity, gamification and visual texture, Galoppo ensures Savorè's graphics involve the user by stimulating their senses.

"The Nonna, a symbol of tradition in the Italian household, guides the user through each recipe – talking, teaching and preparing each dish as if she were beside them.

"In each region, the "Nonna" character adopts unique traits inspired by the traditions of that city or area. Alongside these illustrated narratives, Savorè allows its users to print the custom recipe sheets, giving them the ability to build a personal cookbook and keepsake.

"Through its combined digital and physical design, Galoppo's Savorè opens a cultural portal for its users, enriching the home with a sense of warmth and tradition we often crave."

Student: Alice Galoppo
Course: BA Graphic Design
Tutors: Eleanor Ferguson, Emanuele Milanini and Saber Naeemi

Mykola Hryshko National Botanical Garden in Kyiv by Anna Korniienko

"The Mykola Hryshko National Botanical Garden in Kyiv is one of the largest and most renowned botanical gardens in Ukraine.

"As a cultural landmark, the garden has also long been associated with healing and restorative qualities that draw visitors from around the world.

"In her rebranding project, Anna Korniienko focuses on creating a supportive environment for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders, whether stemming from combat or civilian life, who may visit the gardens for refuge.

"Approaching her design from a trauma-informed lens, Korniienko aimed to engage the visitor's senses to evoke feelings of tranquillity and peace.

"Korniienko's rebranding introduces interactive garden walkways, showcasing custom typography and logos promoting internal equilibrium through curved and balanced shapes.

"These graphic elements extend across physical assets from street posters to entry tickets, building a cohesive and soothing atmosphere.

"Ultimately, the goal of her rebranding is to promote a space that offers comfort and relief to those living with chronic stress related to PTSD.

"Through thoughtful use of shape and colour, Korniienko's graphics do just this by guiding each visitor through a peaceful, restorative experience from entry to exit."

Student: Anna Korniienko
Course: BA Graphic Design
Tutors: Eleanor Ferguson, Emanuele Milanini and Saber Naeemi

BunGuard by Leticia Aguirre Santana

"Addressing the lack of cybersecurity available in online games today, Laticia Santana's BunGuard app offers an interactive, character-driven solution for both parents and young gamers.

"BunGuard functions as a digital plugin that monitors and reduces verbal harassment within online gaming environments. In her design of the BunGuard characters, Santana uses a wide range of colours – from bold pinks to dark, shadowed greys – to reflect the diverse personalities that might seek safety and self-expression within the app.

"With the same mindset, the "Guardian Angel" characters are crafted with a focus on relatability through common postures and subtle attitudes, each grounded in the approachable, universally friendly identity of the bunny.

"Beyond the application, BunGuard offers its users a branded series of merchandise to enjoy, from caps and shirts to collectable stickers.

"By normalising empathy and safety within virtual environments, BunGuard offers young users the chance to enjoy the creativity and play of digital gaming without fear of online harassment."

Student: Leticia Aguirre Santana
Course: BA Graphic Design
Tutors: Eleanor Ferguson, Emanuele Milanini and Saber Naeemi

Gota by Riona Rushe Trindade

"Gota is a discovery campaign promoting a treasure-hunt app designed to help tourists in Lagos, Portugal, explore the region while avoiding heavily promoted, water-intensive activities.

"With this app, Riona Trindade aims to bolster tourism for the local economy of Lagos while also ensuring the environmental impact of these visitors remains as low as possible.

"Graphically, the project's brand identity draws from native colours and patterns of Lagos. Trindade takes inspiration from local palettes and landmarks to seamlessly blend the physical and virtual experiences.

"Paired with playful, user-friendly typography and custom patterns – Gota's branding creates a joyful experience both in-app and on foot.

"Through Gota posters, brochures and accessories, Trindade ensures that visitors interact with the brand not only as a tool for navigation, but more importantly, as a trusted friend on their local adventures."

Student: Riona Rushe Trindade
Course: BA Graphic Design
Tutors: Eleanor Ferguson, Emanuele Milanini and Saber Naeemi

Reverie by Mia Maffeo

"Reverie is a multi-sensory app that transforms nostalgia into a therapeutic tool for individuals with early-onset and middle-stage Alzheimer's.

"Mia Maffeo's app addresses the rate of cognitive decline for patients, aiding her users to reconnect with their memories and regain their sense of self today.

"Visually, Maffeo grounds the brand colour palette in a mix of warm and cool tones to evoke depth and focus during app navigation.

"Building on this foundation, she designs a typography that provides minimal distraction while maximising legibility and nostalgic impact.

"The app extends beyond the digital space by allowing each user to interact with physical products to complement their app experience.

"Using the same approachable aesthetic in the app's physical products, such as card games, aromatherapy pouches and memory chests, Aura offers multiple tools with which to support the user's progress.

"By approaching her branding through a psychological and emotionally intelligent lens, Maffeo empowers her users to rediscover hope and motivation when they need it most."

Student: Mia Maffeo
Course: BA Graphic Design
Tutors: Eleanor Ferguson, Emanuele Milanini and Saber Naeemi

KkwaZulo-Natal Cultural Centre by Zoe Raye Brown

"Using the art of abstraction, Zoe Raye Brown's KkwaZulo-Natal Cultural Centre offers both the local community and tourists the opportunity to celebrate culture while honouring its heritage at the same time.

"Inspired by the Ikhayas homesteads, the centre's branding and overall concept follow rhythmic shapes and patterns that embody the distinct local communities each hut represents.

"By creating unique visual identities for each home, Brown's design creates a seamless intersection of community and individuality.

"From the exteriors of each hut to the ticketing and branding materials, Brown's colour and pattern choices reflect the bold, joyous energy of the KkwaZulo communities.

"This, paired with custom illustrations based on traditional patterning, creates a cohesive identity showcased across the entire brand.

"Extending to clothing and accessories like small stickers and collectable items, the centre's branding creates a celebration of heritage that both locals and visitors can enjoy."

Student: Zoe Raye Brown
Course: BA Graphic Design
Tutors: Eleanor Ferguson, Emanuele Milanini and Saber Naeemi

Eden Express by Eliza Gethin

"Combating the way a long journey can sabotage the destination, the Eden Express offers a solution to extended travel with restless kids.

"At its core, the train is designed to transform a visitor's journey to the Eden Project into an educational and family-friendly adventure.

"In building the branding for the Eden Express, Eliza Gethin harnesses the organic shapes of the forest paired with a natural colour palette that celebrates biodiversity and sustainable living.

"Her brand typography centres around a clear and welcoming atmosphere to remain approachable to all ages. Unifying her brand and the experience, Gathin's design flows seamlessly from the digital realm, starting from the website and into the physical adventure through patterned train cars, staff uniforms and branded activities and merchandise for the kids.

"By creating an active and engaging experience for the entire family, Gethin's Eden Express encourages sustainable travel by train without the trade-off of an exhausting journey along the way."

Student: Eliza Gethin
Course: BA Graphic Design
Tutors: Eleanor Ferguson, Emanuele Milanini and Saber Naeemi

Common Threads by Lea Kellogg

"Through Common Threads, Lea Kellogg uses a multimedia approach across digital and print to help Asian American adoptee girls better understand their cultural transition and feel less isolated.

"Kellogg's branding aims to diversify the visual identity of both Asian and American iconography to help improve the personal image of preteen adoptee girls.

"Kellogg deconstructs these cultural references through a vibrant colour palette that reflects core cultural values from both the East and West.

"She incorporates this palette into her primary and secondary logos, using themes of community and warmth to guide her choices in shape, proportion and composition.

"Given the young demographic and the project's emphasis on community, Kellogg uses multiple contrasting fonts that ultimately work together in balanced harmony.

"Beyond the digital product, Common Threads offers books, stickers, accessories and more that emulate the brand's inclusivity and encourage young Asian American adoptee girls to embrace their identities.

"Ultimately, through Common Threads, Kellogg reaches a hand to young users who may be seeking cultural guidance and a sense of belonging."

Student: Lea Kellogg
Course: BA Graphic Design
Tutors: Eleanor Ferguson, Emanuele Milanini and Saber Naeemi

Lahemaa National Park Rebrand by Luisa Sharyln Butovtsenko

"Aiming to create a cohesive and captivating identity for the Lahemaa National Park, Luisa Sharyln Butovtsenko investigates the idea that a comprehensive visual identity and navigation system – across both physical and digital platforms – can improve visitor experience, enhance brand visibility and strengthen the park's profile.

"Drawing on themes of nature and the cultural heritage, Butovtsenko incorporates floral symbolism and Estonian patterns into her logo, transforming them into a clean, minimalistic design.

"Complementing this, she chooses a bold colour palette inspired by the park's distinct habitats and a typeface that feels both timeless and modern in shape.

"Together, these icons, shapes and colours create a unified identity for Lahemaa, ensuring a consistent and engaging experience across signage, merchandise, maps and promotional materials.

"Through her rebranding, Butovtsenko creates new opportunities for the Lahemaa National Park and offers it a brand identity that celebrates its future as much as its history."

Student: Luisa Sharyln Butovtsenko
Course: BA Graphic Design
Tutors: Eleanor Ferguson, Emanuele Milanini and Saber Naeemi

Aura by Valentina Szonja Petras

"A disruptor of the health industry, Aura is a supplement aimed at helping users transform themselves from the inside out.

"By tackling the five senses, Valentina Szonja Petras creates an immersive experience from the user's first introduction to Aura to their daily ritual of using the supplements and products.

"Ultimately, the Aura brand positions preventative health as a lifestyle aesthetic to young generations. To support this, Petras uses a gradient colour palette for aesthetics while designing delicate illustrations to emulate the natural qualities of its product's ingredients.

"Extending this same style into the typography, Petra blends classic, minimal shapes with a secondary type that offers a luxurious tone to the brand atmosphere.

"To help users incorporate healthy habits into their daily lives, Aura also offers physical products such as yoga mats, daily journals, and aromatherapy diffusers.

"By promoting Aura as a brand that encourages living with intention, Petras provides an aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional medical options."

Student: Valentina Szonja Petras
Course: BA Graphic Design
Tutors: Eleanor Ferguson, Emanuele Milanini and Saber Naeemi

Dallas Fort Worth Branding by Bryn Adell Ottendorf

"Analysing the impact of bold minimalism, Bryn Adell Ottendorf's branding for the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area seeks to unify two distinct identities without diluting the character of either.

"The campaign is designed to welcome newcomers into the area while also encouraging local residents to explore their own city in new ways.

"Ottendorf's brand identity features a custom typeface that strays from the typical corporate identity and references typography often seen locally in Texas.

"Blending approachable curves with western-inspired shapes, both the DFW and Metroplex typefaces help to bridge the identities of multiple areas.

"In her illustrations, Ottendorf incorporates seasonal colour schemes and sketch-style motifs that create a sense of nostalgia and reflect the passage of time.

"Ottendorf implements her DFW branding across all mediums from web to physical prints in posters, stamps and miscellaneous merchandise.

"Through this unified identity, Ottendorf offers a new chapter for the metropolis – one that creates collaboration and shared value between local communities."

Student: Bryn Adell Ottendorf
Course: BA Graphic Design
Tutors: Eleanor Ferguson, Emanuele Milanini and Saber Naeemi

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and the Florence Institute of Design International. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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