Welcome!
Stepping back to jump further: having the occasional recap is a good thing. KAN Design would like to welcome you to our first Seasonal Report. Intended to complement the case reports on our website, we trust this newsletter will help inform you about our latest achievements, large and small. In this edition you'll find:
Jessa corporate identity development
Universiteit Antwerpen living logo
akkanto logo and corporate identity
Jessa
Jessa is the brand-new name for a newly-merged hospital in Hasselt, Belgium, which will be the result of a current merger between two separate hospitals. The name is a personified abstraction of the names Virga Jesse (hospital) and Salvator (Sint-Ursula), the participants in the merger. KAN Design - long experienced in corporate identity projects for the healthcare sector - was selected to assist the merging hospital in devising a name, designing a new logo, developing the corporate identity and guiding the launch programme. While the administrative and organisational aspects of the merger continue and the graphic identity is developed further, the new name and logo have already been officially introduced as a uniting symbol for the merged hospital and as an exponent for the new values the organisation will be adopting.
Dag tegen Kanker
The Vlaamse Liga tegen Kanker (VLK - the Flemish League against Cancer which organises the Stand against Cancer campaign) required a new symbol for its annual Dag tegen Kanker (Day against Cancer) event, based on a solidarity ribbon. And asked us to also think about a stand concept to use at the more than 90 locations where the event would take place. Through using a special knot, a unique shape has been developed for the ribbon, of which the VLK ordered 100,000 pins to be produced. For the stand, a modular system of blocks was devised, allowing different combinations to be quickly and easily installed in function of available space at each location. A large 3D version of the ribbon, attached to the stand and to separate stand-up displays, acted as the eye-catcher during the event.
Universiteit Antwerpen
Amongst the follow-up assignments to the Antwerp University corporate identity project, KAN Design has recently developed a number of signage applications for the new Hof van Liere university club. Which culminated in a novel application: the UA logo as a three-dimensional living sculpture, completely covered in ivy. With the plant acting as a metaphor for the university, the sculpture effectively represents the UA as an institution that lives to grow and extend its reach in every sense of the word. Located in the inner courtyard of the university club's restaurant, this fresh and decorative piece welcomes all visitors interested in academic advancement, a good meal or both.
Nuon Generation Award
Nuon, the energy company, has inaugurated the Nuon Generation Award to annually recognise a company with the best renewable energy policy. KAN Design was invited by Happiness Brussels, Nuon's advertising agency, to create the accompanying trophy. The result is a restrained but distinguished design, consisting of a simple block shape made from transparent plexiglass to symbolise both the invisibility of energy and the durability of the energy management it recognises. A candle integrated in the trophy symbolises the energy-conscious enlightenment displayed by the winners, and also the hope for a safe and sustainable future. First winner of the Award was Belgian supermarket chain Colruyt, unanimously voted as having the best total approach to durable energy management.
akkanto
akkanto is the new name for European Communication Strategies (CS), the leading independent communication consultancy on the Belgian market. akkanto combines strategic communication advice with effective implementation in a broad range of communication disciplines. Desiring a new image to better reflect its professional services and forward-thinking approach, the company asked KAN Design to assist in developing a new name and identity. The name akkanto - from the Italian accanto, meaning close and nearby - exactly represents this leading corporate communication company as it is: a closely-knit and devoted team of professionals, working side by side with their clients and stakeholders. This core facet is visually translated in the company's new logo and identity. The two central k’s in the logo represent the aspect of closeness. The basic grey colour reflects the company's professionalism and expertise, while the orange highlights represent their proactive and dynamic approach.
Indian Caps
Close to our offices and close to our hearts: Indian Caps, which offers young artistic talent the podium it can't find in the regular gallery circuit. KAN design has a seat on the board of this NPO, and stages its annual KANtaloop event there, a unique podium for young jazz talent. With the start of the new season, Indian Caps has adopted a new format, in which five well-established Belgian artists act as godfathers to a very personal selection of young talent from the visual arts. Flor Bex, board member of Indian Caps and honorary director of MUHKA, has arranged an exclusive cycle of five exhibitions for this first edition, spread across the autumn of 2008 to the spring of 2009. Resounding names such as Guillaume Bijl, Luc Tuymans and Jan Fabre feature as godfathers in this first cycle. KAN Design is undertaking all communication and design for this series, and is also reponsible for the concept and production of the catalogue, which will appear in the autumn of 2009. As part of a sponsoring formula, this catalogue is also offered as a business gift for 2009 to any interested enterprises. More information on www.indiancaps.be, or from Hans Kan.
kandesign.net
Having started life as the platform hosting our clients' online design manuals, kandesign.net has meanwhile grown into an integral suite of online tools for managing corporate identities and brand assets. At present, kandesign.net consists of three powerful modules:
BrandBook: the overall structure in which basic rules and identity applications are located, managed and distributed.
EditEngine: an online editing tool custom-developed by KAN Design, with which standardised identity applications (stationery, folders, brochures, leaflets, advertisements, etc) can simply be created, edited and produced without requiring any particular training.
PixelPool: a powerful asset library used for storing and managing images, which van be directly integrated with EditEngine.
kandesign.net has a growing number of users, both small organisations and large companies, who use it to efficiently manage and distribute their marketing communication collateral both locally and internationally. Foolproof, user-friendly -and- in line with the corporate identity.
Want to know more? Surf to www.kandesign.net and create a free test account, or contact Marc Kan on +32(0)3 203 41 53.