From the brand to a destination digital ecosystem

http://www.aroundfaenza.it

Mark: simple, memorable, modular

• Circle–bowl: the core shape. A tribute to workshops, the potter’s wheel, the creative gesture.
• Arch–bridge: a connection between the six municipalities, an invitation to travel (also on foot or by bike).
• Blackbird–tower: character and history that rise up, without weighing things down.
• Abbey–gateway: the landscape’s sense of welcome and spirituality.

These elements fit together like tiles: on their own, they work as section pictograms; together, they build the destination’s emblem.

Colors: from the earth to the celebration

A warm, distinctive palette inspired by local materials and light:

• Gypsum (#F6F2EA) — the Vena del Gesso, bright and iconic
• Faenza Blue (#1C3D6E) — the depth of ceramics
• Badlands (#C7A37A) — clay, bare hills
• Vine (#2F6B3A) — rows of vines and “good” green
• Albana (#E8A740) — sunsets and DOC glasses
• Borgo Night (#111827) — for highly accessible contrast

Guaranteed contrast in the main pairings (Faenza Blue on Gypsum, Borgo Night on Albana) delivers strong color accessibility.

Typography: a friendly voice, a confident rhythm

Clear, decisive headlines, and long-form text that stays soft and easy to read. A touch more spacing in pre-headlines adds editorial breathing room. Headlines that push forward, paragraphs that flow. It was designed to improve legibility and make reading easier.

Why it works

It’s easy to remember, simple to apply, deeply local without feeling provincial. It speaks the language of ceramics, villages, bridges, and abbeys and brings it online with a smile. In one word: Around Faenza.

Brand & naming

The smile that brings everyone together

We chose a name that sounds good in headphones and in real life: Around Faenza. It’s as inclusive as an embrace from the hills, speaks to the six municipalities, appeals to Italian visitors, and gives a nod to the wider world. The domain aroundfaenza.it is short, clear, and memorable: easy to say, impossible to forget. Alongside the naming, we defined the tone of voice (warm but direct), designed the logo, and created the guidelines kit: a fresh identity, ready to hop on a bike, step into a ceramics workshop, look out over the badlands, and head down to the square when there’s a celebration. All with one clear idea: turning a broad, beautiful area, from the UNESCO landscape of the Vena del Gesso Romagnola to the plains of the Via Emilia, into a single destination story.

Information architecture & content

From “how beautiful” to “let’s go!”

We designed a structure that doesn’t waste time: Get inspired, Things to do, Places, Events, Flavours, Plan. Straight to the point, no frills, lots of heart.

• Place and experience: pages with what truly matters: practical info, maps, logistics, seasonality, and operator contacts
• Storytelling with bite: the energy of the ceramics workshops and the M.I.C (the world’s largest ceramics collection), Brisighella’s Medieval Festivals, the fresh air of walking routes and cycle tourism, the Colli di Faenza DOC wine and the DOP olive oil that scents every story.
• A living calendar: from the Scallion Festival in Riolo to weekends at the Herb Garden and the gypsum floats of the Spring Festival in Casola. Because identity here is something you actually celebrate.

Design system & accessibility

Beautiful, fast, for everyone

We built a modular design system (reusable components, clear hierarchies) and set accessibility as the standard: correct contrast, focus that never slips away, alt text that speaks. The result is a mobile-first experience that runs like the wind along the Via Aemilia. The project is also mindful and responsible: a territory that rose again after the 2023 flood deserves a web experience that is solid, inclusive, and kind.

SEO & governance

Order at home, spotlight on content

We implemented smart taxonomies, metadata, and structured markup to help search engines (and people) find what matters right away: ceramics, trekking, thermal spas, events, flavours. On top of that, a scalable editorial model: guidelines, workflows, and consistent quality, so content grows well and speaks with one voice, that of the Romagna hinterland that knows how to welcome, tell stories, and make people come back. And as local supply chains are integrated (from food and wine to the emerging Motor Valley strand in Romagna), the site becomes the unique showcase that was missing.