Akzo Nobel Color of the Year 2021 “Brave Ground”
Akzo Nobel Coatings SA, the Greek branch of AkzoNobel leading powder coating supplier, commissioned Georgia Harizani and Filippos Fragkogiannis to design a 2021 corporate gift inspired by their color of the year, a clayish color named “brave ground”.
Color is a key component of our interaction with the world, having a transformational effect on human emotion. Akzo Nobel’s powder coating brand Interpon introduced Brave Ground to represent balance, stability and potential communicated through their campaign “The Courage to Embrace Change”. We designed an item that would reflect these values: a functional calendar. Living though uncertain times, scheduling ahead and managing time seems arbitrary. Brave Ground is about finding the courage to pave one’s way to a new stability that is communal and earth-focused.
Featuring a rather unorthodox alignment, the design introduces the element of change – a decision implemented on the cover and introductory monthly spreads. These spreads clash with the subtle design of the book’s body, encouraging the user to “embrace change”. The 400-page desk book adds a comforting physicality to an era of social distancing and digital meetings, featuring ample space to accommodate the needs of Interpon Powder Coatings Greece’s clientele; architects, engineers and project managers.
The material choices are neutral, using Curious Matter Andina Grey to match the combination of soil, clay and quartz that inspired the earthy hue of Brave Ground. Beyond its natural tone, the paper’s texture of fine sand brings a certain awareness to the hand that touches it, contrasted with the body’s smooth feel and gridded layout. Indeed, being more mindful of our everyday gestures is one way towards the sustainable future that Akzo Nobel celebrates.
The calendar is accompanied by a custom metal bookmark coated with the brand’s color of the year, a physical proof of the color’s endurance over time. While Akzo Nobel “empowers us to find The Courage to Embrace Change in a constantly shifting environment”, this item will remind its recipient that the company’s products will last for years to come.
