Challenge
MANOR Hotel was a new hospitality development on the Black Sea coast, in Mamaia Nord (Romania), with the goal of becoming a modern, stylish destination. The client approached me at an early stage, needing support in naming, brand creation, and multi-platform design delivery. Over time, the collaboration evolved into a long-term partnership covering ongoing branded materials and new sub-brands.
Approach
We began with naming exploration, guided by contextual research into local culture, tourism trends, and brand perception. The selected name — MANOR — was a fusion of “Mamaia Nord” and a nod to elegance and structure, reflecting the design and tone of the hotel.
The visual identity was built around a custom-crafted “M” initial logo, combining serif and sans-serif elements to communicate both sophistication and modernity. The system was designed to be flexible across multiple touchpoints — from signage to digital to hospitality collateral.
Design work continued in several key phases:
- Print Identity: Business cards, letterhead.
- Guest Experience: Key card holder, branded placemats, restaurant menus.
- Advertising & Promotion: Flyers, a 25×1.5m construction banner, presentation folder, and large-format totems for the hotel entrance.
- Digital Presence: A WordPress-based presentation website (launched in 2018), maintained by the client post-launch, and an HTML email signature.
- Brand Extension: Logo adaptation and design materials for MANOR SKI, a related winter destination under the same umbrella.
Each design asset was developed through strategic briefing sessions focused on clarity, environment, and use-case — not full brand strategy, but always purpose-driven.
Results
- A distinctive, elegant visual identity applied consistently across 15+ branded materials
- A clear, scalable design system that allowed for easy adaptation (e.g. MANOR SKI)
- Ongoing collaboration with the client, providing design continuity as the brand evolved
- Positive reception from guests and local visitors, supported by high-visibility signage and cohesive branded experiences
“From a name and a logo to an entire physical and digital presence — MANOR became a long-term visual story.”
