nenets autonomous okrug
Nelmin-Nos
Branding with a wayfinding system for an out standing ethnic village.
Nenets tambourine is the main symbol of the village
"Time is palpable. While in tundra, one second stretches into the eternity of the polar night and shrinks into a shot of tynzei. That's why the tundroviks don't rush time. It pours from nothing to nothing through the neck of the tundra. Drip, drip, drip! Ability to wait is an innate talent not to squander on trifles. Patience is the certainty that infinity has its limits. It smolders with a cigarette up to its nails. The smoke of regret is to the wind!" (From the book "Raindeer men" by Alexey Sukhanovsky, Russia, 2009)

Client: NAO Business Development Center

Work: Branding, wayfinding system

2019
One week till the summer in 2018
Nelmin-Nos is an ethnic village in Zapolyarny district in Nenetsky Autonomous okrug of Russia. In context of tourist development, it could be a place of interest by its identity and the isolation of local people's lives. A few family and clan communities of 8 indigenous minorities of the North are located here. You can get acquainted with the customs and life of modern reindeer herders, learn how the heirs of nomadic communities live in modern times, and visit museums.

When you visit the village, you are struck by the fact that Nelmin-Nos lives in its unique rhythm of life and time, being remote from the city and deprived of direct transport accessibility. The pace of life in it is more familiar to man, devoid of bustle, haste and artificiality. The tourist slogan "Life in the rhythm of the tundra" reflects this idea. The graphic symbol of the city was an image of a shaman tambourine - the most important and recognizable symbol of the culture of the Nenets people.
Nelmin-nos logo is a nenets tambourine reference
Nelmin-Nos logo
Nelmin-Nos logo mini
guidelines
To the right is administration center
Font
Both neutral, modern and legible, Siberian font made by Oleg Matsuev is one of the most important elements of the brand. One of the most noticable aspects of it — is a lack of cursive and caps letters, which adds atmosphere and the feeling of intonation rythm, that therefore lacks typical pauses and accents. What especially nice is that this font is playing against the pseudo-historical stylizations we hate and the imaginary tides toward the specific historical period, making it totally looking out-of time. Not to say anything about its international and outstanding vibe.
WAYFINDING

  • Elena Ermolina
    Producer
  • Natalia Makovsky
    Brand strategy
  • Igor Makovsky
    Design, illustrations, texts
  • Oleg Matsuev
    Siberian type designer
  • Thanks to Vlad Vyucheisky, Olga Sukhovarova for cooperation
More projects in NAO
NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG
NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG
NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG
NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG
NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG
NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG
NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG
NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG
NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG
NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG
NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG
NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG
NAO
Minimalism philosophy, unofficial branding and tundra
NAO map
The most minimalistic map of the most minimalistic region
Naryan map
Town map with local names, humour and legends
Naryan wayfinding
3d map and wayfinding design for city center
Tundrafest
The food festival with the taste of tundra
Cartoondra: the mascots
From sketch to people's true love: three little heroes of NAO
Tundra merch
Wear tundra, spread tundra across the world
NAO Museum association
Single brand to rule them all
Lore museum
Lore museum rebranding
Pustozersk museum
Town that lies beyond the horizon line
Pechora storytelling conference
Inspired by Maremiana and Oksino residents
Frigate in Pustozersk hotel & restaurant brand
How partnership with museum helps HoReCa
Lighthouse restaurant
Aesthetical illustrated branding
Nelmin-Nos
Living to the tundra rythms: branding of the outlying village
Nel'min Nos map
Find your way through the rythms of tundra: wayfinding system of the outlying village
Naryan-Mar 3D
Naryan town simulator goes full 3D
Narey
Award-winning fashion designer Olga Sukhovarova brand
Indiga
From village branding into festival branding
My Arctic
My ____ tourist operator in NAO branding
Bolshukha
Bolshukha theme park in Naryan-Mar branding
NAO × British High School
Collaboration between BHSAD students and NAO tundra