Polka: A Playful and Modern Brand Identity

Expressing Passion and Pioneering Spirit through Design

Polka is an online retailer that sources and introduces a wide variety of lifestyle products from around the world to customers in Japan. When developing Polka's brand image, the design team aimed to express the company's passion, pioneering spirit, and diverse interests.

By utilizing the polka dot motif, which is the origin of the company's name, the design team created a logotype that exudes modernity and joy. They further developed an original pattern consisting of randomly arranged large and small dots, representing Polka's interests, pioneering spirit, passions, and individuality.

The realization of Polka's brand identity involved the use of Vent Nouveau V snow white 235kg, a high-grade printing paper that combines a cloth-like feel with a stylish touch. This paper perfectly captures the integration of refined, urban elements and a fun, cute aesthetic that Polka embodies.

The design specifications for Polka's brand collateral include a business card measuring 55mm x 91mm, a letterhead measuring 297mm x 210mm, and a tag measuring 100mm x 100mm.

Polka's brand identity not only represents the refined, urban modern woman with a fun, cute side but also appeals to the company's target customers, suggesting a certain lifestyle. The use of the dot pattern symbolizes the unending curiosity of modern women.

The design project for Polka took approximately two months to complete. Throughout the process, the design team conducted extensive research on various businesses, exploring user images, impressions, and feelings. They also analyzed existing companies and brands to determine the visual language necessary for Polka.

One of the main challenges faced during the design process was finding the balance between modern sophistication and fun cuteness. The team strived to create a design that would resonate with users and evoke the desired reactions towards Polka.

Yuta Takahashi, the Japanese designer and art director behind Polka's brand identity, successfully unified an array of fashion items with a sense of unity through the monochromatic color palette and the playful use of polka dots.

Polka's brand identity, created by Yuta Takahashi, was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in 2016. This prestigious award recognizes designs that exhibit outstanding creativity and resourcefulness, incorporating best practices in art, science, design, and technology. Polka's brand identity not only showcases strong technical and creative skills but also contributes to improving the quality of life, making the world a better place.