Inspired Realists

Kopius

Naming, Strategy, Identity

Seattle-based Valence Consulting merged with Argentinian technology firm Tradehelm so they could provide their clients with a more robust service offering: onshore technology consulting services supported by near-shore teams who execute cost-effectively at scale.

With this merger, they needed a new name and go-to-market strategy to connect with clients in both geographies. The firm’s signature approach starts with blue-sky consulting about the application of technology to business, and translates into focused, executable strategies and deliverables. Their new brand essence is "Inspired Realists," which captures this core duality. And, the new name of the combined organization — Kopius— speaks to the plentiful results their clients can expect.

Client

Kopius

Disciplines

Strategy,

Identity,

Digital

Kopius logo on a dark background

Engineered precision with a human touch

The juxtaposition that’s built into the brand essence of “Inspired Realists” is reflected in the the new Kopius identity. Hand-wrought, brush-stroke elements represent human creativity and ingenuity, and are contrasted against crisp, geometric typography that speaks to the firm’s pragmatic execution capabilities.

The asterisk logo mark connotes the idea of “plenty” (an asterisk at the end of a statement means “more”; in a search query it means “all”). Rendered with a hand-drawn brush, it is a metaphor for the spark of creative inspiration.

Kopius asterisk logo
Long-exposure shot of burning steel wool spun in a circular motion, creating radiant orange trails of sparks against a dark background, with the text 'Digital Transformation' and a small asterisk icon overlaid in the center.

Highlighting what’s important

The juxtaposition of engineered and hand-made elements extends beyond the logo into the entire design system. Key words, ideas, and photographic elements are highlighted with brush-stroke gestures ranging from underlines to arrows, boxes and circles. The result is a differentiating design system that means audiences always recognize a Kopius communication, even before they see the logo.

The text 'Big Ideas' with a pink drawn circle over 'Ideas'.
Stylized graphic of a person using a smartphone with the text "Transforming Digital Experiences" on the bottom right.
The word 'kopius' repeated three times in cream-colored bold text on a peach-and-pink gradient background. A large, thick olive-green brushstroke arrow points toward the upper-right corner.
A red articulated lamp forms sharp angles across a desk, reflecting the engineered and hand-made duality of the Kopius brand.

Kit of parts

While there are plentiful opportunities for creativity in executing the design system, we wanted to be sure it was easy and quick for Kopius marketers to create new communications. A robust library of brush elements, photos and other graphics allows them to generate bespoke materials with minimal effort.

Hand-drawn, brush-style graphical elements - circles, lines, and arrows - on a white background.
The letters Aa in multiple font formats on a white background.
The color palette for Kopius branding.
Brand guidelines document with typography standards, color palettes, graphic elements and usage for branding materials.
Laptop mockup displaying the Kopius 'Transform Your Digital Business' capabilities webpage.
Black tee shirt on a magenta background with the words 'Build the Future' on the front, and a magenta circle drawn over 'Future'.

A brand for all

In addition to their client audience, a major target of the Kopius brand is for recruiting top talent. The intense energy encapsulated in Kopius’ vibrant palette and brush-stroke elements is designed to appeal to consultants who are looking for an engaging, collaborative environment where they can make impact through their work.

Mockup of promotional posters for Kopius.
Mockup of sample social media posts for Kopius.
Mockup of a billboard for advertising Kopius.

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