Updated 2024/04/05

Introduction

Cultivating curiosity is our universal catalyst for cultural change. Through culture, we strive to create genuine care, responsibility, concern and empathy for the world around us.

Our new visual identity helps us to communicate in a recognisable, consistent and memorable way with people in the city and the wider environment.

Visual identity aesthetics

The aesthetics of the visual identity of the ECOC Trenčín 2026 is based on the morphology of the current visual identity of the city of Trenčín, which is a metaphorical reference to our work with the city, which we are rearranging, creating something new and thus improving it. The playfulness associated with this dimension of the visual identity in turn inspires curiosity, which is the main catalyst for the changes we are making in the city and the region. We inspire people to work with us to shape the city and region for the permanently better.

The role of the design manual

This manual serves as a guide for staff, external staff, partners and partner projects. Only by following this manual consistently can we achieve recognisable, memorable and consistent communication.

The manual is not an exhaustive answer to all questions and situations. However, it contains rules for working with the basic visual elements of the brand.

Like the brand, the manual itself needs to be regularly updated and adapted to new needs in order to fulfil its long-term function as a tool for creating new or adapting existing visual formats.

Visual identity inclusivity

Inclusivity and colourfulness

1. Colour contrast: To make the content readable and understandable, use contrasting colours for the background and text.
2. Do not combine too many colours In one design, try to limit yourself to using a number of colors of the appropriate color theme so that the design is clean and does not obscure the main message.
3. Give preference to primary colours Secondary colours should be used complementarily and not dominate the design, unless we are working with a specific theme.
4. Do a visual check: For online materials, make sure the colour combination is pleasing to the eye and does not create any distracting or unpleasant effects such as flickering or optical illusions.

Accessibility in our designs ensures that our outputs are inclusive, useful to all, including people with visual impairments. Colour contrast is also a key aspect of accessibility. This manual provides guidance on ensuring that colour contrast meets WCAG 2.0 standards.

See more in the section „Colours“

Inclusivity and Trenčín Headline font: Trenčín Headline:

In order to guarantee the highest possible level of readability for all, the following text settings should be taken into account:

Light contrast:The font should always be presented with good contrast against the background. This allows people with visual limitations, such as the elderly or those with colour blindness, to see and recognise characters better.

Clarity of shapes: The basic set of characters is designed to be uniquely identifiable and interchangeable. For maximum readability and accessibility for the largest possible audience, we recommend using the basic stylistic font set "Trencin Headline". Identification of shapes is also aided by adherence to minimum size, letterspacing and line size.

Sufficient space around the letters: Characters should not be too close together, but not too far apart either. This way we can guarantee maximum accessibility

See more in the section „Font“

Updated 2024/04/05

How to work with identity

The elements of the brand are the basis of identity work. By using brand elements we can scale various applications of the ECOC Trenčín 2026 brand

Basic elements of the brand

Trenčín 2026 has its own unique identity, which is characterised by visual elements such as the logo, fonts and colours. These elements are not just aesthetic additions – they are the cornerstones that define how we perceive a brand, how it communicates its values and how it differentiates itself from the competition.

Updated 2024/04/05

Logo

Logo application

In most cases we work with a basic logo with a semicircular description "European Capital of Culture". In international communication we work with the English version of the logo with the description "European Capital of Culture". In marginal cases for large (e.g. a sign in a park) or too small applications (e.g. a pen) we can use a typographic version without the logo description.

Safe zone

The logo safe zone helps us to ensure safe logo recognition.

Basic logo placement

Example of logo alignments:

Creative logo placement

In some situations, we can also place the logo in a creative way to make it a bigger part of the visual:

1. As part of the heading text
2. As part of typography
3. As part of graphics

Logo size

Minimum logo size

Other logo variants

Logo colour scheme

When using the logo of the ECOC Trenčín 2026, it is important to observe the colour theme of the application, sufficient contrast and legibility of the logo. The appropriate size of the logo should not be forgotten.

Zakázané zásahy do loga

Updated 2024/04/05

Font

The typography of the ECOC Trenčín 2026 is a basic and distinctive component of the visual identity. We use:

Main headline font – Trencin Headline

The font Trenčín Headline is the basic building and distinguishing element of the brand.

Diacritics

Trenčín Headline and inclusivity

In order to guarantee the highest possible level of readability for all, the following text settings should be taken into account:

Light contrast:The font should always be presented with good contrast against the background. This allows people with visual limitations, such as the elderly or those with colour blindness, to see and recognise characters better.

Clarity of shapes: The basic set of characters is designed to be uniquely identifiable and interchangeable. For maximum readability and accessibility for the largest possible audience, we recommend using the basic stylistic font set "Trencin Headline". Identification of shapes is also aided by adherence to minimum size, letterspacing and line size.

Sufficient space around the letters: Characters should not be too close together, but not too far apart either. This way we can guarantee maximum accessibility

Letterspacing

Line spacing

The Trenčín Headline font is designed as a headline font for use in larger sizes to guarantee the necessary distinctiveness, recognizability and uniqueness of the Trenčín ECOC 2026 brand.

Minimum size of heading text

Minimum text size is 24 px for digital or 15 pt for print.

Basic text font

The basic text font is called Trenčín2026 and is created by Matej Pyšný based on the open source font Inter designed by Rasmus Andersson.

Hierarchy and sizing

System fonts

The most suitable system font is Inter:

Iconography

A sample of the visuality and aesthetics of the icons designed for Trenčín 2026

Arrows are part of the font (↑ ↗ → ↘ ↓ ↙ ← ↖) and can be used as navigation icons.

Updated 2024/06/07

Colours

Základná farebnost (nadlinka)

Complementary colours

Ukážky v základnej farebnosti

How we work with colours

Guidelines for the correct use of colours:

1. Colour contrast: To make the content readable and understandable, use contrasting colours for the background and text.
2. Do not combine too many colours Try to limit yourself to using 2 to 3 colors in a single design so that the design is clean and doesn't obscure the main message. The multi-color theme is an exception.
3. Give preference to primary colours Secondary colours should be used complementarily and not dominate the design, unless we are working with a specific theme.
4. Do a visual check:  For online materials, make sure the colour combination is pleasing to the eye and does not create any distracting or unpleasant effects such as flickering or optical illusions.

Accessibility in our designs ensures that our outputs are inclusive, useful to all, including people with visual impairments. Colour contrast is also a key aspect of accessibility. This manual provides guidance on ensuring that colour contrast meets WCAG 2.0 standards.

Text and images of text:

• AA Big contrast: 3:1 (Suitable for larger text: 18pt/14pt in bold or all caps)
• AA Default: 4.5:1
• AAA Enhanced: 7:1

When creating designs it is important to pay attention to sufficient colour contrast so we can guarantee that the text will be recognisable and distinguishable.

Positive examples

Negative examples of visual identity

How to choose new colors

Rules for selecting new colours:

1. Design the new colours in pairs that complement each other and create a theme. Exceptions are colours whose purpose is different such as: warning colour or similar.
2. First, design the colours for the digital environment. We design colours for print separately. This means that the values are not automatically converted, but independently designed to make their contrast as similar as possible to the digital version and to the printout.
3. Try to look for colours that work in harmony and in the context of the others, and although they are designed as a pair forming a theme, they can be intermixed.ej version and on the print.
4. Always ask yourself whether it is necessary to add new colours. The more colours we have, the more complicated the system is to maintain and comply with.

Updated 2024/04/05

Layouts

There are two ways to create layouts with visuals under the brand of the ECOC Trenčín 2026: typographic or using imagery: with illustration or photography. In combination, they create space for several ways of communication. The basic elements of the brand offer the following layout treatment:

1. Typographic

We know how to work with the title tag font

2. With a photo

Photo size

Colouring of the photo

3. With an illustration

Working with illustration allows us to work with a small illustration or a fragment of an illustration, a larger illustration incorporated into a layout and a full-size illustration.

Complex

Depending on the complexity of the layouts, we scale the amount and size of the brand headline font.

Grid

The minimum size of the layout margins is identical to the logo protection zone.

In layouts we work with even numbers of 2, 4, 6, 8, 12-columns.

Updated 2024/04/05

Application samples

Updated 2024/09/18

For download

Pre partnerov

Prvky vizuálnej identity