The ‘My Mazovia’ project was an idea of the Mazovia Voivodeship Local Government, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
The client came to us with only a song, written by Jacek Cygan with music composed by Piotr Rubik. They asked for a comprehensive graphic design for the project that would be consistent with the Mazovia anthem. We created a unique concept that was not only auditory and visual but also olfactory. One that shows the diversity of Mazovia and its unique microclimate, people, cities, and nature. It presented Mazovia as a place that inspires its citizens to live, work, develop, and relax.nku.
When we think ‘Mazovia,’ we feel vitality, dynamism, and energy. We expressed this in the logo through the symbol of the skirt of a dancer from the Mazovia Song and Dance Ensemble – a group performing for almost 75 years now. This was our idea for showcasing movement – the swirling dress was perfect for creating an animation. We chose a simple, minimalist font with small capitals and decided on three primary colours: white, black, and red. Red like the lipstick of the dancers and as the dominant colour in the regional costume of the artists.
What do you feel when you think ‘Mazovia’? We often asked people this question. It turned out that their answers revealed a pattern. Mazovia is the scent of linden from the Mazovian forests and city parks, apples from grandmother’s orchard, and plants that perfume the morning air. We created candles with the aroma of linden, and in the MO61 Perfume Lab, we composed perfumes with the scent of Mazovia. Would you like to know what they smell like?
The outstanding lyricist Jacek Cygan recognised that the song ‘My Mazovia’ had to be intergenerational. Therefore, he looked at Mazovia broadly, through various generations and perspectives. Our task was to create a music video that complemented the lyrics. That’s why we used many images, techniques, and structures. We showed the dynamism of Warsaw from above, and used hyperlapse, but also tilt-shift, an effect called miniaturisation, which transports viewers to a micro-world. There is the Vistula River, Warsaw skyscrapers, Mazovian nature, and people. Everything spins like in a kaleidoscope; evoking a performance by the ‘Mazovia’ ensemble.
