CASE STUDY
Illustrating Sound: The Visual World of Pano Hora Ensemble
Services: Brand Identity, Art Direction, Brand Imagery, Brand Guidelines, Web Design
Client’s Goal
The Pano Hora Ensemble set out to introduce a fresh musical offering, where Greek musical heritage meets classical performance. They wanted a visual identity that honoured the depth and emotion of their repertoire while remaining contemporary, approachable, and distinct. The name Pano Hora (Πάνω Χώρα), meaning “the upper village” in Greek, offered rich symbolic ground. The ensemble aimed to express both their cultural roots and their forward-looking artistic perspective.
Client’s Goal
The Pano Hora Ensemble set out to introduce a fresh musical offering, where Greek musical heritage meets classical performance. They wanted a visual identity that honoured the depth and emotion of their repertoire while remaining contemporary, approachable, and distinct. The name Pano Hora (Πάνω Χώρα), meaning “the upper village” in Greek, offered rich symbolic ground. The ensemble aimed to express both their cultural roots and their forward-looking artistic perspective.
Our Contribution
We designed a full visual identity inspired by the ensemble’s name and purpose. Stylised mountain forms serve as the decorative foundation, chosen to reference the elevated idea of Pano Hora while grounding the identity in place and narrative. The colour palette is lively, fresh, and bright without excess, designed to reflect the ensemble’s energy and confidence.
Typography played a critical role: we selected a tall serif typeface to strike a balance between professionalism and artistic expression. It lends weight to the ensemble’s presence while remaining visually distinct, giving them a signature look that can grow with them.
The ensemble were incredible collaborators throughout the process. They brought a clear sense of purpose, responded thoughtfully to each stage of development, and fully embraced the creative direction we proposed. Their openness and trust made the collaboration smooth, focused, and genuinely rewarding.
Our Contribution
We designed a full visual identity inspired by the ensemble’s name and purpose. Stylised mountain forms serve as the decorative foundation, chosen to reference the elevated idea of Pano Hora while grounding the identity in place and narrative. The colour palette is lively, fresh, and bright without excess, designed to reflect the ensemble’s energy and confidence.
Typography played a critical role: we selected a tall serif typeface to strike a balance between professionalism and artistic expression. It lends weight to the ensemble’s presence while remaining visually distinct, giving them a signature look that can grow with them.
The ensemble were incredible collaborators throughout the process. They brought a clear sense of purpose, responded thoughtfully to each stage of development, and fully embraced the creative direction we proposed. Their openness and trust made the collaboration smooth, focused, and genuinely rewarding.
From Concept to Final Design: Homepage
Early concept explorations drawn from the world of Pano Hora, which means “the upper village” in Greek. The mountain motif became a key visual anchor, referencing both the literal geography of a high-altitude settlement and the elevated perspective the name suggests. These abstracted forms were used to explore identity, movement, and place. The final homepage design, which brings this visual language together with clarity and focus, is also included here.
From Concept to Final Design: Homepage
Early concept explorations drawn from the world of Pano Hora, which means “the upper village” in Greek. The mountain motif became a key visual anchor, referencing both the literal geography of a high-altitude settlement and the elevated perspective the name suggests. These abstracted forms were used to explore identity, movement, and place. The final homepage design, which brings this visual language together with clarity and focus, is also included here.
From Concept to Final Design: Newsletter Page
Ákou! is a newsletter that lives on a dedicated tab within the site, and the entire web experience is designed to drive subscriptions. Because of this, the sign-up page plays a central role in the overall design strategy.
Shown here are concept explorations for visually expressing the ethos of Ákou! which means “listen” in Greek. These included visual studies using a typewriter to evoke the feel of a newsletter, and a megaphone as a metaphor for amplification and communication. The final frame shows the completed newsletter sign-up design, featuring a typewriter whose paper scrolls upward to reveal the sign-up link.
From Concept to Final Design: Newsletter Page
Ákou! is a newsletter that lives on a dedicated tab within the site, and the entire web experience is designed to drive subscriptions. Because of this, the sign-up page plays a central role in the overall design strategy.
Shown here are concept explorations for visually expressing the ethos of Ákou! which means “listen” in Greek. These included visual studies using a typewriter to evoke the feel of a newsletter, and a megaphone as a metaphor for amplification and communication. The final frame shows the completed newsletter sign-up design, featuring a typewriter whose paper scrolls upward to reveal the sign-up link.
Logomark
The logomark is composed of the first letters of Pano Hora in Greek, Π and Χ, combined with the outline of a musical note. These three elements are carefully integrated to preserve their individual shapes while forming a cohesive, abstract symbol. The result is a mark that subtly reinforces the ensemble’s identity without relying on literal representation. This combination brings together language, geography, and sound, creating a visual shorthand for the ensemble’s name, heritage, and artistic focus. It is both typographic and symbolic, held within a clean and recognisable form.
Logomark
The logomark is composed of the first letters of Pano Hora in Greek, Π and Χ, combined with the outline of a musical note. These three elements are carefully integrated to preserve their individual shapes while forming a cohesive, abstract symbol. The result is a mark that subtly reinforces the ensemble’s identity without relying on literal representation. This combination brings together language, geography, and sound, creating a visual shorthand for the ensemble’s name, heritage, and artistic focus. It is both typographic and symbolic, held within a clean and recognisable form.
Project Success
The result is a visual identity that feels both rooted and current, elevated yet accessible. It reflects the ensemble’s artistic ethos and gives them a clear visual foundation to carry into future performances, materials, and platforms. A modern take on heritage, crafted to resonate today and tomorrow.
Project Success
The result is a visual identity that feels both rooted and current, elevated yet accessible. It reflects the ensemble’s artistic ethos and gives them a clear visual foundation to carry into future performances, materials, and platforms. A modern take on heritage, crafted to resonate today and tomorrow.
Web Design
The Pano Hora website brings the brand identity to life through movement, colour, and form. Abstracted mountains appear throughout as a core visual motif, referencing Pano Hora (“the upper village” in Greek) and grounding the design in place and perspective.
Above the fold on the homepage, animated circles containing portraits of each ensemble member move gently across the screen, forming a visual constellation over the world of Pano Hora. This moment sets the tone: human, elevated, and in motion.
The colour palette leans on punchy orange, green, and blue tones that add vibrancy without noise. Typography is elegant and easily recognisable, striking a balance between character and clarity across devices.
Each page ends with a sign-up section for Ákou!, the ensemble’s newsletter, framed by a subtle animated net. This detail symbolises both attention and capture—an elegant cue to subscribe.
Pages include Home, About, Projects, Blog, Contact, and Ákou!. Scrolling title animations on the homepage and newsletter tab reinforce brand presence, adding rhythm and a sense of continuity throughout the site.
Web Design
The Pano Hora website brings the brand identity to life through movement, colour, and form. Abstracted mountains appear throughout as a core visual motif, referencing Pano Hora (“the upper village” in Greek) and grounding the design in place and perspective.
Above the fold on the homepage, animated circles containing portraits of each ensemble member move gently across the screen, forming a visual constellation over the world of Pano Hora. This moment sets the tone: human, elevated, and in motion.
The colour palette leans on punchy orange, green, and blue tones that add vibrancy without noise. Typography is elegant and easily recognisable, striking a balance between character and clarity across devices.
Each page ends with a sign-up section for Ákou!, the ensemble’s newsletter, framed by a subtle animated net. This detail symbolises both attention and capture—an elegant cue to subscribe.
Pages include Home, About, Projects, Blog, Contact, and Ákou!. Scrolling title animations on the homepage and newsletter tab reinforce brand presence, adding rhythm and a sense of continuity throughout the site.
Web Design Before & After
Before: Pano Hora had a website, but it lacked structure, personality, and visual coherence. It didn’t reflect the quality or spirit of the ensemble.
After: The new website translates the brand identity into a clear, expressive digital space, that was thoughtfully designed to support storytelling, performance, and growth.
Web Design Before & After
Before: Pano Hora had a website, but it lacked structure, personality, and visual coherence. It didn’t reflect the quality or spirit of the ensemble.
After: The new website translates the brand identity into a clear, expressive digital space, that was thoughtfully designed to support storytelling, performance, and growth.
