BlackBear Labs

A visual identity created for an independent division of Northland Controls.
Northland Labs, Northland Controls' internal development team, connects clients' disparate security technologies to provide faster access and use of vital security information.

Over time, Northland Labs was ready to officially enter the market, but in order to differentiate this adjacent service from Northland's primary offering, a separate visual identity became a priority.

A new name, BlackBear Labs, was developed and I accepted the challenge of creating a new look and feel while still connecting it to the primary brand.

This included logo creation, color and typeface establishment, custom graphics, printed materials, a customer overview deck, and a custom website.
The Northland Bear was used to connect BlackBear Labs' logo to the primary brand and combined with a beaker to signify innovation and the methodical development of new security technology solutions.
A graphic mark was needed to illustrate the connection made possible through the hub of drivers that makes interoperability a reality, aka BlackBear.io.
The "X" is actually two components and, when put in motion, amplifies the idea of two systems coming together (animated in Canva).
A customer overview slide deck was designed to introduce new clients to BlackBear Labs and the potential interoperability can unlock.
Business cards have a vertical front, and the logo on the reverse side is raised and glossy.
BlackBear Labs was announced at the largest conference in the physical security industry, ISC West, which attracts industry professionals from around the world.

A branded AirTag slipped easily inside a BlackBear Labs gift bag to be handed out to attendees as they left Northland Controls' hosted reception.
Check out blackbearlabs.com created using Webflow.

Michael
Akiyama-Lee

GRAPHIC Designer  •  Brand Champion
An aspiring chef turned finance guy turned project manager turned graphic designer. My winding journey has finally led this creative back to where I'm meant to be. I am fueled and motivated by connecting people, businesses, and employees through engaging visual stories.  

I revive your aging internal and external assets, build upon them, and create a cohesive design ecosystem across your entire organization, all while staying on-brand and on budget.

So let's grab a coffee, in person or virtually, and talk about how we can team up and conquer your goals together.

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