Bona Agency

Rising Collectively approached us with an ambitious vision: to launch a disruptive platform serving two distinct audiences, healers and seekers, while creating a brand identity and digital product that could scale rapidly. With speed to market a top priority, we were tasked with developing a market-ready MVP, building the brand from the ground up, and defining the user experience to ensure early adoption.

MVP Development
Working closely with the founders, we defined a lean MVP scope that met the original vision while avoiding scope creep. Through disciplined sprint planning in two-week cycles, we maintained momentum and visibility across the team. The platform was built on a scalable architecture using React and Vaadin, ensuring performance today while remaining adaptable for tomorrow’s growth.

Branding & Digital Strategy
In parallel, we developed a complete brand system to position the startup competitively. From brand positioning and messaging pillars to a versatile logo and visual identity system, we created a cohesive presence that extended across product, investor materials, and marketing. Brand guidelines provided a roadmap for consistency, while the identity was seamlessly integrated into the product design.

UX Consulting
Because the platform serves two distinct user groups, defining clear journeys was critical. We mapped the experiences of both healers and seekers, identifying friction points and building flows that emphasized trust, clarity, and ease of use. Wireframes validated these flows early, ensuring the final design reflected user needs and the new brand identity.

Outcome
The result was a lean, scalable MVP supported by a strong brand and user-centered design. Rising Collectively launched with a polished identity, intuitive experience, and future-proof architecture, giving the founders confidence to attract investment, scale operations, and establish trust with their growing user base.

IZSIT is an ambitious AI movie streaming platform founded by two entrepreneurs through the Buildspace startup incubator (with ties to Y Combinator). Positioned as the first immersive AI storytelling platform, IZSIT allows users to stream AI-generated films, binge adaptive series, and step into interactive stories where every choice reshapes the narrative. With such a disruptive vision, the founders needed both a strong brand identity and a compelling investor pitch to launch successfully.

Brand Identity
The first challenge was creating a logo that conveyed innovation, futurism, and accessibility while remaining simple and versatile. It had to resonate with tech-savvy early adopters and mainstream streaming audiences alike. We explored multiple creative directions—typography, symbolism, geometric abstraction—before refining the design through 47 iterations. The final result was a sleek, custom wordmark that balanced technological edge with a human touch. Adaptable across digital, print, and merchandising, the logo became a cornerstone of the brand, signaling credibility and imagination.

Business Consulting & Pitch Deck
In parallel, we partnered with the founders to prepare for early-stage fundraising. The goal was to translate IZSIT’s groundbreaking concept into a concise, investor-ready narrative. We provided strategic advising to target the right investor profiles, framed complex AI and streaming concepts into accessible value propositions, and clearly articulated the competitive positioning. The deck’s structure guided investors seamlessly from market context to product vision, traction, and funding needs, blending data with storytelling.

Outcome
Together, the brand identity and pitch deck formed a unified foundation for IZSIT’s launch. The modern, futuristic logo established recognition and trust, while the investor presentation showcased strategic clarity and market potential. With these assets, the founders were equipped to attract investment, position themselves as industry disruptors, and prepare for growth in the competitive streaming landscape.

We partnered with Vision ESG, a sustainability-focused startup, to design and develop a digital platform that helps businesses track, measure, and report their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance with clarity and precision. The goal was to build a scalable tool that empowers organizations of all sizes to transform raw sustainability data into actionable insights.

The Challenge
Vision ESG set out to disrupt how companies monitor their carbon footprint and broader ESG metrics. The founders needed a solution that could handle complex datasets while remaining intuitive and approachable for both ESG professionals and business leaders new to sustainability reporting. In addition, the platform had to support real-time data processing, clear visualization, and instant reporting, ensuring users could trust it for time-sensitive decisions.

Our Approach
We provided end-to-end support, combining business consulting, digital strategy, UX/UI design, SEO, and custom software development. Working closely with the founding team, we:

Designed a responsive interface optimized for desktop, tablet, and mobile.

Developed real-time data visualization tools to make metrics actionable at a glance.

Implemented performance tracking and automated reporting for immediate insights.

Built a scalable architecture to support increasing data volume and user adoption.

Applied best practices in security, speed, and usability to future-proof the platform.

The Outcome
The result is a powerful yet user-friendly ESG dashboard that enables businesses to track sustainability KPIs, reduce complexity in reporting, and make informed decisions. Vision ESG now offers a commercial-ready product that blends accuracy with usability, positioning the startup as a trusted partner in the global shift toward responsible, data-driven business practices.

We partnered with fine artist Nora Bonavera to translate her soulful floral and portrait paintings into a cohesive digital identity and professional online presence. With no prior branding or website, Nora relied solely on word of mouth to connect with collectors. Our challenge was to build both a brand system and an artist portfolio site that felt true to her artistic voice while enabling her to grow in a digital-first market.

Branding Strategy
We began by immersing ourselves in Nora’s work to identify recurring textures, tones, and themes. From there, we crafted a warm yet minimal identity system that balanced fine art elegance with accessibility. Color palettes were sampled directly from her paintings, ensuring authenticity, while typography choices reflected both refinement and legibility. Deliverables included a custom logo, visual guidelines, brand narrative, and style principles adaptable to digital and print.

Website Design & Development
Next, we designed and developed a custom portfolio website using Next.js and TypeScript. The site was conceived as both a gallery and storytelling platform, allowing visitors to explore her work, learn her artistic process, and request commissions with ease. The design embraced luxury minimalism: clean layouts, generous white space, and immersive artwork displays. A guided commission request flow simplified inquiries while feeling personal and conversational.

On the technical side, the site was optimized for SEO, fast performance, and responsiveness, ensuring her art shines across mobile, tablet, and desktop. A scalable architecture supports her evolving portfolio while maintaining consistent brand expression across all touchpoints.

Impact
Post-launch, Nora gained increased visibility, organic search traction, and a noticeable rise in commission requests. Her brand and website now act as a unified ecosystem, a professional foundation that elevates her work, connects her with collectors worldwide, and positions her confidently for long-term growth.

We partnered with Desiderio, a third-generation, family-owned oil refinery with a remarkable 72-year legacy, to reimagine its digital presence. The refinery sought a website that could showcase its modern operations and forward-looking vision while honoring the tradition, trust, and quality that have defined its brand for decades.

The Challenge
The existing digital presence did not reflect the refinery’s stature, values, or ambitions. The challenge was to create a site that would appeal equally to long-standing industry partners, who deeply value the company’s heritage, and to prospective clients looking for a modern, reliable, and innovative energy partner. Striking the right balance between tradition and progress was critical.

Our Approach
We began by immersing ourselves in the company’s history, brand story, and family values. The design system was built around the original logo, a symbol of continuity and authenticity, which we carefully integrated into the new aesthetic. To bridge heritage and modernity, we drew from the company’s brand palette and historical imagery, pairing them with clean typography, intuitive navigation, and a responsive design that works seamlessly across desktop, tablet, and mobile.

The site architecture was crafted to guide visitors naturally through the company’s legacy, services, and achievements. Every design element was deliberate: timeless visuals to honor tradition, and contemporary layouts to project innovation and reliability.

Key Features:
Heritage-Infused Design: A modern interface that respects tradition.
Logo Integration: The original emblem anchors brand recognition.
Responsive Framework: Optimized performance across all devices.
Story-Driven Structure: Communicates legacy and services with clarity.

Impact
The new website positions Desiderio as both a trusted legacy player and a modern, forward-looking energy brand. It strengthens credibility, reinforces values, and provides a platform that will scale with the company’s continued evolution. Ultimately, the project bridged 72 years of tradition with a digital foundation ready for decades ahead.

We partnered with iKnowly, an education company focused on global guidance and professional growth, to lead a full logo redesign and rebranding initiative. The aim was clear: modernize the brand’s image to resonate with a contemporary audience while maintaining continuity with its core mission of clarity, trust, and upward progress.

The Challenge
iKnowly’s previous logo failed to reflect the brand’s strength and aspirations. It was visually generic, lacked scalability, and didn’t communicate professionalism or innovation. Worse, it didn’t establish a memorable identity, leaving users uncertain about what the company stood for. The challenge was to create a modern, versatile mark that would immediately signal trustworthiness, direction, and relevance in a competitive education market.

Our Approach
We began with extensive research, exploring industry benchmarks and visual cues associated with growth and guidance. The insights revealed that the new identity needed to balance professional credibility with modern approachability.

From there, we developed an iterative design process starting with hand-drawn sketches. We explored typography with subtle cues of movement, avoiding clichés while symbolizing growth. Through multiple refinements, we landed on a custom wordmark where the letter “k” rises slightly above the baseline — a quiet but powerful gesture that embodies progress, momentum, and aspiration.

The Result
The final logo is a clean, professional wordmark with a distinctive twist that captures iKnowly’s mission. The rising “k” serves as a subtle emblem of growth, while the overall design maintains clarity and balance across all scales and applications. Tested for legibility in digital and print, monochrome and color, large and small sizes, the logo proved to be versatile and future-ready.

Impact
The new identity positions iKnowly as a trusted, modern education brand. It delivers clarity and confidence while creating a recognizable, lasting impression across all digital and physical touchpoints. This strong foundation not only refreshes the company’s public image but also sets it up for the next chapter of growth in the education space.

We collaborated with Cholocatie, a family-run German bakery and chocolatier, to redesign its logo and refresh its brand identity. With over a generation of history and a loyal customer base, the company wanted to evolve its look for today’s audience without losing the warmth and tradition that define its products. The new logo needed to capture the essence of handcrafted chocolate, family values, and playful indulgence, while also being versatile enough for digital and corporate applications.

The Challenge
Cholocatie’s existing logo felt dated and no longer communicated the full scope of the brand. While the bakery is rooted in tradition and cherished by families, particularly children who love its homemade chocolate treats, the company also wanted to strengthen its professional image as it grew into new markets. The challenge lay in creating a design that felt credible and modern, while still evoking the joyful, approachable spirit that customers associate with the brand.

Our Approach
We guided Cholocatie through a full creative process, from initial discovery and concept sketching to final refinements and asset delivery. Key steps included:

Exploring heritage and playfulness: We studied the brand’s history and audience, then introduced design elements that balance warmth and professionalism.

Design execution: Rounded forms, approachable typography, and subtle playful cues were incorporated to appeal to families and children. These details were balanced with a minimalist, structured layout to maintain credibility.

Collaborative iteration: We worked closely with stakeholders, incorporating feedback to ensure the design reflected both their vision and customer expectations.

The Outcome
The final logo successfully modernized Cholocatie’s image while honoring its roots. It communicates trust, family tradition, and delight, while remaining adaptable across business cards, packaging, and digital platforms. The refreshed identity has positioned the bakery as a contemporary yet timeless brand, ready to connect with both loyal families and new customers alike.

We collaborated with Julieta Zerial, a talented UX/UI designer, to design and develop a digital portfolio that not only showcases her creative work but also reflects the principles she stands for: clarity, accessibility, and user-centric design. Her goal was to move beyond fragmented portfolio platforms and establish a dedicated online presence that is responsive, SEO-optimized, and visually aligned with her professional identity.

The Challenge
Prior to this project, Julieta’s work was spread across third-party platforms, limiting her ability to present projects in a narrative-driven and curated way. The lack of a cohesive platform made it harder for prospective clients and employers to gain a holistic understanding of her skills and process. The challenge was to create a site that functioned both as a portfolio and as a living example of her design philosophy.

Our Role
We designed and developed a custom portfolio website using Next.js and JavaScript, leveraging server-side rendering (SSR) to ensure superior SEO performance and discoverability. Our approach emphasized both aesthetics and functionality, focusing on:

Responsive Design: Optimized layouts across desktop, tablet, and mobile for seamless access anywhere.

SEO Best Practices: Structured metadata, clean code, and performance tuning to boost rankings.

Portfolio Flexibility: A modular project showcase system that Julieta can easily expand as her body of work grows.

High Performance: Image optimization, code splitting, and caching for fast, fluid browsing.

The Outcome
The result is a sleek, modern website that embodies Julieta’s professional ethos while serving as a strategic career tool. The site is visually striking yet intuitive, with subtle animations and typography that reinforce her personal brand. More than a showcase, it has become a discoverable, SEO-friendly hub that strengthens her visibility in the competitive design landscape, helping her attract new opportunities and collaborations.

We partnered with La Pucha Design, the fashion label of independent designer Elena Mora, to create a digital platform that merges fashion, art, and commerce. Elena’s collections embody bold self-expression and artistic freedom, with each piece telling its own story. The challenge was to translate that spirit into a website that could function as both an eCommerce boutique and a creative portfolio, offering visitors a seamless shopping experience while immersing them in her world of design.

The Challenge
Elena wanted more than a typical online shop. She envisioned a space where customers could not only browse her collections but also connect with the inspiration behind each piece and engage with her for commissions or collaborations. The platform had to strike a balance: visually striking yet intuitive, artistic yet functional, and optimized for both storytelling and conversion.

Our Approach
We began by developing a distinct brand identity, starting with a custom logo that encapsulates Elena’s expressive style. From there, we designed and built the website with a focus on responsive performance, visual impact, and usability. Using HTML and CSS, we created a clean yet immersive interface that adapts seamlessly across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.

The UX/UI design prioritized emotional engagement, with high-quality imagery, elegant product layouts, and interactive galleries that allow visitors to experience the artistry behind the garments. We also integrated direct contact functionality, making it easy for customers to request custom work or explore collaborations.

Key Features

Custom Branding & Logo: Captures the creative spirit of the designer.

Responsive eCommerce Design: Smooth, mobile-friendly browsing and purchasing.

Storytelling Galleries: Product displays that double as artistic showcases.

Seamless Communication: Built-in contact system for commissions and inquiries.

Impact
The result is a memorable digital flagship for La Pucha Design. More than just a store, the site embodies the brand’s identity, elevates its presence in the fashion eCommerce space, and expands Elena’s reach to new audiences. It merges artistry with commerce, creating a platform that is as bold and expressive as her designs themselves.