M Village logo and visual identity X NAR8 (2021)

Established in 2021 by Nguyen Hai Ninh and his team, who have previously established The Coffee House and Urben Station coffee shops, M Village is a co-living service apartment chain. It offers young urban professionals affordable and modern living spaces with private rooms and shared spaces to live with likeminded people. M Village has expanded rapidly since its inception, operating 18 properties across Ho Chi Minh City. To communicate its values and vision effectively, M Village worked with NAR8 Studio to design a unique brand identity that sets it apart from other housing business models like hotels or apartments.
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The co-living concept originated in Silicon Valley, where young people sought to live and work in a community with a shared purpose and lifestyle. M Village team has recognized this trend and aims to provide a similar experience for young Vietnamese residents. Through a cooperative model with homeowners, M Village transforms idle real estate into modern housing for young people, increasing its real estate value. The brand name "M Village" reflects this modern approach to living, with the "M" standing for modern or millennials and "Village" representing a community of like-minded individuals.

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NAR8 worked closely with M Village to craft a visual identity that reflects the spirit and diversity of Saigon. The design balances simplicity and sophistication, vigor and calmness, to create a contemporary atmosphere. Functionality takes precedence over aesthetics, which is in line with M Village's business strategy and brand promise. The design prioritizes clear communication and optimal digital adaptability, directly influenced by the service needs of M Village's customers. The holistic design work optimizes the entire visual system to meet current and future needs.

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M Village's logo is an elegant and memorable letter mark that features a stylized letter M combined with a geometric shape that serves as a container for various category names. Each category is differentiated with a unique color and custom corners for the shape, showcasing the careful attention to detail in the design. This approach creates a consistent logo system that is highly versatile and easily recognizable, making it suitable for various applications.

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M Village's color palette primarily consists of energetic coral, white, and black, conveying elegance, modernity, and minimalism. The brand also utilizes supporting colors like green, gray, and beige. The typography draws inspiration from dynamic vernacular signage and features a modern, clear, and bold geometric typeface called "Diagramm" by HarmnesslessType, which is consistently applied throughout the branding materials for a modern and contemporary look.

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The visual identity of M Village is both appealing and practical, featuring a cohesive combination of environmental and identity concepts. The NAR8 team collaborated with the architecture team to create an icon system that is easily noticeable from a distance while maintaining its elegance and sophistication in real-life environments. The icons are well-designed and effectively used throughout the facilities and digital channels. They were created based on a unified grid system and sharp corner style, resulting in a clear and crisp design.

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NAR8's design for M Village's brand identity effectively reflects the brand's aspirations and goals. The typography, color, and clean layouts convey the brand's values and create a fresh, youthful vibe that is both delicate and peaceful. The visual identity's simplicity, boldness, and functionality provide tools for simple communication and improved service levels, setting M Village apart from other housing business models like hotels or normal apartments.

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