Dipilli is a brand founded in 2020 by pattern designer and painter Marianna Romani, specializing in hand-painted, custom leather patches. I had the opportunity to name the brand and design both the logo and its visual identity.
Year: 2020
Client: Dipilli
The client was looking for a free-spirited, effortless, and playful identity, which led us to adopt collage as the main visual language—an expressive approach that allows an emerging brand to produce content quickly and with ease.
The logo and name bring together multiple elements: the outer shape represents the patch, while the illustration inside is a brush distorted to resemble a volcano, evoking the founder’s vibrancy and creativity.
The name Dipilli (set in Brice) merges the Italian words dipingere (“to paint”) and pelli (“leathers”), while also echoing the word lapilli, reinforcing the brand’s energetic and expressive identity.
Inspired by the project’s unique character, I researched the origins, uses, and cultural significance of patches to inform the brand’s identity through a thoughtful and intentional approach.
The client wanted to include her roots and travels as inspiration for the brand, so each collage combined seemingly distant elements, such as a succulent and a mountain, the city of Bologna, and an apple from the Alps.
The color palette is minimal yet functional: the primary color is plum purple, with coral red used as an accent. Supporting colors include light pink for backgrounds, along with black and white.