ONDA BRANDING:
In the Spring of 2024, the Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) a contract aquaculture research organization, and its Canadian subsidiary, the Center for Aquaculture TechnologiesCanada (CATC) embarked on a strategic realignment that would see both companies becoming independent entities with individual names. The US based entity was to retain the CAT name, while the Board of Directors ventured to find the perfect name for the Canadian entity that would carry it into the future and help catapult its growth. Sputnik teamed up with YCREATIVE to develop a name and brand identity that would; illustrate their values of innovation, sustainability and collaboration; inspire their teams and their clients, and; create distinction within their category.
We chose the name Onda for its many meanings across various cultures and languages. In Latin, it represents a ripple or gentle wave in a body of water. Similarly, in the Spanish-speaking world onda also means vibrational waves, a state of mind, or being in frequency with a movement. It perfectly encapsulates the companies’ mission to drive collaborative and sustainable research that creates positive ripple effects across the sector, establishing a new wave of industry excellence.
The new logo cleverly links the letter forms in the Onda name with a subtle wave form, symbolizing the dynamic nature of water and reflecting the company’s commitment to adaptability and innovation. A nod to the previous logo, this new design creates a subtle yet meaningful link between where they’ve been and where they’re going, maintaining a sense of familiarity for existing stakeholders while signalling a transition to a new identity. By echoing the motion depicted in the old logo, the new design pays homage to Onda’s history while paving the way for its future evolution. The fresh, natural colour palette is a departure from the traditional shades of blue used by many of their competitors and creates an instantly recognizable colourway for the new brand.
Like ripples across the water, even their smallest projects canhave a big impact. This simple idea inspired the new tagline for the brand; “research that creates ripples” which quickly became the flagship message embedding deep meaning into the brand that their community, clients and collaborators could easily understand and celebrate.
