Press Release
Made Milicevic Receives the A' Design Award for Resonare Visual Identity in Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design
The international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Made Milicevic for graphics, illustration and visual communication design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 17, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ Resonare Visual Identity by Made Milicevic, designed for Luthier Zeljko Catic, has been granted the A' Design Award in the Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The recognition forms part of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the A' Design Award Means
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
Regarding Resonare Visual Identity
Resonare is a visual identity for luthier Zeljko Catic in Dubrovnik. The monogram features a rhythmic visual rhyme between Z and C, where strokes merge with the violin bridge's natural geometry. By integrating Croatian diacritics into the instrument's anatomy, the design becomes an inseparable part of its form. This intimate signature lives within the heart of the instrument, revealing itself only as a discreet trace through the elegant f-holes.
About Made Milicevic
Made Milicevic is a Croatian Art Director and Master of Arts (Mag. art.) with over 12 years of professional experience in visual communications. Based in Dubrovnik, her practice is characterized by technical precision, typographic depth, and a strong connection to cultural heritage. Alongside her professional work in design, she is a dedicated educator, teaching vocational design subjects in secondary education. She specializes in creating visual identities that prioritize structural integrity and minimalist aesthetics.
Award Record
With this recognition, Made Milicevic is a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Award
The A' Graphic Design Award is an international graphic design competition recognizing good graphic designs by best creative agencies and designers worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to graphic designers, communication designers, graphic artists and illustrators from all countries. Typical entries include logos, posters, infographics, brochures, packaging designs and business cards. The awarded graphic designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/graphics
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/183059
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/183059
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!183059
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/381135
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Resonare Visual Identity
- Function
- Visual Identity
- Category
- Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design
- Discipline
- Communication Design
- Industry
- Branding & Advertising and Arts
- Colors
- Gray, Dim Gray, Black, Maroon and Chocolate
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Luthier Zeljko Catic
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Made Milicevic
- Country
- Croatia
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #183059
Credits
- Image Credits
- Photographer Srdjan Babic, Resonare Hero Label, 2026.; Photographer Srdjan Babic, Concept Correlation, 2026.; Photographer Srdjan Babic, Final Application, 2026.; Photographer Srdjan Babic, Craftsmanship Process, 2026.; Photographer Srdjan Babic, Letterpress Label and Violin Body, 2026. Design and Art Direction by Made Milicevic. Handmade paper and print by Valnea Dzamarija. Luthier by Zeljko Catic. Design Consulting by Nora Mojas.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Resonare is a sophisticated visual identity designed for luthier Zeljko Catic in Dubrovnik. The monogram features a rhythmic visual rhyme between the characters Z and C, where the typographic strokes are thoughtfully crafted to merge with the natural geometry of the violin bridge. By integrating Croatian diacritics into the instrument's functional anatomy, the design becomes an inseparable part of its form. Conceived as an intimate and enduring signature, the handmade label lives within the heart of the instrument, revealing itself only as a discreet trace through the elegant f-holes.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by the fusion of classical luthiery and manuscript initials. The design incorporates a violin motif where strokes mimic the instrument’s fluid lines. The research focused on the bridge, known as the konjic, as a geometric centerpiece to resolve the challenge of Croatian diacritics. The goal was to honor the luthier’s patience by creating a silent signature that resides within the instrument, visible through the shadows of the f-holes.
- Research
- Research focused on the visual synergy between the structural geometry of violin bridges and classical typographic initials. The objective was to find a geometric intersection where the phonetic diacritics of the Croatian alphabet could naturally integrate with the instrument's traditional anatomy. The study aimed to create a visual identity that respects the craftsmanship of the luthier while adding a layer of contemporary graphic expression.
- Challenge
- The main challenge was integrating complex Croatian diacritics into the narrow, elongated format of a traditional violin label. Balancing the visual harmony of the Z and C forms with the restrictive space inside the instrument required a precise geometric synthesis. The goal was to ensure that the monogram remains legible and elegant when viewed through the f-holes, while maintaining a symbolic connection to the structural anatomy of the violin bridge.
- Realization and Technology
- The identity is realized through a fusion of traditional and modern methods. It utilizes letterpress printing on handmade paper for internal labels and high-precision hot branding for the wooden elements. This reflects the luthier's own process of classical craftsmanship aided by modern precision.
- Operation and Interaction
- The interaction is a gentle discovery, a glimpse into the violin’s interior where the label dwells as a quiet, permanent presence. It is a subtle dialogue between the luthier’s touch and the musician’s gaze, shared through the instrument's wooden heart.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project was conducted over a period of three months in 2024. The research and design process took place in Dubrovnik, Croatia, in close collaboration with the luthier's workshop.
- Specifications
- Labels are 70 x 25 mm. The material used is bespoke handmade cotton paper with natural deckle edges. Printing methods include traditional letterpress and hot branding. The system is specifically scaled for the intimate interior space of the violin, with typography weight strategically adjusted to compensate for ink gain on handmade paper.
- Keywords
- Visual Identity, Monogram, Luthier, Violin, Internal Label, Typography, Handmade Paper, Dubrovnik, Hot Branding, Craftsmanship, Minimalism.
