HALO: New Visual Identity for 80 Years of Innovation
Client: Yapı Kredi
Agency: Rafineri
Digital Artist: Can Buyukberber
Agency: Rafineri
Digital Artist: Can Buyukberber
Istanbul-based creative agency Rafineri commissioned visual artist and director Can Buyukberber to design a dynamic new visual identity for Yapı Kredi, Turkey’s first privately-owned commercial bank, on the occasion of its 80th anniversary.
The result is HALO — a generative 3D digital artwork that symbolizes both the bank’s rich legacy and its progressive outlook. Rooted in motion, abstraction, and texture, HALO was envisioned as more than just a logo or key visual — it’s a living system that evolves, reflects, and refracts the spirit of innovation that defines Yapı Kredi.
This new identity was deployed across a wide range of platforms, from mobile app icons to large-scale outdoor campaigns, making HALO a unifying design element across the brand’s public presence.
Media Outlets include:
— Dynamic formats such as TV commercials, digital banners, social media, TikTok, cinema, LED stadium screens, shopping mall displays, in-branch and out-of-branch digital signage, Spotify cover art, Yapı Kredi app icon, and corporate event visuals.
— Static formats such as newspaper and magazine ads, billboards, parapets, building wraps, roadside panels, stadium boards, and interior/exterior branch applications — as well as large-scale plaza installations.
— Dynamic formats such as TV commercials, digital banners, social media, TikTok, cinema, LED stadium screens, shopping mall displays, in-branch and out-of-branch digital signage, Spotify cover art, Yapı Kredi app icon, and corporate event visuals.
— Static formats such as newspaper and magazine ads, billboards, parapets, building wraps, roadside panels, stadium boards, and interior/exterior branch applications — as well as large-scale plaza installations.
HALO is a statement: a synthesis of history, technology, and contemporary design sensibility, setting the tone for Yapı Kredi’s next era.
Design Study & Process
Beginning with early aesthetic explorations using generative AI, visual artist Can Buyukberber developed the visual identity for HALO over an intensive, multi-phase creative process spanning more than three months. The design journey was shaped through weekly collaboration sessions with the Rafineri team, allowing for continuous refinement and alignment with Yapı Kredi’s brand values and campaign goals.
Each form, motion layer, and textural detail of the HALO was carefully crafted to reflect 80 years of innovation, trust, and transformation — the core pillars of Yapı Kredi’s legacy as Turkey’s first privately-owned commercial bank.
Each form, motion layer, and textural detail of the HALO was carefully crafted to reflect 80 years of innovation, trust, and transformation — the core pillars of Yapı Kredi’s legacy as Turkey’s first privately-owned commercial bank.
From Concept to Multi-Platform Execution
The process involved:
The process involved:
– Dozens of form studies and AI-assisted ideation sketches, evolving into sculptural 3D geometry.
– Multiple animation passes from different camera angles, each designed to resolve into a perfect circular formation, symbolizing continuity and unity.
– Final renderings at 30,000-pixel resolution to ensure pristine visual quality for large-format print campaigns, including billboards, building wraps, and magazine spreads.
– A suite of animated outputs adapted for TVC (television commercials), digital ads, social media (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube), cinema screens, and in-branch/in-plaza digital signage.
HALO was not just built for aesthetics — it was engineered to scale across media while retaining the integrity of its symbolic structure. From subtle motion graphics to monumental outdoor visuals, the artwork operates as a cohesive design language, integrating both emotional storytelling and brand architecture.
– Multiple animation passes from different camera angles, each designed to resolve into a perfect circular formation, symbolizing continuity and unity.
– Final renderings at 30,000-pixel resolution to ensure pristine visual quality for large-format print campaigns, including billboards, building wraps, and magazine spreads.
– A suite of animated outputs adapted for TVC (television commercials), digital ads, social media (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube), cinema screens, and in-branch/in-plaza digital signage.
HALO was not just built for aesthetics — it was engineered to scale across media while retaining the integrity of its symbolic structure. From subtle motion graphics to monumental outdoor visuals, the artwork operates as a cohesive design language, integrating both emotional storytelling and brand architecture.
1. Minimalist & Sterile Aesthetic
The visual structure of HALO was designed with a clean, minimalist approach — reducing visual complexity to highlight clarity, precision, and balance. This stylistic direction reinforces a sense of refined modernism, aligning with the brand’s institutional trust and forward-looking identity.
The visual structure of HALO was designed with a clean, minimalist approach — reducing visual complexity to highlight clarity, precision, and balance. This stylistic direction reinforces a sense of refined modernism, aligning with the brand’s institutional trust and forward-looking identity.
2. Motion-Centered, Interactive Particle System
The animation emphasizes motion and interaction, with particles circulating around the central form to create a dynamic field of energy. The particle density and flow suggest an almost tangible presence at the core — evoking movement, transformation, and continuity. This fluid choreography lightens the central form visually, contributing to a more abstract and futuristic atmosphere.
The animation emphasizes motion and interaction, with particles circulating around the central form to create a dynamic field of energy. The particle density and flow suggest an almost tangible presence at the core — evoking movement, transformation, and continuity. This fluid choreography lightens the central form visually, contributing to a more abstract and futuristic atmosphere.
3. Fluid Dynamics Reflecting Technological Legacy
The animation language was shaped to reflect the bank’s heritage of technological advancement. By softening mechanical motion patterns and transitioning to a more organic, flowing structure, the final animation communicates adaptability, innovation, and harmony with contemporary digital ecosystems.
The animation language was shaped to reflect the bank’s heritage of technological advancement. By softening mechanical motion patterns and transitioning to a more organic, flowing structure, the final animation communicates adaptability, innovation, and harmony with contemporary digital ecosystems.
4. Scalable Design System
HALO was designed with real-world scale and spatial context in mind, allowing it to integrate naturally with human figures and environments across print and film. Using dimensional references and 3D previsualizations with virtual models and AI-generated scenes, the system was built to adapt seamlessly from app icons to billboards, cinema screens, and in-branch installations—while preserving its visual impact and symbolic clarity.
HALO was designed with real-world scale and spatial context in mind, allowing it to integrate naturally with human figures and environments across print and film. Using dimensional references and 3D previsualizations with virtual models and AI-generated scenes, the system was built to adapt seamlessly from app icons to billboards, cinema screens, and in-branch installations—while preserving its visual impact and symbolic clarity.
Previsualization: HALO in Context
This video showcases a previsualized sequence demonstrating how the HALO animation integrates within the advertising film. AI-generated environments and figures are used as a visual scaffold, with the final 3D animation composited to explore interaction, scale, and atmosphere. The scene illustrates HALO’s role as a dynamic presence within the narrative space.
This video showcases a previsualized sequence demonstrating how the HALO animation integrates within the advertising film. AI-generated environments and figures are used as a visual scaffold, with the final 3D animation composited to explore interaction, scale, and atmosphere. The scene illustrates HALO’s role as a dynamic presence within the narrative space.
HALO v1.0 — Final Still Artwork for Printed Media
This ultra-high-resolution still was rendered at 30,000 pixels to ensure maximum clarity and detail across all large-format printed media — including billboards, building wraps, magazine covers, and in-branch visuals. It serves as the core key visual of the HALO system, optimized for both visual impact and technical precision.
Below is several applications of the art by the brand & agency;
This ultra-high-resolution still was rendered at 30,000 pixels to ensure maximum clarity and detail across all large-format printed media — including billboards, building wraps, magazine covers, and in-branch visuals. It serves as the core key visual of the HALO system, optimized for both visual impact and technical precision.
Below is several applications of the art by the brand & agency;
Social Media & App Icon
Can Büyükberber
