A small, but highly experienced creative studio with a passion for → brand stories

About

Ristici is a small but highly experienced creative studio with a passion for brand stories brought to life by Dragos M. Ristici, a creative director extremely lucky to work on and witness IBM's complex visual transition towards an incredibly beautiful and functional brand matrix and design system, applied across all of its' hero brands.

We worked with

Ristici also worked with brands like Microsoft, ING Bank, Vodafone, Edenred (former Accor Services), GDF Suez Energy, but also with startups like Symphopay, or with human rights initiatives like One World Romania, creating their first identity more that 15 years ago.

IBM, Global Brand Team

As a temporary member for five years of two of IBM Design’s most influential core teams — the Carbon for IBM dotcom team, responsible for driving the global adoption of the new IBM Design Language, and the IBM Brand team, led by the exceptional IBM Global Creative Director, Sadek Bazaraa — Dragos had a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking work.

It was also a tremendous honor to work alongside Mike Abbink, an IBM Distinguished Designer and a visionary figure in IBM's design evolution over the past decade. Abbink, renowned for his innovative work, from typefaces like FF Kievit, FF Milo, Brando and GE Inspira to identities like El Banco de Uno, NBC Universal, brought a wealth of inspiration and expertise to the table.

With a strong ability to integrate into global teams and also lead projects from concept to completion, this versatile background allows Ristici to bridge the gap between design and development. Adaptable and effective, he enables seamless collaboration within complex environments.

Edenred, Central & Eastern Europe

The collaboration brought together creative storytelling and design thinking to translate Edenred’s mission — enriching connections between people and businesses — into striking, consumer-facing campaigns.

By experimenting with fresh visual languages and narrative frameworks, the projects not only elevated brand visibility but also reinforced Edenred’s role as a trusted daily partner for millions of users.

Bittnet Group, Romania

A highly versatile creative effort, initially encompassing multiple companies within the group, aimed at visually streamlining and simplifying existing processes and workflows while also developing and refining the group’s new brands.

Together, we're not only building and refining a portfolio of brands but we are also crafting strategies that resonate with diverse audiences around the world. With every project, we strive to push creative boundaries and deliver solutions that are as effective as they are inspiring.

Microsoft, ING Bank, Telekom, Rompetrol, International Paper — various projects

Driving innovation in e-Learning
Spearheaded the design efforts for flagship e-learning projects with prominent clients like Microsoft, ING Bank, Edenred, Telekom, and Rompetrol. Key initiatives included participating in the localization of Skillsoft’s catalog for the Romanian market, notably for large-scale projects like Bizschool—a nation-wide program that empowered over 9,000 SME managers through OTE Academy, Romtelecom/Telekom, and Blue Point.

Crafting seamless UX and Design Systems
Played a pivotal role in updating and expanding design systems and UX frameworks for custom e-learning infrastructures, ensuring SCORM compliance across Learning Management Systems (LMS) and course modules. This work delivered user-centric solutions that merged functionality with visual coherence.

Branding visionary for digital products
Contributed to the rebranding and repositioning of various software products. With a passion for naming, developed compelling product identities for brands like Ectorian (nation-wide traffic violation software), Cryptora, Qualient, Cendient, Pyus, Quador, and Smarture.

Embracing experimentation in fast-paced environments
Thrived in dynamic e-learning landscapes, prioritizing experimentation and the trial-and-error process to push creative boundaries. Contributed to designing e-learning courses for global leaders like International Paper, with a user base of over 300,000 employees and contractors. These experiences reinforced the belief that simplicity often leads to the most effective solutions, emphasizing usability and clarity.