The Canopy is a network of umbrella rental stations scattered throughout the city—at subway stops, shopping centers, cafes, and offices. Pick one up at any location and return it at any other. No purchases, no extra weight in your backpack—just an umbrella when you need it, and nothing more.
Rebranding a municipal umbrella rental system, where architecture, technology, and everyday comfort converge into a new visual culture of mobility.
Prompt for Photo #1: Create a photorealistic advertisement photograph of a modern umbrella rental station for the «Kupol» brand, located at the entrance of a premium business center in a rainy metropolis. The core concept of the station is «Personal Climate"—a private space of comfort and protection amid the hustle of a large city. The station features a broad, minimalist structure with a rectangular body, a thin cantilevered canopy, and integrated linear lighting. The primary materials are matte aluminum, light metal panels, graphite glass, and smooth surfaces with subtle reflections. Use the brand palette: milky F7F3ED, light gray D9DBDE, graphite 4A4F55, rainy blue 2E3E4A, and warm beige C9B8A7. At the top of the station, place the new typographic «Kupol» logo using geometric Cyrillic letters. The letter «O» is stylized as an open circle, reminiscent of an architectural dome. Beneath the logo is the slogan «YOUR PERSONAL CLIMATE.» The central part of the station holds eight neatly arranged folding umbrellas in a dark blue-graphite shade. To the right is a panel with a QR code and rental instructions. To the left is a large vertical advertisement poster featuring a black-and-white photograph of a rainy city. Surroundings: a modern glass facade of the business center, a wet stone sidewalk, reflections of light in puddles, an overcast sky, and subdued city lighting. The camera is positioned at eye level. The angle is three-quarter view from the front, allowing visibility of the structure, logo, umbrella storage system, and advertising panel. Visual style: architectural luxury, premium industrial design, editorial photography, cinematic urban atmosphere, photorealistic product visualization. The image must look like a genuine professional advertisement for a realized design project. Maximum material detail, natural lighting, realistic proportions. Horizontal 16:9 format. No random logos, bright colors, decorative elements, or visual noise.
Prompt for Photo #2: Create a photorealistic architectural photograph of the premium umbrella rental station, «Kupol,» situated on a modern urban waterfront adjacent to a public space. Use the same corporate identity and station design as in the first visualization, maintaining consistent materials, proportions, logo, and color palette. The station is a wide metal structure featuring a minimalist canopy, matte light panels, graphite inlays, and warm linear lighting. The typographic logo «Kupol, ” featuring an architectural 'O' shaped like an open dome, is placed on the upper panel. Beneath it is the slogan, „YOUR PERSONAL CLIMATE.“ In the central section, there are six to eight vertical compartments holding collapsible dark blue umbrellas. To the right is a control panel with a QR code; to the left is a vertical advertising surface displaying a photograph of a rainy city and the inscription, „THE CITY MOVES ON. YOU REMAIN IN COMFORT.“ Corporate palette: milky F7F3ED, light gray D9DBDE, graphite 4A4F55, rainy blue 2E3E4A, warm beige C9B8A7. The scene takes place after the rain, approaching evening. The station is installed on a wide pedestrian embankment with modern architecture, glass buildings, trees, stone planters, and integrated lighting. In the distance, a person in a dark coat with an umbrella can be seen. The wet pavement reflects the soft, warm light of the buildings and the station. The camera is positioned from the side at a three-quarter angle, closer to the left end of the station. The side advertisement panel, the depth of the structure, the umbrella storage system, and the surrounding urban environment are clearly visible in the frame. The atmosphere is calm, slightly melancholic, cinematic, and premium. Natural diffused light, realistic reflections, high detail on the metal surfaces. Visual aesthetic: premium architectural photography, contemporary urban infrastructure, Scandinavian minimalism, industrial luxury, cinematic rainy city. Horizontal format 16:9. Maximum photorealism, professional architectural photography quality. No bright accents, random decor, fantastical elements, or distortion of the corporate logo.
Rebranding Concept
At the core of the new concept, developed with the help of ChatGPT, is the idea of «Personal Climate"—creating a private zone of comfort within a large city.
In daily life, people constantly encounter the variability of the urban environment: unpredictable weather, a fast pace, and the need to adjust plans to external circumstances. Rain is one factor that can disrupt a routine route and restrict the freedom of movement.
In the new «CUPOLA» concept, the umbrella is reimagined not just as a means of protection from rain, but as a personal space that a person can carry with them at any moment. Similar to an architectural dome, it creates a temporary boundary between the individual and the surrounding environment, allowing one to maintain their own rhythm regardless of the weather.
Thus, the umbrella rental service becomes a symbol of freedom of movement, autonomy, and comfort in a constantly changing city.
Font
After choosing the «Personal Climate» metaphor, I began developing the logo with ChatGPT. In the prompt, I outlined the core requirements: retain the name «KUPOL,» eliminate the previous umbrella graphic, and convey the idea of a protected personal space through typography. Additionally, I defined the character of the new identity—minimalist, architectural, modern, and premium.The AI proposed a solution where the letter «O» became the primary carrier of the metaphor. Its geometry was transformed into an open circle whose upper portion resembles an architectural dome. This shape symbolizes the space of protection and comfort that arises around a person.Thus, the dome metaphor is directly integrated into the brand name, and the logo becomes a visual reflection of the new concept—the ability to maintain one’s own space and freedom of movement regardless of external circumstances.
Color Palette
Then, I approached ChatGPT and asked it to select a color palette for rebranding «Dome,» based on the chosen metaphor of the «Personal Climate.» The main goal was to convey an atmosphere of tranquility, safety, and comfort amidst the bustle of a big city. To achieve this, I wanted to use restrained, cool tones associated with rain, urban architecture, and modern materials, complementing them with softer, warmer colors. This combination allowed the brand’s visual identity to feel minimalist and premium while retaining a sense of approachability.
After generating a color palette using ChatGPT, I transferred it to Adobe Color to define the precise shades and their HEX codes. This helped establish a unified color system for the rebranding of «KUPOL,» which can subsequently be used across all elements of the corporate identity while maintaining brand cohesion and recognition.
Brand Key Visual
After developing the logo and color palette, I moved on to creating key visuals using ChatGPT. The main objective was to convey the concept of «Personal Climate» and demonstrate how the updated brand would look within an urban setting. In creating the images, I focused on modern architecture, rainy weather, subdued tones, and realistic lighting. Across all visualizations, I maintained a unified color palette and brand style to evoke an atmosphere of comfort and security, even in a large city environment.
Prompt:Create a photorealistic horizontal key visual for the «Kupol» brand. On the right, a woman in a black coat holding a graphite umbrella is taking an umbrella from an automated rental station featuring the «KUPOL» logo, a QR code, and backlighting. The background is a rainy evening metropolis with modern glass buildings, pedestrians, and reflections of city lights on wet asphalt. On the left, place the geometric «Kupol» logo, the tagline «YOUR PERSONAL CLIMATE,» and the slogan «THE CITY MOVES. YOU STAY COMFORTABLE.» Use the brand’s milky-graphite palette, premium advertising, urban minimalism, cinematic lighting, photorealism, horizontal 16:9.
Prompt:Create a photorealistic, horizontal key visual for the «Kupol» brand. On the left, a girl in a black coat sits under a graphite umbrella on a stone bench. On the right, there is a premium, automated umbrella rental station featuring the «Kupol» logo and a QR code. In the background is a rainy evening metropolis—a river, a bridge, skyscrapers, and reflections of warm lights on the wet pavement. At the top, place the geometric «KUPOL» logo, the tagline «YOUR PERSONAL CLIMATE,» and the slogan «THE CITY CAN BE NOISY. YOU CHOOSE YOUR CLIMATE.» Use a signature milky-graphite palette, premium advertising, architectural minimalism, cinematic lighting, photorealism, horizontal 16:9.
Prompt:Create a photorealistic, horizontal key visual for the brand «Kupol.» On the left, a girl in a black coat sits beneath a large graphite umbrella covered in raindrops, eyes closed, savoring a moment of calm. In the background, a rainy evening metropolis with modern buildings, pedestrians, and reflections of warm lights on wet asphalt. On the right, place the geometric corporate logo for «Kupol, ” the tagline „YOUR PERSONAL CLIMATE, ” and the slogan „THE CITY MOVES. YOU REMAIN IN COMFORT.“ Muted milky-graphite color palette, premium advertising, cinematic lighting, urban minimalism, photorealism, horizontal 16:9.
Prompt:Create a photorealistic, horizontal key visual for the «Kupol» brand. Overhead view of a rainy city square with wet stone paving and reflections of evening lights. In the center, a person under a graphite umbrella featuring the «Kupol» logo, surrounded by blurred silhouettes of passersby. On the left, place the corporate geometric logo and the slogan «YOUR SPACE. ANYWHERE IN THE CITY.» Use the brand’s milky-graphite color palette. Premium advertising, urban minimalism, cinematic lighting, photorealism, horizontal 16:9.
Prompt:Create a photorealistic, horizontal key visual for the «Kupol» brand. On the right, a young woman in a black coat holding a graphite umbrella featuring the «Kupol» logo stands with her back to the camera on a wet urban terrace with a glass railing. In the background, there is a panorama of a metropolis, featuring a river, bridges, and skyscrapers bathed in the soft light of a post-rain sunset. On the left, place the signature geometric «KUPOL» logo, the tagline «YOUR PERSONAL CLIMATE,» and the slogan «BIG CITY. YOUR PERSONAL CLIMATE.» Muted milky-graphite color palette, warm reflections on wet surfaces, premium advertising, architectural minimalism, cinematic lighting, photorealism, horizontal 16:9.
Merchandise
After developing the key visuals, I moved on to creating merchandise to demonstrate how the «Kupol» brand identity functions on physical objects and integrates into everyday city life. The collection is based on the «Personal Climate» concept, which reflects ideas of comfort, protection, and freedom of movement regardless of the weather. It was important to maintain a unified visual system: a restrained milky-graphite palette, deep blue-gray hues, minimalist geometry, and the signature logo. Thus, the brand identity is translated onto apparel and accessories, transforming familiar items into an extension of the brand’s visual language.
