Okaido
Scope
Branding
Contribution
Strategy: Dries Meiresonne
Copy: Bram Van Rompay
Design: Thomas Van Mol
Digital: Wouter Vandevelde
Digital: Jasper Van Damme
The Odoo train has officially left the station. More and more, this Belgian software suite is being deployed to streamline and automate complex business processes. It’s a digital box of tricks that is incredibly user-friendly in theory, but in practice? Well, an expert’s eye is indispensable if you truly want to unlock its full potential.
Enter Tomas Van Rossom: CRM authority and driven entrepreneur. As he takes his own leap into the world of ERP, he brings a wealth of insights and rich experience along for the ride. And that is exactly where his magic lies. Operating as digital architect, he helps fellow entrepreneurs map out their pain points first, before building a tailor-made solution using Odoo’s modular components. Where there is complexity, he brings structure. Beautiful, isn’t it?
We wrapped up this powerful offering under the name Okaido. Listen closely and you’ll hear both a subtle echo of Odoo and the striking impact of the creators of karate. Super fun fact: in Japanese, “Hokkaido” also translates to ‘sea route’, a perfect metaphor for connection and progress (we do love a metaphor now and then). It’s a shift from mere implementation to true architecture, and from a basic platform to fertile breeding ground.
For Tomas, quality and depth will always triumph over mass volume and middle-of-the-road output. He deliberately chooses a lively, collaborative dynamic with his clients; it’s by sharing knowledge and actively thinking along that he truly makes a difference in a project. The stronger the connection, the greater the success. Naturally, the design needed to radiate that exact philosophy.
What actually drives business processes? There are all kinds of opposing forces at play, and Okaido’s mission is to bundle and amplify them into one harmonious system. Ingenious yet brilliantly simple, creative yet highly functional, versatile and yet perfectly straightforward.
As it happens, these are the exact same traits that define the (anti-)oloid, an intriguing geometric shape formed by two perpendicular circles, where the edge of one passes cleanly through the centre of the other. It feels incredibly ‘tech’ but remains surprisingly tangible. Through this visual device, we show how Okaido restores peace and quiet where rapid growth usually creates noise. “Your flow for growth.”
The sleek icons mirror the exact same values as the oloid. They are thoughtfully designed and entirely transparent, because at Okaido, clarity is absolutely everything.
When it came to the colour palette, we prioritised functionality, instant recognition, and maximum ease of use. We settled on grey, white, black, and… purple. That last one is the ultimate showstopper next to the more neutral tones. Purple carries the straightforward corporate focus of blue, but blends it with the warm, driven character of red. Grounded yet passionate. Purple also represents the breathing room entrepreneurs finally get back. Peace and balance within the business, but above all, in the mind. The link to Odoo’s branding is definitely there, but it’s subtle enough. After all, the main goal is to carve out a distinctive identity of our own.
Time to taste the pudding. We put Odoo to work on Okaido’s own website, proving that streamlined development and outstanding design can go hand in hand.
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