A Little Lavender, a Little Zebra, a Lot of Me
My first idea for Nastova looked nothing like the site you see today. For starters, the logo was a butterfly. A lot shifted in my life while I was building the brand, and eventually the butterfly didn't quite fit anymore. I kept it as a visual element and gave the logo something more personal: an eye. I have one tattooed on my shoulder, and the symbol has meant something to me for years.
Then I started building the visual world around it. Lavender was an obvious choice. Anyone who knows me could have predicted that one. Zebra print was another, although a few years ago I couldn't stand it. Funny how that works. I spent ages choosing colors that felt energetic without being exhausting.
Then came the chunky typography, checkerboard patterns and illustrations. That's when things got very personal. The illustrated workspace was inspired by my actual studio, right down to the orange chair. I even planned the brand photography around specific outfits, poses, and color combinations before I took a single picture.
Somewhere along the way, I found myself customizing everything, including the scrollbar. Was every detail necessary? Probably not.
But opening my site now feels a little like walking into my studio. Except everything is exactly where I want it, for once.