NOBILES

In 1993, I received an offer to undertake a comprehensive identity project for the NOBILES Paint and Lacquer Factory. The offer truly surprised me, as NOBILES is based in Włocławek, quite a long way from Krakow. The Nobiles factory has an impressive tradition – it was founded in 1897 as the limited partnership "Towarzystwo Nobiles." The owners, boldly perfecting their technology, quickly expanded the company's size and its offerings. In 1938, annual production reached approximately 650 tons. Chevrolet approved Nobiles products for use in painting cars assembled in Poland by the Lilpoppa plant. After the war, the situation was similar when the products were tested in Fiat laboratories and approved. As a result, for many years, NOBILES products were used for painting and restoring the bodies of Fiat 125p cars. The company survived World War II. Its current position is unknown to me. My trip to Włocławek seemed a success for a moment. A direct conversation with the director resulted in a commission for a concept for the factory logo, several versions, along with a packaging concept. A crucial element was to analyze the current version of the factory's image as the basis for the aforementioned versions of the logo and packaging, which would guide further work. My question, as it later turned out, was crucial – Mr. Director, is this analysis supposed to be truthful and reliable? Of course, of course!

At the appointed time, I submitted the text of the analysis, the aforementioned versions of the logo, and their application on NOBILES's standard packaging – metal cans. I received my fee and silence… No discussion was undertaken regarding my analysis or proposed applications. Through an unofficial channel, I learned that the management was irritated by the assessment of the factory's current image.

This is one of a series of similar stories involving a designer collaborating with a state-owned enterprise. It's irrational and unimaginable in a market economy.