Arboretum Trsteno
Art Direction and Design: Mauro Cilić Dalmatin
Mentor: Dejan Kršić
Arboretum Trsteno is the oldest Renaissance arboretum in Southeastern Europe, a place where Mediterranean nature, humanist philosophy, and the cultural heritage of Dubrovnik intertwine, with more than 400 plant species planted across its grounds. This project involved the development of a complete visual identity that reflects the Mediterranean flora, the cultural heritage of the historic villa, and the botanical diversity of the site.
The visual language is based on cyanotype, a technique that uses sunlight to leave plant imprints on paper. It evokes herbaria and botanical records, but here it does not create nostalgia instead, it conveys living memory. Each imprint carries the idea of transience and permanence, capturing traces of time in material form.
The logotype is conceived as a layered symbol that connects history and place. At its core, the compass represents the maritime routes and trade through which plants first arrived in Trsteno, evoking the seafaring heritage of the Dubrovnik Republic. The diagonal line functions as a reference to the topography of the arboretum itself, symbolizing the stream that divides the landscape into two distinctive parts. At the same time, the central motif incorporates a Renaissance detail, reflecting both the villa’s architecture and the design principles of the era. In this way, the logo becomes a visual synthesis of nature, history, and humanist heritage, uniting the arboretum’s past with its present identity.
A contemporary brand that’s bold and engaging, with designs that are both logical and aesthetically pleasing.
© MASCERON 2025
