Sonar

About

Sonar an independent, member-run data consortium that's actively shaping the future of fraud prevention with innovative new services tailored to combat emerging scam trends. It's members are known fintech leaders, such as Visa, Novo and Sardine.

Sonar leads the way in real-time insights into First-Party and Counterparty Risk. Their commitment as a designated 314(b) utility is to foster collaboration among financial institutions and fintechs, empowering them to combat fraud. Sonar prioritizes trust and security in every financial transaction, regardless of the payment rail. By meticulously verifying the credentials of all parties involved, they ensure peace of mind for their members and their customers.

The challenge

The goals was to develop the whole identity with a strong narrative. The brand storytelling nedeed to express security and trustworthiness , with the right feeling of a modern identity.

Innovative — Secure — Trustworthy — Simple — Professional

The solution

Focusing on a core idea of movement and technical rigor, we created a system that expresses expertise, maturity and savviness.

Mockup of a lime-green phone lock screen with the Sonar logomark and app description text
Sonar brand color palette: Forest green, Pearl neutral, and Lime green swatches with tints and shades
Grid of Sonar Brand Guidelines pages showing cover, brand values, logo lockups, usage examples, and illustration styles
Mockup of a dark green digital signage kiosk reading "Working together to stop financial crime" with the Sonar logo
Wide shot of a lime-green branded event wall with the Sonar logo behind a reception desk with staff silhouettes
Business card mockups showing the Sonar logomark, a staff name/title, and a lime-green card with the Sonar wordmark
Green tote bag mockup with the Sonar logo and light green curved line graphics, held by a person
Two employee ID badge mockups on lanyards, one with a photo and name, one showing the Sonar logo on lime green
Sonar social media profile banner reading "Working together to stop financial crime" with logo and page description
Outdoor billboard mockup at dusk displaying the Sonar logo and tagline "Working together to stop financial crime"

Applying the branding to UI design

To achieve a sophisticated and visually impactful look, we employed a clean layout with clear navigation. Light neutrals provided a foundation, while pops of color added vibrancy and drew attention to key information.

Smartphone mockup of the Sonar app "General view" screen with a rewards message and abstract logo illustration
Screenshot of the Sonar developer documentation site showing the "Data Rules" API specification page
Smartphone mockup of the Sonar website "Upcoming meetings" section with a date and email signup form
Composite of Sonar website sections: Governance, Upcoming meetings, Benefits, Risk Solutions, News, and FAQ

Illustrations and icons

We designed a system of custom illustrations and icons composed of basic shapes and lines. They are combined to create movement and explain complex ideas and abstract concepts.

Animated line-icon diagram of four connected circular nodes, one highlighted in green
Close-up of the Sonar website "Risk Solutions" section showing First-party Fraud and AML Compliance cards
Collage of Sonar brand touchpoints: logo, icons, business cards, app screens, billboard, and product mockups