INDEX ABOUT ALTAY ASICS HOKA RACE KIT CONTACT
NIKOLAI MERKULOV — GRAPHIC DESIGNER — VIENNA

BRAND
ING &
GRAPH
ICS.

LOCATION
Vienna, Austria
Working globally
SPECIALISATION
Branding
Applied graphics
Race & event branding
CURRENTLY
Graphic Designer
Die Angewandte, Vienna
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— ABOUT
4+ years of graphic design across branding and applied graphics. From mountain hotel identities to ASICS race kits — clean, production-ready work that performs in the real world.
— SELECTED PROJECTS
05 PROJECTS
01
ALTAY RESTART
BRANDING / IDENTITY
2023
02
ASICS × TDCR
RACE BRANDING
2025
03
HOKA × VRC
EVENT BRANDING
2026
04
RACE KIT '26
APPAREL DESIGN
2026
01 ——
BRAND IDENTITY
Full visual systems from scratch — logo, typography, colour, and every touchpoint.
02 ——
APPLIED GRAPHICS
Production-ready assets for print, signage, apparel, and physical environments.
03 ——
RACE BRANDING
Event identity systems, race kits, wearables, and on-site visual communications.
04 ——
DIGITAL CAMPAIGN
Social media assets, digital banners, and campaign visuals across formats.
4+
YEARS EXPERIENCE
4
FEATURED PROJECTS
3
SPORTS BRANDS
2
MARKETS (AT & CH)
Portrait photo
— ABOUT ME

I'M
NIKOLAI.

A graphic designer with 4+ years of experience across branding and applied graphics. I studied Communication Design at the Institute of Business & Design and currently study at Die Angewandte in Vienna.

After three years at Ampersand, I continued in Austria working with Brand Büro, start-ups, and sports brands including ASICS and HOKA — creating race branding, event graphics, prints, and campaign assets.

— EXPERIENCE
2024 — NOW
Freelance Designer
ASICS, HOKA, Brand Büro, Various Start-ups — Vienna
Race branding for The Danube Canal Relays (ASICS × VRC), event identity for HOKA × Vienna Running Collective, and brand strategy work with Brand Büro for start-ups across Austria.
FREELANCE
2020 — 2023
Graphic Designer
Ampersand — Moscow / Remote
Three years developing full brand identities, working on major projects including Altay Restart — a mountain hotel and spa retreat. Led design execution, pre-press preparation, and production-ready asset delivery.
FULL-TIME
— EDUCATION
2023 — NOW
Graphic Design
Die Angewandte — Universität für angewandte Kunst, Vienna
Currently enrolled, deepening practice in experimental graphic design, typography, and spatial communication.
ONGOING
2017 — 2021
Communication Design
Institute of Business & Design
Foundational training in visual communication, typography, brand identity, and production techniques.
DEGREE
— SKILLS & TOOLS
DESIGN
Brand Identity Systems
Applied & Print Graphics
Race & Event Branding
Apparel Graphics
Editorial Design
Packaging
PRODUCTION
Pre-press Preparation
Large-format Print
Digital Campaign Assets
Motion Graphics
Social Media Templates
Signage & Wayfinding
SOFTWARE
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe After Effects
Figma
← ALL PROJECTS
BRANDING — 2023

ALTAY
RESTART

SCOPE
Brand Identity from Scratch
CLIENT
Altay Restart — Mountain Hotel & Spa Retreat
ROLE
Designer — Collaboration with Creative Director
DELIVERABLES
OOH Posters, Stationery, Signage, Packaging, Menu, Hotel Collateral
Full brand identity for a premium mountain hotel and spa retreat in Altay, offering cryotherapy, wellness treatments, and holistic recovery experiences.
LOGO & IDENTITY OOH ADVERTISING STATIONERY PACKAGING PRINT PRE-PRESS
Created the branding from the ground up in collaboration with a Creative Director, shaping the visual identity across multiple touchpoints. Led design execution, pre-press preparation, and production-ready asset delivery across all brand collateral — from large-format outdoor advertising to intimate hospitality print materials.
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BUS SHELTER POSTER — ALTAY RESTART BRAND IDENTITY 2023
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OUTDOOR ADVERTISING — MULTIPLE FORMATS BUS SHELTER / BILLBOARD
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ROLL-UP & HANGING BANNER — IN-SITU PRINT PRODUCTION
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HOTEL STATIONERY, RE:MAIL, RE:BOOK, RESTAURANT MENU BRAND COLLATERAL
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LASER-CUT ENVELOPE WITH GOLD FOIL EMBOSS — ALTAY RESTART PREMIUM PRINT
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RE:CANDLE — SCENTED CANDLE LABEL & GIFT BOX PRODUCT DESIGN
NEXT PROJECT
ASICS × TDCR →
02
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RACE BRANDING — OCTOBER 2025

ASICS
× TDCR

SCOPE
Race Branding — Digital & Wearables
CLIENT
ASICS × Vienna Running Collective
EVENT
The Danube Canal Relays — Vienna
PHOTOGRAPHY
@michelbmr
Development of digital and wearable materials for "The Danube Canal Relays" — a running relay competition hosted by ASICS in collaboration with Vienna Running Collective.
RACE BRANDING WEARABLE GRAPHICS EVENT IDENTITY DIGITAL ASSETS WRISTBANDS BIB DESIGN
Executed in direct collaboration with ASICS and VRC. The project covered the full visual ecosystem of the race — from participant wristbands and race bibs through to social media assets and event signage. All event photography by @michelbmr.
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RACE DAY — THE DANUBE CANAL RELAYS, VIENNA 2025 PHOTO: @MICHELBMR
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PARTICIPANT WRISTBANDS & RACE BIB — ASICS × TDCR PRINTED WEARABLES
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RACE SHIRTS, GROUND SIGNAGE, NIGHT RACE ATMOSPHERE EVENT GRAPHICS
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VRC COLLABORATION TEE — ORANGE & MINT COLOURWAYS APPAREL GRAPHIC DESIGN
NEXT PROJECT
HOKA × VRC →
04
← ALL PROJECTS
EVENT BRANDING — APRIL 2026

HOKA
× VRC

SCOPE
Full Visual Identity — Pop-up Activation
CLIENT
HOKA × Vienna Running Collective
EVENT
Vienna City Marathon Weekend — 17–19 April 2026
LAUNCH
Pop-up Launch: March 2026
Full visual identity for the HOKA × Vienna Running Collective pop-up in Vienna, built around the Vienna City Marathon weekend — "Hometown Glory."
EVENT BRANDING APPAREL GRAPHICS SOCIAL MEDIA COFFEE CUPS POSTERS POP-UP SPACE
Covered event branding and execution across both digital and physical touchpoints — including social media assets, posters, coffee cups, apparel graphics, and supporting printed materials used inside the pop-up space. The project created a cohesive visual system bringing together community, movement, and product through a clear, performance-oriented design language built for real-world applications.
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HOMETOWN GLORY POP-UP SPACE — VIENNA CITY MARATHON WEEKEND APRIL 2026
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VRC × HOKA COLLABORATION TEE — CIRCULAR TYPOGRAPHY PRINT APPAREL GRAPHIC DESIGN
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RACE WEEKEND — CROWD & COFFEE STATION WITH BRANDED CUPS IN-SITU ACTIVATION
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BRANDED COFFEE CUP — VRC × HOKA — "LET'S FLY VIENNA" PRODUCT GRAPHICS
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SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN — @VIENNARUNNINGCO INSTAGRAM ASSETS
NEXT PROJECT
RACE KIT '26 →
05
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RACE APPAREL — MARCH 2026

RACE
KIT '26

SCOPE
Official Race Singlet Design
CLIENT
Vienna Running Collective × SAYSKY
EVENT
Vienna City Marathon 2026
PHOTOGRAPHY
@michelbmr
Official race-kit singlets for the Vienna Running Collective in an exclusive collaboration with premium sportswear brand SAYSKY.
APPAREL DESIGN RACE KIT TYPOGRAPHY VRC × SAYSKY PERFORMANCE WEAR
The goal was to create a clean, high-visibility team identity that merges the collective's local pride with SAYSKY's performance-driven aesthetic — ensuring the runners stand out on the start line. A bold, race-ready piece that pairs aggressive typography with thoughtful, minimalist details.
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VRC RACE SINGLET — FRONT (VRC LOGO) & BACK (VIENNA RUNNING COLLECTIVE) SAYSKY COLLABORATION — 2026
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FRONT
VRC track logo (oval mark) in tonal print. Bold VRC lettering — main graphic statement. SAYSKY star badge at chest.
BACK
Full VRC naming in aggressive stacked type. "Coming together to race" micro text at hem. Vienna Running / Collective split at bottom.
SPINE
Checkered flag motif with 2026 season number running vertically on the racerback spine — a signature detail.
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VIENNA CITY MARATHON 2026 — VRC RACE TEAM PHOTO: @MICHELBMR
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VRC TEAM — PRE-RACE GATHERING, DEMEL CAFÉ VIENNA PHOTO: @MICHELBMR
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RACERBACK SPINE — CHECKERED FLAG MOTIF WITH 2026 SEASON NUMBER SIGNATURE DESIGN DETAIL
BACK TO START
ALTAY RESTART →
01

LET'S
WORK
TOGETHER.

AVAILABLE FOR FREELANCE & COLLABORATIONS — VIENNA, REMOTE WELCOME