‘Bulgaria has a real chance to enter the Euro area as planned - since the beginning of 2025.’ This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Finance Ivaylo Yaydzhiev during a press conference in the Ministry of Finance, where he presented the official logo and slogan of the campaign for the accession of Bulgaria in the Euro area. The competition was won by the student at the National Academy of Arts (NAA) Georgi Georgiev-Arshata.
Forming a common innovative and modern visual identity is a key element for the campaign, in fulfillment of the Communication Strategy for information and publicity of Bulgaria accession to the Euro area. The logo and motto will be used in materials of the Bulgarian institutions involved in the campaign, for all communication channels - printed, audio and video materials and messages in TV, radio, internet and digital space, related to the period before, during and after introduction of the common European currency in Bulgaria. They have been developed into a complete visual identity system - brand book. ‘The purpose of the campaign is to inform people and fight misinformation, to answer real users’ questions asked by nationals and business about the Euro adoption as a national currency.’ - added Deputy Minister Yaydzhiev.
The campaign logo contains three main elements - the Bulgarian flag, the Euro sign and the Euro coin. The tricolour is artistically woven into the horizontal elements of the classic Euro sign, and the composition is created in a series of concentric circles that are in the proportion of a one Euro coin.
According to the author of the motto, Georgi Georgiev, ‘Unity is strength’ was inspired by the well-known legend of Khan Kubrat, his sons and a bundle of sticks. Pursuant to the author, the motto also symbolizes the strength that Bulgaria draws today as part of the large European family, even more with the country accession to the Euro area is the last phase within the framework of our European integration. ‘The motto is the shortest version of this legend. Unity is strength, as we become united with the European Union in another way by having a common currency. In such a competition, people like me, who are involved in design, participate in order their work may serve for something real.’ - commented the winner Georgi Georgiev-Arshata.
The competition jury was attended by experts in the field of fine and visual arts. Assoc. prof. Dr. Svetlin Balezdrov from the National Academy of Arts, Kiril Zlatkov from the Union of Bulgarian Artists, Aleksandar Hristov from the Bulgarian Association of PR Agencies and Petar Keserdzhiev from the Bulgarian Association of Communication Agencies, as well as representatives of the Bulgarian National Bank participated in it free of charge, as well as the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Finance. The project of Georgi Georgiev-Arshata was chosen with the greatest support.
The winner in the competition Georgi Georgiev-Arshata is 24 years old. He is about to complete his MA in Visual Communication at the National Academy of Arts, in the Department ‘Poster’. He has studied ‘Advertising Graphics’ at the National Art Secondary School ‘Tsanko Lavrenov’ in Plovdiv. In 2022, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in ‘Poster and Visual Communication’ at the National Academy of Arts. He also has a second speciality, ‘Pedagogy of fine arts’ and is currently teaching students at the Mathematical Secondary School in Plovdiv, as well as children in a kindergarten in the city. He has won a number of awards in competitions and participation in exhibitions.
The Ministry of Finance announced the competition for choosing a logo, motto and developing a brand book at the end of October 2023 and announced its end with a message on its page - https://www.minfin.bg/bg/news/12481