Where faith and financial progress come together

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Sifr halal bank, vrouw betaalt met de Sifr-betaalkaart aan een betaalterminal

Client
Sifr

Case
Brand positioning,
Rebranding & Website

Services
Visual identity/branding
UX design
Social media design
Print

Sector
Finance

In a financial world where trust and principles are often under pressure, Sifr offers an alternative that is both modern and faithful to belief. The brand represents the first fully halal and riba-free financial solution in the Netherlands and is aimed at people who want to follow their faith without compromising on convenience or innovation.

As the initiative grew, the need arose for a brand identity that better matches Sifr’s core values: faith, transparency and progress. The challenge was to create an identity that both respects spiritual values and has a contemporary, trustworthy look.

From that question, Cubic Mill developed a brand story that brings together faith and financial responsibility. We design a visual identity that radiates calm, clarity and trust while also being future-proof.

The result is a modern, credible identity that bridges tradition and technology, translated into a digital platform, physical and virtual cards, and communication materials that make the essence of Sifr tangible for the entire community.

Challenge

Sifr’s ambition is to offer a credible, halal and riba-free alternative within the Dutch financial sector. Yet the existing brand identity called for more depth and connection with the values and sensitivities of the target audience. The challenge was to create a brand that inspires trust, respects spiritual principles and at the same time feels modern, transparent and forward-looking. In addition, the identity had to clearly distinguish itself within a market that traditionally offers little room for faith-based financial solutions.

Visual identity

Sifr’s logo forms the heart of the new identity and revolves entirely around the meaning of the word sifr, which means “zero” in Arabic. Zero symbolises a new beginning, balance and purity. These values align perfectly with Sifr’s mission to offer financial solutions that are free of riba and fully halal.

The logo is designed in a clean and contemporary way, with soft curves and a harmonious typographic balance that evokes calm and trust. The simplicity of the design reflects not only clarity, but also the transparency and integrity that Sifr wants to convey within the financial world.

Sifr halal bank branding, visuele identiteit

Sifr’s colour palette combines depth, warmth and clarity in a way that evokes trust and calm. The deep dark green primary colour symbolises stability, reliability and growth, while the warm orange tone adds energy, progress and modernity. Together they strike a balance between tradition and renewal, exactly as Sifr’s mission does.

The lighter pastel colours form a soft counterpart that brings airiness and accessibility to the visual communication. They give space to content and reinforce the sense of openness and transparency. Together this creates a visual identity that is modern, inviting and in harmony with the values of faith, trust and progress.

Photography

Sifr’s photography is carefully developed as an extension of the brand identity. By working with soft natural tones, warm light and calm compositions, a visual language emerges that radiates trust, clarity and accessibility.

To bring this visual direction to life in a consistent and forward-looking way, we also used AI. This allowed us to precisely shape the desired mood, styling and image quality, in line with Sifr’s branding. In doing so, we not only show how a brand story can be translated more strongly into visuals, but also that we work with the latest technologies and design developments to present brands in a contemporary and progressive way.

Illustrations

For Sifr, we developed a set of illustrations and icons that fit seamlessly with the new brand identity. In the visual communication, we deliberately sought balance. Too much photography or decorative imagery can quickly become busy and detract from the clarity of the brand. That is why we chose to alternate imagery with icons that represent specific services, functions and themes in a simple and recognisable way.

The illustration style follows the same visual principles as the logo, colour palette and typography, creating a consistent whole. This way, the icons not only support the look of the brand, but also help to make complex financial concepts more accessible and quicker to understand.

Motion & Interaction

To make Sifr’s digital experience more powerful and intuitive, we integrated dynamic interactions and subtle motion design into the website. Micro-animations, smooth transitions and interactive elements create a lively and modern user experience without disturbing the calm of the brand.

These movements reinforce the visual hierarchy, guide visitors through the content and give important elements extra emphasis. The result is a website that not only feels informative and reliable, but also offers a refined and contemporary look and feel that matches Sifr’s innovative vision.

We also worked with a sub-navigation system to further improve the usability and interaction on the website. By logically grouping important sections and related information, users can find what they are looking for faster and move through the content more easily.

Such interactions make the difference between a standard informative website and a functional, innovative platform where relevant information is always within reach.

Sifr halal bank website op een laptop met de betaalpagina Betalen bij Sifr, webdesign door Cubic Mill

Goals

The goal at Sifr is to create a brand that brings together faith, trust and modern financial innovation. The new identity has to convey the halal and riba-free services in an accessible and recognisable way, so the target audience feels immediately addressed. In addition, the brand focuses on strengthening Sifr’s professional and forward-looking image, distinguishing it as a reliable and innovative alternative within the financial sector.

Visibility

Sifr’s visibility focuses on increasing brand awareness within the Muslim community and the wider public. With a clear, contemporary look, the brand positions itself as a reliable and transparent alternative within the financial world.

Partners

Together with experts, institutions and the community, Sifr is building the Netherlands’ first fully halal and riba-free financial solution. The renewed identity strengthens trust and makes collaboration clearer and more accessible.

Positioning & communication

Sifr positions itself as the brand that brings together faith-based values and modern financial solutions. The communication is clear, connecting and forward-looking, with a focus on trust and transparency.

Digital engagement

Sifr’s digital environment combines ease of use with clarity. The website and online communication make the brand accessible, strengthen interaction with the target audience and increase trust.

Outcome

The renewed brand identity and digital environment strengthen Sifr’s position as the first halal and riba-free financial brand in the Netherlands. The combination of a recognisable visual style, clear communication and a user-friendly website creates more trust, engagement and growth within the community.

Branding

Sifr’s new branding reflects calm, trust and progress. The logo, typography and colour palette together form a visual identity that unites faith-based values and modern professionalism. The style is consistent, recognisable and future-proof, and aligns seamlessly with the sensitivity and pride of the target audience.

Website

Sifr’s website translates the renewed identity into a digital experience that feels clear, intuitive and reliable. For the technical implementation, we deliberately chose not to use a standard WordPress solution, but a specialised platform that better matches the requirements of a financial service provider. This offers extra security, more stability and better options for integration with marketing tooling.

The structure and visual elements are designed to convey Sifr’s message clearly and guide visitors from orientation to action. The result is a platform that inspires trust, makes the core of Sifr visible and is technically set up for growth and professionalism.

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