5
min read
Published on
December 25, 2024

December 2024: A Year of Growth and New Horizons

Polar Updates
December 2024: A Year of Growth and New Horizons

As we wrap up another incredible year at Polar Hedgehog, we’re taking a moment to reflect on everything we’ve achieved in 2024. It’s been a year of bold projects, creative breakthroughs, and exciting new beginnings—both in our work at Polar and in our expansion into Finland as a thriving new market.

Polar Hedgehog by the Numbers

This year, our team has been busier than ever, bringing ideas to life and pushing the boundaries of design and development. Here’s what we accomplished:

  • 12 New Clients joined the Polar family, embracing impactful and tailored design solutions
  • 7 Branding Processes designing logos and establishing brand foundations
  • 11 Visual Language Developments creating unique graphic languages tailored to each brand
  • 74 Animations that brought interfaces and ideas to life
  • 26 Investor Decks crafted to tell compelling startup stories
  • 10 Brand-New Websites launched from scratch
  • 5 Website Redesigns giving existing platforms a fresh look
  • 8 Blogs filled with insights and inspiration
  • 313 Product Features designed and built
  • 15 Products developed to elevate user experiences
  • 3 Design Systems built from the ground up and another 3 continued in development
  • 2 Figma Plugins custom-built to streamline and enhance design workflows

Each stat is more than just a number—it’s a testament to our team’s creativity, dedication, and commitment to crafting meaningful experiences for our clients.

Exploring Finland: New Markets, New Opportunities

2024 also marked a significant chapter as we expanded into the Finnish startup ecosystem. This new market has been a source of inspiration and opportunity, allowing us to connect with innovative teams and bring our expertise to the Nordic region.

Here’s a snapshot of our Finnish journey:

  • 4 trips to Finland, including over 50 days spent on the ground
  • Attended 4 conferences:
    • sTARTUp Day
    • Arctic15
    • Nordeep
    • Slush
  • Delivered 3 workshops, empowering startups to improve their investor decks
  • Sponsored the YScience Pitching Competition, supporting cutting-edge innovation
  • Began exciting partnerships with Terkko Health Hub and Mixi
  • Experienced Finland’s contrasts: from the -17°C winter chill to a magical night without darkness

Through these milestones, we’ve not only built connections but also deepened our appreciation for the vibrant Finnish tech community.

Looking Ahead

As we reflect on 2024, we’re energized by the milestones we’ve achieved and the opportunities ahead. This year has been a foundation for bold ideas, creative breakthroughs, and exciting collaborations, and we’re just getting started.

There’s so much more we’re eager to share in this edition of Polar Updates. We’ll take you behind the scenes of our newly launched Polar Hedgehog website, a bold redesign that reflects our refreshed visual identity and vision for the future. Plus, we’re celebrating an exciting milestone with our client Hexagate, who recently joined forces with Chainalysis to bring even greater innovation to the Web3 security space.

Dive in and join us as we celebrate the journey so far and look forward to what’s to come!

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Project Spotlight

Polar's New Website

We’re thrilled to unveil the new Polar Hedgehog website, a bold reflection of our refreshed visual language and ambitious new direction. This redesign captures not just who we are today but also the essence of what we create and where we’re headed in the future.

At the heart of our new visual language lies the idea of perception and revealing. Through abstract shapes and layered designs, we reframe how customers see themselves and how they want to be perceived by their audience. It’s about creating a visual narrative that mirrors the journey of self-discovery—exposing strengths, uncovering hidden layers, and building a clear, impactful identity.

The interplay of blur effects and parallax motion adds depth to this concept, reflecting the glossiness of perception. The blur acts as a metaphor for the evolving way a brand is seen: what is sharply in focus, what remains partially hidden, and how the story unfolds to the audience. Similarly, the layering of shapes speaks to the exposure of ideas—what is foregrounded and highlighted, what remains in the background, and the dynamic relationship between the two.

Throughout the site, you’ll notice subtle animations in icons and text that bring this language to life. These interactive details add a sense of sophistication and energy while maintaining a sleek, modern aesthetic. A broader palette of colors further enhances the identity, with each hue spotlighting the unique contributions of our teams in product design, branding and marketing, and web design and development.

This website is a testament to the stories we help craft. It’s about revealing what makes each project unique while allowing space for discovery. With this redesign, we’re not only showcasing our work but also creating a re-perception of what we stand for—a layered, thoughtful approach that reflects our commitment to innovation and creativity.

It’s a glimpse into what we create, how we work, and what’s next for Polar Hedgehog. And this is just the beginning—we’re only getting started.

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Announcements

Hexagate Joins Forces with Chainalysis

Exciting news: Hexagate has been acquired by Chainalysis!

As the leading blockchain data platform, Chainalysis is known for its industry-leading solutions in compliance and investigation. With this acquisition, Hexagate will significantly accelerate the development of its web3 security solutions, helping chains, protocols, asset managers, and exchanges detect and mitigate threats in real time.

At Polar Hedgehog, we’re proud to have played a role in Hexagate’s incredible journey. From crafting their branding, building their website, and refining their product design, we’ve supported Hexagate’s mission to secure the blockchain ecosystem every step of the way.

Hexagate’s advanced machine learning models, which have already saved over $1 billion in customer funds, will now integrate with Chainalysis’ comprehensive suite of tools, expanding their shared impact on the crypto industry.

This partnership is a milestone for the web3 ecosystem, and we’re thrilled to celebrate Hexagate’s continued success as they embark on this exciting new chapter.

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