AtomicJar

Building design foundations for software startup company

Company

AtomicJar

AtomicJar

Industry

Software Development

Role

Head of Design

Duration

2 years

Skills

Rebranding

Logo Design

Brand Guidelines

Creative Direction

Project Management

Web Design

Swag

Trade Show Booth

Packaging

Social Media

Illustration

Layout

Links

Links

Acquisition of AtomicJar

Overview

Overview

My Role

My Role

Design Decisions

Design Decisions

Final Outcome

Final Outcome

Results

Results

Overview

Context

Context

Context

AtomicJar was a $25 million Series A software startup founded in 2021. Known for building the popular developer tool Testcontainers—an open source integration testing library with over 100 million downloads. AtomicJar was acquired by Docker in 2023.

Problem

Problem

Problem

While Testcontainers already had strong recognition among developers, AtomicJar—the company behind it—was virtually unknown, with no real identity beyond its name and a rough logo.

AtomicJar needed a branding solution that would bridge the gap: clarifying its connection to Testcontainers, building developer trust, supporting recruiting efforts and fast-paced growth.

Solution

Solution

Solution

I joined as the company’s first design hire and led a small team in building AtomicJar’s brand foundation from the ground up—visual identity, brand guidelines, marketing site, social media presence, marketing materials and event collateral.

The resulting brand not only connected AtomicJar to its open-source roots (Testcontainers), but also laid the groundwork for the company's commercial products (Testcontainers Cloud).

My Role

Head of Design

As Head of Design at AtomicJar I was the first design-hire reporting to the CEO. Led a small design team managing a full-time web designer and a design contractor. Built AtomicJar’s design foundations from the ground up.

  • Redesigned AtomicJar logo and created company brand guidelines.

  • Set up design templates, streamlining company-wide accessibility and request management processes.

  • Designed and launched AtomicJar’s website, supporting recruitment efforts and brand visibility.

  • Collaborated cross-functionally in a fully remote team spanning EU and US time zones.

  • Working closely with marketing, operations, product, engineering, developer relations, and people & culture on wide range of projects and deliverables.

Team

Managers

Sergei Egorov

CEO / Co-Founder

Sergei Egorov

CEO / Co-Founder

Sergei Egorov

CEO / Co-Founder

Melanie Salman

Director of Marketing and Operations

Melanie Salman

Director of Marketing and Operations

Melanie Salman

Director of Marketing and Operations

Design Team

Ladi(me)

Head of Design

Ladi(me)

Head of Design

Ladi(me)

Head of Design

Leo Cross

Web & Product Designer

Leo Cross

Web & Product Designer

Leo Cross

Web & Product Designer

Ryan St. James

Product Designer (Freelance)

Ryan St. James

Product Designer (Freelance)

Ryan St. James

Product Designer (Freelance)

Design Decisions

Company Branding

Company Branding

Company Branding

Logo Development
I revamped the AtomicJar logo adjusting the shape and colors without deviating too far from the original. A minimal facelift was chosen due to the likelihood of a larger rebrand in the future.

Logo Development
I revamped the AtomicJar logo adjusting the shape and colors without deviating too far from the original. A minimal facelift was chosen due to the likelihood of a larger rebrand in the future.

Logo Development
I revamped the AtomicJar logo adjusting the shape and colors without deviating too far from the original. A minimal facelift was chosen due to the likelihood of a larger rebrand in the future.

Brand Guidelines created as a PDF, Notion page and Figma file (as a reusable component) for easy accessibility of logos, colors and fonts.

Brand Guidelines created as a PDF, Notion page and Figma file (as a reusable component) for easy accessibility of logos, colors and fonts.

Brand Guidelines created as a PDF, Notion page and Figma file (as a reusable component) for easy accessibility of logos, colors and fonts.

Final logo lockup including brand colors and logo variants

Final logo lockup including brand colors and logo variants

Final logo lockup including brand colors and logo variants

Logo variations (above and below) showing the various lockups and combinations for the AtomicJar logo.

Logo variations (above and below) showing the various lockups and combinations for the AtomicJar logo.

Logo variations (above and below) showing the various lockups and combinations for the AtomicJar logo.

Visual Identity

Visual Identity

Visual Identity

Company Values
An important consideration in developing AtomicJar's visual identity was aligning it with the company's values. Leaning into warmer colors, a rounded sans serif font, and soft fluid shapes.

Company Values
An important consideration in developing AtomicJar's visual identity was aligning it with the company's values. Leaning into warmer colors, a rounded sans serif font, and soft fluid shapes.

Company Values
An important consideration in developing AtomicJar's visual identity was aligning it with the company's values. Leaning into warmer colors, a rounded sans serif font, and soft fluid shapes.

Color palette
Moved from the original AtomicJar cool grey to a deep purple, to pair with the signature orange. This was done to align the parent company better with its product brand colors (Testcontainers), to feel cohesive and complementary. But also to better reflect the company values.

Color palette
Moved from the original AtomicJar cool grey to a deep purple, to pair with the signature orange. This was done to align the parent company better with its product brand colors (Testcontainers), to feel cohesive and complementary. But also to better reflect the company values.

Color palette
Moved from the original AtomicJar cool grey to a deep purple, to pair with the signature orange. This was done to align the parent company better with its product brand colors (Testcontainers), to feel cohesive and complementary. But also to better reflect the company values.

Typography
Selected Rubik as the company font. Examples of typography styling for headings, body text, bulletpoints, inline code and syntax highlighted code blocks

Typography
Selected Rubik as the company font. Examples of typography styling for headings, body text, bulletpoints, inline code and syntax highlighted code blocks

Typography
Selected Rubik as the company font. Examples of typography styling for headings, body text, bulletpoints, inline code and syntax highlighted code blocks

Example of all the visual style elements applied together on a social media image to promote a tech talk at a developer conference.

Example of all the visual style elements applied together on a social media image to promote a tech talk at a developer conference.

Example of all the visual style elements applied together on a social media image to promote a tech talk at a developer conference.

Final Outcome

Over two years the identity of AtomicJar took shape through its web page, social media, swag, and event materials.

Company Website

Company Website

Company Website

Homepage design introducing visitors to AtomicJar's mission, products, testimonials, news, and a focus on recruiting CTA sections.

Homepage design introducing visitors to AtomicJar's mission, products, testimonials, news, and a focus on recruiting CTA sections.

Homepage design introducing visitors to AtomicJar's mission, products, testimonials, news, and a focus on recruiting CTA sections.

Company page highlighting AtomicJar's values, introducing the team with a collage of photos from the company retreat, and highlighting investors and advisors.

Company page highlighting AtomicJar's values, introducing the team with a collage of photos from the company retreat, and highlighting investors and advisors.

Company page highlighting AtomicJar's values, introducing the team with a collage of photos from the company retreat, and highlighting investors and advisors.

Blog index page with cards previewing individual posts, search funcionality, recent posts list, topic keywords, and callout CTA for hiring.

Blog index page with cards previewing individual posts, search funcionality, recent posts list, topic keywords, and callout CTA for hiring.

Blog index page with cards previewing individual posts, search funcionality, recent posts list, topic keywords, and callout CTA for hiring.

Blog post page with mix of content a styling for images, videos, headings, body text, bulletpoints, quotes, inline code and syntax highlighted code blocks

Blog post page with mix of content a styling for images, videos, headings, body text, bulletpoints, quotes, inline code and syntax highlighted code blocks

Blog post page with mix of content a styling for images, videos, headings, body text, bulletpoints, quotes, inline code and syntax highlighted code blocks

New Employee Package

New Employee Package

New Employee Package

(Inside) 3D preview of the custom box design for the welcome package.

(Inside) 3D preview of the custom box design for the welcome package.

(Inside) 3D preview of the custom box design for the welcome package.

(Side) 3D preview at a side angle with company website URL on the lid flap.

(Side) 3D preview at a side angle with company website URL on the lid flap.

(Side) 3D preview at a side angle with company website URL on the lid flap.

(Bottom) 3D preview of box bottom with an easter egg message.

(Bottom) 3D preview of box bottom with an easter egg message.

(Bottom) 3D preview of box bottom with an easter egg message.

(Top) 3D preview of the custom box design for the welcome package. Stylized version of the logo adorns the lid.

(Top) 3D preview of the custom box design for the welcome package. Stylized version of the logo adorns the lid.

(Top) 3D preview of the custom box design for the welcome package. Stylized version of the logo adorns the lid.

(Opened) this angle shows off the contrast of the warm bright interior with the dark purple exterior.

(Opened) this angle shows off the contrast of the warm bright interior with the dark purple exterior.

(Opened) this angle shows off the contrast of the warm bright interior with the dark purple exterior.

(Final Result) The welcome package in real life :)

(Final Result) The welcome package in real life :)

(Final Result) The welcome package in real life :)

Conference Booth

Conference Booth

Conference Booth

AtomicJar team attending KubeCon 2022

AtomicJar team attending KubeCon 2022

AtomicJar team attending KubeCon 2022

Design Mockup of the booth backdrop and counter table

Design Mockup of the booth backdrop and counter table

Design Mockup of the booth backdrop and counter table

FInal result of the booth in real life at KubeCon

FInal result of the booth in real life at KubeCon

FInal result of the booth in real life at KubeCon

End-of-year Swag

End-of-year Swag

End-of-year Swag

(Final Result) End of year package exterior (with custom tape) and interior.

(Final Result) End of year package exterior (with custom tape) and interior.

(Final Result) End of year package exterior (with custom tape) and interior.

(Dielines) print file preparation for the end-of-year box

(Dielines) print file preparation for the end-of-year box

(Dielines) print file preparation for the end-of-year box

Offsite Design 2024

Offsite Design 2024

Offsite Design 2024

(Left) Illustrated graphic for the offsite. (Right) Text-only version of the graphic.

(Left) Illustrated graphic for the offsite. (Right) Text-only version of the graphic.

(Left) Illustrated graphic for the offsite. (Right) Text-only version of the graphic.

Bag with full color design

Bag with full color design

Bag with full color design

Close of the bag + luggage tag

Close of the bag + luggage tag

Close of the bag + luggage tag

Sweatshirt design

Sweatshirt design

Sweatshirt design

Sweatpants with embroidery using the text-only graphic

Sweatpants with embroidery using the text-only graphic

Sweatpants with embroidery using the text-only graphic

T-shirt design

T-shirt design

T-shirt design

AtomicJar co-founders sporting the swag at the offsite

AtomicJar co-founders sporting the swag at the offsite

AtomicJar co-founders sporting the swag at the offsite

Results

Two years of building the brand contributed to a successful acquisition of AtomicJar by software giant Docker. AtomicJar was acquired in 2024 only three years after it was founded in 2021, and after a successful Series A round raising $25 million.

Acquisition by Docker

Acquisition by Docker

Acquisition by Docker

Designed the featured graphic for the acquisition announcement blog post.

Designed the featured graphic for the acquisition announcement blog post.

Designed the featured graphic for the acquisition announcement blog post.

Team Zoom photo capturing our last moments as AtomicJar, celebrating the acquisition announcement.

Team Zoom photo capturing our last moments as AtomicJar, celebrating the acquisition announcement.

Team Zoom photo capturing our last moments as AtomicJar, celebrating the acquisition announcement.

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