Kedikoy is a social campaign set in Istanbul meant to unite the citizens with their love for cats. The campaign puts the citizens in the shows of many iconic cats of the city, sharing anecdotes of Istanbul's past and present through the lens of these 'Catizens'
We designed trading cards to be shared throughout the city to prompt people to attempt to collect them all. Each one focuses on a certain cat character.
Kedikoy is Turkish for "Cat Town". The pun is based on the district names of Istanbul, such as Kadikoy.
Early sketches including initial sketches of the main lineup
CAT #1 - BASKEDI
Baskedi, another pun in Turkish meaning both "Chief Minister" and "Chief Cat", is the mayor of Kedikoy and the mascot of this campaign. I illustrated him as a cat with multiple colors, symbolizing the diversity of Istanbul in both people and history. I drew him with heterochromia, two different eye colors, to symbolize the two different continents Istanbul is placed on.
CAT # 2 - GLI
Gli is a real-life cat that used to live in the Hagia Sofia mosque. She became famous due to the U.S. and Turkish presidents petting her in 2009. Therefore, I depicted her as a diplomat!
CAT # 3 - Memur Miyavoglu
Memur Miyavoglu, meaning "Officer Catson", is inspired by the often viral metro cats of Istanbul, who always stay on top of the the card scanners and dont move. So there he is, a security cat.
CAT # 4 - Sultani
Sultani is inspired by a rumored story of the cat of Sultan AbdulHemid, who according to his daughters, loved the cat more than them. He would interject their board games and destroy them.
CAT # 5 - Tombili
Tombili, meaning "Very chubby", is a cat that was beloved by the residents of the neighborhood of Ziverbey, she was known for being a chubby cat that rested in this pose in multiple places. When she passed away, the neighborhood commissioned a statue in her honor (2016).
Concept, Research, & Development
Youssof Gehad & Fatma Imran
Illustrated by
Youssof Gehad
Logo & Card Designs by
Fatma Imran
