I picked up my new business cards today, which is always a somewhat daunting experience. I’ve dealt with printers enough times to know that you never really know what to expect and there are always surprises, often unwelcome. It doesn’t help that I still haven’t found a printer with whom I’m ready to enter into a monogamous relationship with. I wanted to try something new with this batch, and decided to print on vellum, which is a semi-transparent material that would allow me to play around with dimension a little by printing on both sides.
I’m still not sure how I feel about the final product. I’m really happy with the overall design, but I was expecting the vellum to be more transparent, and so the text that is printed on the back side is hard to read unless the card is held up to the light. Part of me thinks that it adds something and makes it more interesting and “interactive”, but I also know that it’s not the most legible design and will probably not go over well with everyone.
Thoughts?
I’ve spent the majority of this weekend working on the bicyclette brand book and the storyboards for an interactive Flash interface that has a paper-doll-meets-collage feel to it. Many hours on the computer, but I think I’ve finally grasped the look and feeling of what I want bicyclette‘s brand to be. Not saying that I’m close to being finished, but I;m happy to be able to move past the creative block I had.
Thought I would share some sneak peeks at what I’m working on. These aren’t full screen shots or fully finished, but they give you an idea of where I’m headed with it.
FLASH INTERFACE:
BRAND BOOK:
Note: The images used in these mock-ups are not all my own, nor am I taking credit for them
I’ve been working on the biyclette brand book for awhile, and recently have found myself lacking in inspiration. My daily blog roll is a constant source of new ideas and visuals, and it is through this that I came across Promise Tangeman, a graphic designer and photographer whose talent and vision is undeniable as evident through both her blog and website. I think one of the challenges I’m finding with the branding is coming up with a cohesive visual identity that can be applied in multiple situations, without being locked into something too corporate and repetitive. I want the essence of bicyclette to come through.
Promise’s style is evident in all of her work, and her use of colour, layering, textures and collage-like elements is impressive. I love the look and feel of it. She does a lot of work on weddings, and the personality really comes through there, as she is able to capture the essence of each individual couple, and create a brand for them.
Enjoy…
… And various branding concepts for Matilda Jane, a children’s clothing line. I love her use of colour, type and textures, and how she is able to create such a strong identity for the line. Inspirational, most definitely.
All images courtesy of Promise Tangeman
I have a progress critique on my bicyclette brand book tomorrow at 8am (ugh), so I’m working away on that, but wanted to quickly share something that serves as both eye candy and words of encouragement. I feel like I need both right now.
Images: Decor8blog
I love the bold but friendly type, bright colours, retro style and make-you-smile messages. And the distressing on the letters is something I may have to play around with for bicyclette, as I like the vintage quality it adds.
These remind me of those motivational posters that teachers had in their class rooms, with kittens reminding you to “Hold on!” or whatnot. Except way cooler and for the design-minded.
Now, back to work! And yes, I will keep calm and rock on…
I’ve been a little obsessed with brand graphics as of late, due to the fact that I’m taking on the task of branding bicyclette, and so I’m constantly looking for new sources of inspiration. I recently picked up the oh-so-beautiful coffee table book Fashion Brand Graphics, which shares some of the best examples of graphic design in the fashion world and is a great visual resource to see how certain labels and stores share their brand identity through various mediums, keeping it consistent but never boring.
I must say, the whole process of creating an entire brand book for bicyclette is indeed a daunting one, but nonetheless, I’m excited to begin. Here are a few brand graphics that are inspiring me. If you want to take a closer look, click on the photos and they’ll get bigger. A lot bigger…
Giraffe is a specialist tie brand developed on the concept of “Dont let people tie you up around the neck. Let’s tighten up our own necks nice and tight and stare into the distance from on high like a giraffe”. Interesting. I love the simple photos, fold-out product cards and quirky tag line.
Mezzanine is a small boutique that delivers fresh style that intermingles two elements of avant garde and basic. The collage-like layout of their print materials and the sketches mixed with photographs really appeal to me, as does the catalogue, which has each item printed on a separate card.
Selframe boasts military-look casual wear for women who want a feminine, delicate silhouette. The design of the materials is consolidated by graphics overflowing with a classic taste. Simple, consistent and clean, enough said.
L’Appartment was developed from 25 keywords including art, night, vintage and rock, and offers selective items for female fashionistas with the concept of “my grown-up closet.” The graphics allude to a Parisian atmosphere, with a certain elegance. The whole concept behind this store, and the eclectic graphic style is very much in line with where I see bicyclette.
Milk Fed‘s brand concept is California Cool and features simple clothing for girls without relying on fads. The branding materials are kept extremely clean and simple and the brand is not afraid to flaunt it’s girly roots.
I know I’m a sucker for good branding, and have often been swayed by the strength of good design and overall brand image. I’m curious how important this is to everyone, and if there are any brands (fashion or otherwise) that stand out as exceptionally good or bad?
As most of you probably know by now, as part of my fourth year capstone/thesis project at school, I’m building bicyclette‘s identity throughout this year, and attempting to use social networking to aid in this process. Crowdsourcing, if you will. Last semester was all about exploration: a series of t-shirt designs that explored where some of my inspiration came from (here) and a series of posters featuring a photo shoot I did in order to promote the brand and blog (here). The semester also involved researching and writing a literature review about retail conception and development using social media and constantly exploring my concept creatively, primarily on the blog. Now, this semester, it’s all about putting it all together and working towards one larger creative capstone project for the final exhibition. Here’s my proposal:
My aim this semester is to focus on creating a brand book for bicyclette, my retail concept, exploring and determining the visual standards for the company and developing the brand identity further. This will be done by crowdsourcing ideas through social media as well as using my exploration from the bicyclette blog to guide the direction of the brand. Components of the brand book will include, but are not limited to: logo design, wordmark and branded font, business documentation such as cards, letterheads and envelopes, advertising, presentation materials, shopping bags, hang tags, and the website. Another integral part of this will be the way in which the brand book is presented for the final exhibition, as I want to go about it in an alternative way, and create an environment and experience at the exhibit that is in line with the store image and overall feel of the brand. I would like to create a retail simulation, so that people are able to interact with the various elements of the brand book as they would in the physical store environment.
So, as part of this, and since I need them to take with me to the trade shows in Vegas (yay!), I’ve starting working on some business card designs. I thought I would share them with you, see if anyone has any feedback for me, etc. These are all fairly rough, as is most of my work at this stage in the design process, but it gives you an idea of where I’m going with it.
I was going for something that successfully communicates the bicyclette brand, and is a little more eclectic and less corporate. Right now, it’s looking like the last design is what I’m going to work with, but I would love to hear your thoughts. These are all designed as one-sided, but I think when I actually get them printed, I’ll do double-sided, as I think they’re more professional and less cluttered.
One more quick thing I just have to share, especially seeing as it is Interior Monday, is this AMAZING vintage Arthur Umanoff Swivel Chair that I came across in The Sunday Times Market’s Etsy shop today. If the price tag wasn’t quite so high (especially with the shipping to Canada), it would be mine in a snap, and eventually bicyclette‘s. Le sigh. I definitely have to keep my eyes out for vintage floral print furniture such as this, so much personality.
First post of 2010. Wow. There’s something surreal about the start of this year, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. I have this overwhelming sense of excitement and anxiousness about this year, with the promise that it will be filled with life changes, adventures and new beginnings, many of which I can only begin to imagine at this point in time.
In less than four months, I’ll be done school. Four intense, sleep-depriving years later, and here I am, ready for my degree and to move onto the next phase of my life. It’s been an invaluable experience, to say the least, from the individual classes and projects themselves to the friends made and life lessons learned. But I am ready to move on, which in itself is saying something: that I’m ready to take what I’ve learned and apply it to the real world. This will be the year that bicyclette, as a retail store, will come into existence. My business plan, now in its’ fifth incarnation, is close to being completed, which is an exciting feat in and of itself. If I think back to the summer, when I made the decision that opening a store is what I wanted to do, and bicyclette first began to form in my mind, I’ve come a long way. This blog is an extension of that as well, and I thank all of my readers for your support and contributions. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the process, and look forward to growing it even more, as it has become an invaluable method of creative exploration and brainstorming for me on both a personal and (semi)professional level.
On that note, I would love to hear from you about what you’ve enjoyed about my blog and what you would like me to introduce or share more of.
It’s been a learning process, and I think I’m still experimenting and trying to find my niche. The aim is to find a balance between store-related topics and explore various facets of bicyclette, often in the form of inspiration, as well as share personal musings with a strong tendency towards all things style and design-oriented.
But without further ado, on to the traditional Monday blog topic:
There are some posts where I go into it knowing exactly what I’m going to write about. I’m constantly bookmarking links or saving photos to come back to. But sometimes I have to go searching, in order to fulfill a certain void. Today was one such day, though I at least knew what I wanted it to be focused on: window displays. I believe that, in terms of retail visual merchandising, the window display is extremely important and sets the tone for the rest of store, before customers even know what to expect. It can be exceptionally styled mannequins, an artistic installation, or a strong theme which has the ability to draw someone in off of the street and give them a reason to venture in through the door. This is a topic I would like to explore further, as I think there is a lot of inspiring displays and interesting facts to share, but today I wanted to focus on one retailer in particular: Holt Renfrew, and in particular the summer 2009 blogger windows.
Holt Renfrew showcased six style-focused bloggers for their summer windows, including Jane Aldrige of Sea of Shoes, Garance Dore, Bryan Boy, Tommy Ton of Jak & Jil, Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist, and Anita Clarke of I Want-I Got. The reasons why I love these windows? They reflect Holt’s ability to commit wholeheartedly to a display concept from idea to execution. The tone, style and individual personality of each blog is represented in the windows and they’re a feast for the eyes, like all of Holt’s displays. These windows also speak to a topic that is near and dear to my heart right now: the abundance and importance of blogging and social media in fashion today. As the research topic of my thesis this year, I never cease to find it an interesting subject, and I honestly believe that it is changing the way we look at and interact with fashion. This sums it up perfectly: “Social media is such a huge phenomenon,” says John Gerhardt, Holt Renfrew’s creative director. “It’s democratizing fashion.” Cheers to that.
This will be something I will no doubt touch more upon in the future, but for now, here’s some images of the windows themselves.
source
Thoughts on Holt’s windows? These in particular, or their displays in general… Any other favourites in terms of visual displays and window design?
After taking a much needed week’s vacation from blogging to enjoy a little time away from the computer and relaxation at the parents’ place, I’m back to my regular schedule. That’s right, near daily blogging, get excited!
As I was catching up on some of my favourite blog reads, I came across this Craig Ward wall installation typography piece:
Thinking it would be the perfect start to an interior inspiration post, I visited his site, Words are Pictures (a perfect title for his work) in order to learn more about him and his work. Turns out his pieces aren’t particularly interior focused, but more print oriented. But inspiration is inspiration, and I decided that the two tied into each other enough to make it viable. Plus, at this point, I was captivated.
A significant portion of my schooling, the mysterious Fashion Communication program, is geared towards graphic design and typography, and I’ve learned to appreciate good design and view it as both a technical skill and artistic form. Craig Ward is exceptional on both accounts. His use of typography as an art form is beautiful, and the pictures he creates with letterforms and words are thought-provoking. I would hang any one of these pieces on my wall, gladly. Enjoy!
All images: http://www.debutart.com/artist/craig-ward
I still have over a week until classes to start, which will be largely spent working on bicyclette related projects and working out the final kinks in my business plan. I think I’m at least on version 4 at this point. So much work, so time consuming. I have a cousin who’s in accounting who sat down with me on Saturday to go over my financials and work some Excel magic. His help was invaluable, and watching him whiz through charts and formulas and numbers was eye-opening. I have a new found appreciation for Excel, that’s for sure. Suddenly everything seemed to work together and make sense, which is such an amazing feel, as that’s been the thorn in my side throughout this entire process. And the good news is, according to our calculations, I’ll be making money within the first year. Definitely a good sign, and one that I hope will speak to potential investors as well!
Anyways, I’ll leave it at that for now, I’m in a cleaning and packing whirlwind as I prepare to head back to Guelph for bicyclette brainstorming sessions with the parents and then to Waterloo to spend time with the boy’s family.
While I was crunching numbers, any good boxing day/sale finds?
Interior design, decoration and layout is a huge part of a retail store, and in my mind, one of the most important. It’s somewhat permanent (or at least aspects of it are) and therefore requires a certain level of commitment from the beginning. It should communicate a feeling and tell a story, complementing the merchandise and overall brand identity without competing and creating an environment. In my mind, on the most basic level, I place most stores into one of two categories based on their interiors: streamlined and modern, or vintage and organic. I’ve been drawn to both on different occasions, but envision bicyclette in the latter category. I want it to have a vintage-inspired, treasure hunt-inducing quality. I love whitewashed walls, wooden floors, wallpaper and colourful accents. Clean and pretty and somewhat mismatched.
I found these photos of a London home, and have fallen in interior love, imagining them transformed into bicyclette with utter perfection.
Images: Light Locations
One of the things I want to do is take pieces of vintage furniture, such as tables, chairs, dressers, chests, mirrors, etc., and refurnish them. It’s amazing how easily a new coat of paint and a little TLC can breathe new life into a piece. Vintage pieces, both clothing and furniture, appeal to me because of their nostalgic value and ability to tell a story, which is one the things that I want to capture within the bicyclette environment. These pieces would be used as visual display and merchandising props, but also be for sale. This would add to the eclectic look and feel of the store, and ensure that the merchandising is ever-changing, as pieces are sold and new pieces are added.
Images: Decor8 Blog
I’m a sucker for whimsical, fairytale-esque design and pretty details. It’s the little things in life.
For me, the name bicyclette has connotations of urban city life with a whimsical, romantic twist. I like the fact that it’s more abstract, and brings to mind a lifestyle and feeling rather than a literal description of the product or store. It creates curiosity and intrigue. It brings to mind European influences and an artistic flair, and has a certain independence and free-spirit about it.
bicyclette is a retail store that will support local talent and provide innovative designs by promoting new artists and unique designers and provide customers with a stimulating visual environment. The aim is to create a retail space that sells a lifestyle and becomes a destination for one-of-a-kind and exclusive fashions, accessories, home products and giftware, fulfilling the needs of the customer to express their creativity and individuality through fashion and design.
The purpose of the store reaches beyond simply selling products and aims to sell a feeling of community and a lifestyle brand that is distinct and compelling. Creativity is the driving force behind the store, and between the product assortment and visual environment, the goal is to create a connection between the customer and the brand. A significant part of this will be executed through the innovative store design and visual merchandising. An eclectic mix of merchandise will be offered, and clothing and other products will be cross merchandised to construct unique and inspiring product displays that juxtapose clothing with home, gift and decorative items, and new products with reworked vintage pieces in creative vignettes.
How important is store environment and visual merchandising to the shopping experience?
Images: http://www.weheartit.com
Over the course of the next year , I’ll be continuing to develop my store concept, hopefully with the input of others. I have ideas about how I envision it, but I know that it will change continuously as I do more research and creative exploration throughout this process.
Leave A Comment