OUGD603: Brief 06 - Small Brands: Galactic Republic Rugby Logo Design and Development

OUGD603: Brief 04 - Small Brands: Galactic Republic Rugby // Star Wars Iconography and Sig

A part of this brief I enjoy is the Star Wars integration, and treating the Star Wars fictional franchise as if it were an existing entity. I've read and watched a great deal of media surrounding the existing six, soon to be seven films. Because of which, I'm familiar with the signage and icons uses in the Star Wars universe. 

Above is a collection of icons, which are used to represent factions in the universe, from left to right; The Rebel Alliance (4-6), The Galactic Empire (3-6), The Galactic Republic (Pre 1-3;6-), The Jedi Order (Pre 1-3;6-) and The First Order (7-). 

These icons have been manipulated by artists within the Star Wars fan base. Above is an sketch of the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire logos combined into one. Using a character, Boba Fett, from the original trilogy as the fill of the illustration. 

It works particularly well, as it incorporates so many different entities into one icon. Which is the main issue I'm having with designing the logo for the rugby tournament. 

In this illustration, which has been tattooed – I know, I couldn't find any other image of it. Uses another symbol from the Star Wars universe, which they have worked in with a 3D object, a lightsaber. 

As a vast majority of the signage in the Star Wars universe all uses alpha channel signs, it would be an idea to see if I could intertwine elements into the logos, similarly to the illustrations above. 

OUGD603: Brief 06 - Small Brands_01_Lex Fitness // Client Suggested Research

Conversing with Lex, over email, he outlined a business which used a similar design to his 'vision' for the identity; Sick Silk. Which has a very elegant clean logotype, as you can see below. Using calligraphy to represent an upmarket brand. 

Calligraphy is quite an old technique, done by hand, which usually is associated with traditional methods, equality and care. This in some ways conflicts with the current logotype used by BB! Clothing. As pictured below.

Which is quite blocky and solid, using a modern gothic font, which represents modernity, structure and simplicity. Perhaps there might be a way to bring the values of the logotypes together. 

The Sik Silk website showcases the design and the minimal aesthetics, being very clean and elegant. Which works with the elegant simplistic logotype, really focusing and drawing attention to the products, rather than the surrounding design.

OUGD603: Brief 06 - Small Brands_01_Lex Fitness // Brief and Initial Mind Map

Speaking with a new client, Lex Griffin who is a former UKBFF physique champion, and entrepreneur. Who has curated his own clothing line, 'Boom Baby! Clothing'. Also working with several supplement and gym fitness orientated companies as an ambassador – fairly accomplished to say the least.

Lex is about a launch a new diverse line of clothing – I stumbled upon some concepts for a logo, for the clothing line. I thought the existing designs were very weak, and under developed. So I offered my services as a designer to Lex. Pinged over and email with a proposal, and I received the following, in return.

Yeah I threw up that super rough design to get a reaction more than anything as we’d already vetoed anything like that (Sik Silk Esq) but just wanted to get people talking and getting ready for release J

However we have not quite dialled in what we want in terms of design….its pretty open to interpretation at this point although we do have a number of ideas we do like.
We are moving in a completely different direction now and creating clothing which is engineered to be able to train in but cut to High Street fashion. Elongated Curved hems, seam detailing, tapered lines and light weight custom blend materials that will and accentuate the body.

Target audience is the 20-early £30’s fashion and body conscious men and women

We’re different in the fact we’re bringing fashion INTO the gym as well as making it cross back in to the street. Our products will be able to be worn where ever you are and even by people just into clean cut fashion and not so much the gym.

My long term thought process was to create more of a symbol than just the !BB (the ! mark was intergrated into the original subtly and would be good to keep but not a deal breaker).

– Lex Griffin

Following his email, I threw together a mind map, expanding on the direction which Lex would like to take this logo. Outlining the target audience, their income, age and gender. Which outlines the direction this project should head in.

OUGD603: Brief 06 - Small Brands_02_Galactic Republic Rugby // Initial Ideas/Research

With the Rugby season coming to an end, 7s tournaments are popping up all over the country. A group of friends an I are organising our own tournament, as we're all keen enthusiasts/players. We also share a love for the science fiction franchise; Star Wars. 

So we decided to combine the two. We're calling it 'Galactic Republic Rugby 7's'. As sad as it sounds. Based on the Galactic Republic which is the fictional collection of the star systems within the Star Wars universe. (Before the events following Order 66... See Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith) As you might imagine, this brief is an opportunity to merge two three passions. Star Wars, Rugby and Graphic Design.

As I've been asked to design the logo for the tournament.

To cover all the bases for the tournament, I threw together two spider diagrams to flesh out the individual elements of each aspects – Star Wars and Rugby Union. Aspects which are prominent and different to the world we live in. The space travel, diverse species, technologically advanced and futuristic. 

Rugby tournaments, and aspects of the rugby world. Aspects which are unique to the sport. 

I tried sketching out a few ideas, off the back of the mind map. Trying to include the Galactic Republic symbol, which should be intertwined into the logo. Quite blocky logotype based designs were all that could come to mind at the time.

So I jumped online and started to crack some research. 

A clean logo designed for Rugby Nation USA. A very simply design, combining the eagle, the onomatopoeic icon for North America. Combining that with a rugby ball – although it looks more like an ball from American Football, rather than a rugby ball. Based on the vertical stitching, which isn't often seen on typical rugby balls. 

A simple logo for the North Sydney Bears. The logo used as their club symbol is very simple, being very straight forward and using a bear as the main imagery within the logo. Using a simple illustration of the bear, which allows the illustration to work on small scales. 

A fairly generic design for a rugby cup using the branches to add a sense of prestige and honour to the logo. With a shield – or a cup, not quite sure, in the centre framing a ball. Not a Rugby ball, again. An american football. It doesn't really stand out as a logo, it looks very generic and boring. The typeface reflects this. 

The super rugby tournament logo works much better than the logo pictured above. To start with it actually uses a proper rugby ball in it's design. The white typography standing out against the blue background of the shield. In a large point size, relative to the design which makes it seems almost as if it's jumping out at you. 

The Global Rugby forum logo, less of a tournament logo works well due to it's low colour count. Keeping it simple and professional. The trail of movement which follows the rugby ball adds a new dynamic to the logo. Adding as sense of motion, which helps associate it with sport, rather than a static logo, which can look quite dull. 

Scrum and Co's logo using a greyscale monochromatic colour scheme, works quite well. It has some creative typography, creating a rugby ball out of shapes which also resemble an S and reflect the contours and the three-dimensional elements of the rugby ball.