When starting this project, we had to think about what sort of approach we would take. Should it be abstract? Should it be representational? Symbolic? Iconic? It's probably one of the most challenging branding projects we've ever tackled. Normally, we would do a lot of sketches and thumbnails, but the more we scribbled, the more we fell into the trap of cliché retro mountain imagery. After looking at hundreds of fonts and not finding the right one, we realized that the best solution would be a truly custom wordmark that has the feel of the movement, freedom and mountains without being too representational. To communicate "snowmobile", the only solution was to incorporate one in a subtle, yet quickly recognizable way.

 

 

We have never designed a typeface with linear counters before. It was surprising to see how readable it is. We broke a lot of typographic rules on this one!

 

This project is very fresh and although there are not a lot of applications yet, it was well-received when it made its debut on the BC Snowmobile Federation "Let'sRideBC" Facebook page. The wordmark is super-flexible in both horizontal and vertical formats and with the addition of regional names in the font "Toxigenesis", it will work well over multiple applications. We created an extensive Graphic Standards Guide to help with implementation, especially for video end screens and digital usage. It will easily adapt to summer riding sports i.e. mountain biking. We can't wait to see it embroidered on toques and backpacks!

 

Vida is a founding partner and Co-creative Director of Hangar 18 Design Continuum, an award-winning Vancouver design and branding firm with a legacy of strategic solutions spanning two decades. She has been an in-house art director/designer at the Hudson’s Bay Company and Woodwards Department Stores, as well as working at advertising agencies, including DDB and BBDO prior to H18. Vida currently teaches at the IDEA School of Design, Capilano University and has taught at Vancouver Film School and Langara in the past. She is an avid design history buff and part-time musician/Morris dancer.