Leaflet design - The Kitesurf Centre

Still following the same lines as the previous two projects was this latest one. Previous years The Kitesurf Centre ( TKSC) had used a single leaflet side sheet, very handy due to it's size however extremely difficult to show a great amount of detail on and as the company grows it has wider range of activities and therefore items to be placed on the leaflet.
It was a quite simple task all the details were on the site on the summary of courses page
I then had to see what else might want to be added and then put that into the design.
Instead of having a conventional 2 fold leaflet like a book I wanted a concertina effect allowing 2 fronts, one to have The Kitesurf Centre and one for the Stand up paddle board centre (The SUP Centre)

Here is how it works

This although makes it great to use makes it a little hard to design but this is how the preproduction designs looked:

This is as much details as I feel I could add without making it too busy or removing one of the front pages.

Logo Design - The Kitesurf Centre

In 2008 the Brand "The Kitesurf Centre" was born. The logo at the time was a collaboration of many while putting their own twist on it. The design has used the idea of sights or circle around the side from Liquid force at the time, a kite similar to that used by Rodwe and a well shaped waves used in many surf and kitesurf brands. The finished item was a sketch drawn in an airport but still one of the most effective logo's I have seen whether planned or not, split down there are three parts. The Kite, the wave(surf) and a circle or sights which then place the other items and target in the centre.

Here shows a 3d representation of the logo which I have put together and has been used throughout the website and marketing material for a couple of years.

Each year we have kept the centre looking fresh with a new cite and even upgrading the building and continue to do so therefore we decided that this was also a good plan to do for the logo
I was given the task of looking into a new logo and the creation so new stickers and other such marketting material to go with it.

Following the basic idea of the three parts I did not want to change it too much, it had been a variety of colours throughout the couple of years so colour choice was very open but it had to work in more than just the one or two.
I initially looked at changing the entire design such as the wave and kite or even adding a kitesurfer to it however none of these created the correct effect.
Instead I decided to change the exterior circle or at least the sights. With the whole concept revolving around  wind and the weather that is what stuck in my head, in this design I try to put across the idea of sun and the rays produced while also giving the effect of wind with the rotation of these giving a slight eye of a tornado feel to it.

This design worked well and we were pleased with the outcome as it also allowed the use of the name in the logo if needed or absent when not.

The design was then used for much of the marketing material and even placed onto clothing. One of the key changes we had made in the centre was hiring a large number of instructors so to show us as a team we had staff hoodies and t-shirts made to be worn. Here is some of the intial designs for the hoodies however we eventually went for this initial design on the front and the surfer riding along on the back with brands running down the arm in a cub badge style.

Here you can also see how the design also works well with other colour and without the brand name written on.

Next on the list..Stickers

Water splash

1.   2.

I have often seen photo's where items have been dropped into water and not known if it is real or photoshopped. One way to find this out and also learn a new skill was to try myself. I found a blog that showed about water and how to manipulate a page to show a flow going in and splashing back.
These three pictures show a quick explanation of how I reached the final image.

1) The water itself, background white blending with a circular gradient to grey/blue. The impact area should be where the gradient is white so make a horizontal blue box here and then manipulate the top with warp, smudge or anything else you like to soften the edge.

2) This image is a layer created using filter and then fibres, pull this into the splash shape, add a slight Gaussian and motion blue with it splaying out at the edges.

3) Final image, use fibers but with dark blue rather than black, twist this around using distort and warp. I also used an overlay for this to darken it slightly, remember to place this later behind. The top of the water must also be edited with a similar method, add a couple of light spots and blur/blend with the blue and fiber layer. make sure to delete the centre where the splash has hit.

3.

The Final Image

I hope this is a quick rough guide to see how to manipulate water.

77 Project and STRYDER Boards

I have recently started design concepts for two board companies, 77 Project and STRYDER boards.
77 are a polish brand that have created a range of snow and kiteboards and also ski's for the last few years. Their facebook page is almost more informative than their website as it shows designs from many previous years both can be seen here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/77-PROJECT/178433682245859?fref=ts
http://77project.com/

Stryder is an extremely new company and a local board shaper to the kitesurfing business I co-run with my brothers (thekitesurfcentre.com)
He has currently decided upon the shape of two boards a freeride and a freestyle/wakestyle board, each has a basic design that he would like to keep for the first year however will be needing something fresh for next season.

The Brief:
Neither companies were extremely precise with what they would like, with Nik Stryder is was a verbal discussion with the key point being that he would like to keep the stripe/block design, which is on his current board throughout the range even if it is subtle.
77 Were a little more business like with an actual brief being sent that they had used in a competition previously in the year but it was a good start:

What we expect about new graphic:

- colours could be changed,

- colllection should have an accent and be a slight continuation of lastlest years, but graphic design should be brave,

- logo design could be changed,

-  tranpsrent graphic could be used to show carbon, cevlar and wood core,

- in kitesurfing boards we do handle footpads and footstraps (black&white) and we can print our logo on a footstraps and handle

- plus you can design your own project (your vission of 77 brand)

The key this that 77 have used throughout the brand is RASTA, I understand that they want to give their product an appearance of free and easy going however it does not fit with them or the sports to which they are approaching. The owners and designers are Polish and neither Snowboarding or kitesurfing takes place in Jamaica and only has slight links.

I went away and started some designs on snowboards and kiteboards that would be relevant for both companies as a rough guide.

 I used some of the information both companies gave to me, however I also show other colours and design styles so that they can see other directions that it could go.

Going away

I am off travelling the globe to find some inspiration and to have another excuse to have a fun time.
Keep up to date with my whereabouts and activities and my do's and don'ts that I learn on the way on my travel blog:
http://there-and-back-again-a-hobbits-tale.blogspot.com/

If I take some good pics or come up with some great ideas then this might still get some updates too.
Rupert