Vale: A Logo Design Inspired by Speed and StrengthA Symbol of Freedom, Superiority, and Racing
Vale is a handmade carbon-fiber bicycle brand in Australia that aims to provide rare and exclusive bikes for elite customers with discerning tastes. The challenge was to design a logo that would reflect the brand's values of freedom, speed, and seriousness while showcasing the strength and handmade nature of their bikes. Designer Samadara Ginige took inspiration from the world's fastest animal, the Peregrine Falcon, to create a logo that captures the essence of racing and superiority.
The Vale logo consists of a logo-mark and a logo-type. The logo-mark is a symbolic shape of the Peregrine Falcon, known for its incredible speed when nose-diving for prey. This shape not only represents the speed of the Vale bikes but also conveys a feeling of racing. The falcon's wing, shaped like a thunderbolt, depicts the strength of the bikes. In the negative space between the wing and the falcon's body, a path or road is formed, representing the brand name "Vale," derived from the Latin and Old English word meaning "Valley."
The logo-type is a custom design typeface that complements the logo-mark. It features uppercase, lowercase, and number characters, creating a cohesive visual identity for the brand.
The design process began with extensive research conducted online. During this research, Ginige discovered the Peregrine Falcon and its incredible speed, which served as the inspiration for the logo-mark. Sketches were then created, exploring various variations of the diving falcon, ultimately leading to the final design that perfectly encapsulates the brand's tagline, "Ride Vale - be fast, be free!"
The Vale logo is used digitally on the brand's website and social media platforms, as well as in print materials such as stationary and marketing materials. It is also prominently displayed on the bikes themselves, further reinforcing the brand's identity.
The project, led by designer Samadara Ginige, began in June 2016 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and was completed in January 2017. The design was exhibited at the Simplicity Design Exhibition in September 2016, garnering attention and recognition for its creativity and ingenuity.
The Vale logo has received numerous accolades, including the Bronze A' Design Award in 2017. This prestigious award recognizes designs that demonstrate outstanding creativity, technical skill, and resourcefulness, contributing to quality of life improvements and making the world a better place.
Project Details and Credits
Project Designers: Samadara Ginige
Image Credits: Image #1: Creator Samadara Ginige, Vale Bikes, 2016
Image #2: Creator Samadara Ginige, Vale Bikes, 2016
Image #3: Creator Samadara Ginige, Vale Bikes, 2016
Image #4: Creator Vale Bikes, Vale Bikes, 2017
Image #5: Creator Vale Bikes, Vale Bikes, 2017
Project Team Members: Designer: Samadara Ginige
Project Name: Vale
Project Client: Samadara Ginige