Product line

The product line is consisted of various items that enable customers to style themselves from head to toe by shopping at any shop of S9 brand.

Packaging

Water bottles are usually treated as wastage, but by adopting that item as a package, brand can pursue images of both sports and environment. If the design of water bottles can satisfy consumers, they also can use these previous wastes as a form of storage or other multi-functional purposes. According to one of my questionnaires in my survey, many people have mentioned that they usually throw away the shoe box, but interesting part is that, some of them have made additional comments that if packages were better designed to possess them, they would be keeping those container package to use as their own purposes such as storage.

'Water bottle shape of package'

As I have defined on the previous background research, packaging is the container or cover material of the product. However, to stimulate consumers’ curiosity and their awareness of the brand, I have adopted the use of water bottle shaped container as a main form of packaging. A sport is a hydration demanding activity, which obviously requires water that relishes the need of hydration, undoubtedly making water as one of the most important element of the sports activity.

“Atelier LaDurance is a small scaled, independent French denim label that has the passionate drive to make top crafted products. It develops limited runs at a traditional atelier in the south of France.
The Atelier LaDurance comprehensive visual identity. Packaging, labeling and point of sale items are designed purely from a practical point and they display the kind of logical simplicity you are likely to find deeply rooted into the French aesthetic of every day.
Like the repairkit: an emergency capsule that has been put together to an autonom-ous design with only off-the-shelf metal components. Manually assembled, one by one and attached to all Atelier LaDurance denim products with a keyring. Containing a thimble, 2 buttons and a piece of lining and a piece denim cloth.”

Designed by Stormhand Country: The Netherlands

S9's 9sub logos

I wrote down as many as ‘sport motions’ words on the paper. Out of numerous numbers of motion types, breathing, sprinting, swing, running, hitting, jumping, turning, sliding, and kicking were the most representing types of motions of everyday sport. This was proved by the surveys which I have done, and majority of the respondents believed that those 9 images help them to picture most number of different sports activities. Also I derived the name ‘S9’ which is the reflection of nine representing motions I have picked out that defines ‘sports motion’.

'S9' main logo

At first, I have brainstormed the ‘words of image’ which I could derive from the ‘sports + casual’ image. As a result, I’ve obtained words like Dynamic, playful, active, originality, uniquely, new trial, and so on. This brainstorming was intended to grasp a unique idea of the ‘brand identity’ which I will create, which directly influences the image of logo, packaging, and advertisement.

I have made several modifications from my main logo due to the comparatively weaker impression to 9 sub logos that represent each motion. As initial red and orange colours overlap with each others, I have changed to deep pink that stands out itself but does not overlap. In order to remove complexity of 9 colour combination, lowering down the colour intensity was effective as you can insert more variations on the lower intense colour. From rather ordinary shape of ‘S’, I have chosen more voluminous and trendy one by making each edge sharper and more fluid that stands out as a figure, like my brand image. Overlapping with various colours using ‘transparent’ technology, and by combining a flame shape with number ‘9’, in this way, I could get a stronger linkage between the main logo and sub 9 logos.

Brainstorming

At the first, I have brainstormed the ‘words of image’ which I could derive from the ‘sports + casual’ image. As a result, I’ve obtained words like Dynamic, playful, active, originality, flame, uniquely, new trial, and so on. This brainstorming was intended to grasp a unique idea of the ‘brand identity’ which I create, which directly influences the image of logo, packaging, and advertisement.

Fashion or performance?

Sports fashion contains clothing such as T-shirts, hoods, trousers, tracksuits, swimwear, gloves and etc and footwear of various different kinds of sports such as tennis, football, basketball, etc. All items of clothing and footwear that are specifically designed for sport are included. These items are worn when participating in a particular sport or worn as casual wear. This includes items carrying a well-known branded logo and items produced under a clothing retailer’s own-label. To establish my brand identity, it is important to define the concept of ‘sports fashion’, which looks at in detail the need of integration between fashion and functionality. Increased competition that require differentiated products, worldwide sports event such has Olympic and world cups need to grasp various groups of attention, used as marketing hence sports sponsorships. For example, companies like Adidas and Nike have spent billions of dollars into sponsoring worldwide sports event to advertise their brand identity and brand awareness.

FEASIBILITY STUDY

Click image I have surveyed among people with various subjective questions in order to exclude preconceived opinions and could get more precise answer. Questions were based on every sector of my research including, preference of sports, packaging, and so on. Surveys are intended to ensure the fairness and equality among consumers.

I distributed a 10 questions of questionnaire to participants who did not have any information about my project through the e-mail and I have received 32 of answers from them.

Discussion 08/05/2009 with 6 of peer students - Before made the questionnaire, I discussed people who are doing fashion design, product design, interior design and graphic design also they can be my target audiance age group and then I made the questionnaire with their opinions. In this discussion, i could get a better understanding of what they think about sportswear and to reflect it into my product.

The Questionnaires would raise the confidence level of my arguments and more certainty on my research.

Integrated graphic design

Integrated design is a collaborative method for designing which emphasizes the development of a holistic design. The integrated graphic designs are differentiated not by the repeatedly using logos but by the coordinated colours and artistic images with a subtle similarity and unity like this example. These pictures are good examples of integrated graphic designs.

'Integrated design has evolved in conjunction with the rise of multidisciplinary design firms and sustainable design. It frequently begins with a charrette or eco-charrette, an intensive design workshop, in which many stakeholders gather to set goals and identify strategies for achieving the desired outcomes. ' -Wikipedia

“Cosmo” packaging and promotional material

“Vodikice” packaging, promotional material and Vodkice billboard

2008 Branding & Identity design trend

These are newly proposed Branding & Identity designs in 2008 and I have reflected this trend in my designs.




Waves - The New Swooshes
After years of being number one, swooshes have now been replaced by the so-called waves. Waves are hugging the limelight.
















Organic 3D
Technology organizations that produce and market groundbreaking products and services use this type of company logo design. By using the "organic 3d" effect, logo creators avoid that cold image look which is so typical of other companies' logos in the technology field.














New Rainbow / Color Scale
These logos convey the concepts of sophistication, technology and freshness. With a nearly infinite number of possibilities for combining colors, the visual effect is invariably special















The "Ugly" 80's
These logos don't have beautiful shapes, shadows, mirrored reflections, warm colours, or icons that signify something

Transparency in logo design

Transparency has always been fashionable. Designers often use transparency. Transparency allows the combination of different design elements offering the viewer a special image.

Sci-Fi Fonts

In logo design the font frequently serves to strengthen the message as conveyed by the image.

"Underground" Typography - Minimal Fonts
This type of logo often proves to be more efficient than a logo that merely conforms to classic rules.

"Web 2.0" Logos
Actually refers to certain technologies.


















The New Crest

Changing of packaging

Previous form of top brands packaging

In packaging design, there have been outstanding changes. At the beginning the package was only to contain the product so its design was simple and rather passive with printed logo on the surface of the box. However, today’s packaging design is becoming creative and experimental and it makes the box as a valuable thing to keep for a different purpose and plays an important role in order to elevate the value of the brand.

Top of the sportswear brands in UK

Brands of choice when buying sports clothing and footwear for leisure/fashion, (July 2007)

Adidas (38)
Nike (37)
Reebok (29)
4. Timberland (14)
5. Puma (12), Umbro (12)
6. Quiksilver (11)
7. Kickers (10), Ben Sherman (10)
8. Ralph Lauren (9)
9. Billabong (7), Fred Perry (7)
10. O'Neill (6), Berghaus (6), Tommy Hilfiger (6), The North Face (6)
11. Animal (5), Lonsdale (5),
12. Peter Storm (4)
13. McKenzie (3)
14. Boxfresh (2), Rohan (2)
15. Olympus Sport (1)
Other 8 None 25

Base: 2,078 adults aged 15+ / %(U.K)

The top three brands remain extremely popular as a choice for leisure rather than active sport/exercise with Adidas in the lead at 38%, Nike on 37% and Reebok on 29%.

Sportswear consumer groups

Five distinct customer groups

Sportswear retailing is becoming polarised into those selling it for fashion, sport, comfort and practicality

Sports Lifestyle (33%): "I buy items only or mostly to wear for leisure/fashion"

Doing the Splits (19%): "I buy some items to wear for sports participation/exercise and other items for leisure/fashion"

Sports Experts (13%): "I buy items only or mostly to wear for active sports participation/exercise"

Double Ups (11%): "I buy the same items to wear for both sport participation/exercise and leisure/fashion"

Sports Avoiders (24%): None of these.

Source: GfK NOP

The consumers who are purchasing sportswear the most are people who have sports life style and they are buying sportswear for the purpose of leisure and fashion.

Strength and weakness of the sportswear market

Strengths
Wide appeal of product to many age groups
Adaptability of sports fashion for different uses
Rising popularity of niche/fashion sports brands
Rising participation in some sports like running, hiking


Weaknesses
Massive over-distribution of brands
Weakening value perceptions among consumers
Challenge from conventional fashion retailers
Core consumers likely to switch spending to other categories


Prior to launching my brand, I looked at strengths and weaknesses of the sportswear market. The strengths are that they have wide range of age groups and can be worn for different and various purposes. The most noticeable weakness is massive over-distribution of brands in this market.

The viability of the sportswear brand

A significant growth of sportswear market

While the percentage of purchasing formal suits in Europe decreased from 33% to 17% between 1963 and 2007, the consumption of sportswear and casual wear dramatically increased from 9% to 30% during the same period.

The massive expansion of the sportswear market in the mid- to late 1990s which ran in line with the casualisation of dress codes generally, not just for younger consumers but also for older ones, has to come to a halt. This does not necessarily mean that sports fashion has gone into decline. The continuing popularity of the trainer as the footwear of choice for a wide cross-section of the population as well as that of sweat and track tops, track pants and other items as comfortable, practical clothing is a demonstration that this is not the case.
(Buying director, mail order group of Mintel, 2006)

In this market, retailers have been forced to define more clearly what they are selling: Is it performance clothing for active sportswear, a fashion statement or simply a comfortable, practical and modern form of clothing?(Managing director, outdoor chain of Mintel, 2006)

Why do I want to conduct this project?

The reason why i have decided to create the sportswear brand is that sportswear market is growing dramatically. While the men's formal suit industry is decreasing, the sportswear market is increasing gradually. Moreover, sportswear brands are expanding their market to the casual wear sector. According to Mintel survey, many sportswear and casual wear brands are focusing on clarifying their brand identity because of this phenomenon. And the graphic designs and branding identity designs of them are very crucial factors in in communicating the brand identity to consumers. And there have been needs for new graphic design and logo types which can reflect rapidly changing young consumers’ desire and can communicate a brand’s concept using an integrated graphic design scheme.

Other brands

History

The Lacoste company was founded in 1933 and takes its name from Rene Lacoste. Rene Lacoste did not like the traditional shirts used for tennis and teamed up with Andre.

Origin of the Crocodile

The American press nicknamed Rene Lacoste the "Crocodile". A friend of Rene's,

Robert George, drew a crocodile.Embroidered on the blazer that he wore on the court from then on.

Quality - They use high-quality materials combined .

Simple - Most of their products have a clean simplicity to them.

Detail - Lacoste likes their shoes to be distinctive and easily identifiable.

Fine details are very important to them, from the color of the stitching to the shoe lining.

History
Fred Perry was born in Stockport, England and he is famous as the last Englishman to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title.
Fred Perry was the World’s No. 1 tennis player from 1934 to 1938.

Fred Perry collaborated with Tibby Wegner to invent the sweatband in the late1940’s and the pair then went on to launch a sports shirt in 1952 (at Wimbledon).

The Fred Perry laurel logo was based on the old Wimbledon symbol.
Fred Perry polo's have been associated with the Mod scene for years.
British brand while expanding into a global market.

Among the changing sportswear brands, I chose Lacoste and Fred Perry as examples to closely examine. Because they are undergoing dramatic changes to branch out to the casual wear market. Therefore they have both the original trait as a sportswear brand and the creativity and uniqueness as a casual wear brand.

By comparing with other brands in the ‘Price: (high to low) (Functional to fashion)’ matrix diagram, pursuing brand will be located at the ‘Fashion and high price sector’ along with brands such as Lacoste and Fred Perry’.

Sportswear brands

History of Sportswear brands

In the 1970s, sport wears focused on color scheme like team-colored sneakers. At that time color was just as important as brand. By the mid-1970s the advent of b-boy made sportswear brands have a strong association with creative subculture and this phenomenon has had a strong impact on sportswear market until the present time. It means that expressing the youth culture and its creativity and uniqueness is the most important factor of the sportswear brands now

Intercity, 2008.

Many sportswear brands used to focus on communicating the strong and fast-moving images of athletes and the function of clothes as a uniform or a sportswear.

"Is it now more important for sports brands to be fashionable or to be functional?"
Art director Nathan Gale said that fashion is a huse part of any sports brand's adenda. unfortunately too many manufacturers seem fixated on the past, meaning not enough new models are being released(Nathan Gale, 2008).

Packaging

Packaging is the science, art and technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale and use. Also refers to the process of design, evaluation and production of packages.

Package labeling is any written, electronic or graphic communications on the packaging or on a separate. some requirements and symbols exist to communicate aspects of consumer use and safety. Recycling directions, resin identifycation code and package environmental claims have special codes and symbols.

'All day I dream sneakers'-Adidas

All Day I Dream About Sneakers was a project created for adidas Originals, inspired by the brand’s creeds of ‘Impossible Is Nothing’ and ‘Celebrate Originality’. The project showcased the story and kicks created by the world’s original sneaker freak, Herr Fritz Träumer - a mythical sneaker designer who dedicated his lifetime to constructing the most original range of sneakers ever seen.

Luftsack (Airbag) - A sneaker with built-in protection against being scuffed and stepped on.Limousine - A sneaker that can chauffeur you to wherever you want to go.Midas - A sneaker with a 'Midas kick' that turns everything it kicks to gold. Roboter (Robot) - A robotic sneaker that can clean itself and tie its own laces.Synth - A synthesiser sneaker that plays music to match your stride.Baum (Tree) - An organic sneaker that grows from a planted seed.

Some shots of the build process.