Probe
Prescribe
Brief Blade
Progress
Present
Research Book Collaborators:
Joel Burden
Other Barber Graphics
I did some brief design blog searches. I did these to see what I did and didn’t want to do and it allowed me to delveop a quick catalogue of reference images.
No.
These examples are all very samey. For a Barber shop they seem to be very routed in black and white. The graphic design seems to be the amalgamation of graphic design trends and a homage to traditional barber shop graphics.
Stock barbershop graphics. This is not what graphic design is about.
The reason I do not want to do something like this is because it has been thoroughly routed in graphic design culture. The barbershop graphic always seems to take the same direction, and this is not appropriate for my brief. The Blade graphic design needs to remain fashionable, but become more than a barbershop brand. With a view to expanding the barbershop business a more versatile visual needs to be developed for the brand.
Cases
I decided to look at and analyse a couple more barbershop graphics in order to get a better idea about what works to create a brand for a barbers.
HUCKLE
Huckle is a traditional looking barbers in Shoreditch London. I think the graphic work well for a barbers. The horizontal lines pay homage to the identifiers of a traditional barbers, however this is contrasted by a blue colour. The blue-red contrast of temperature works to be eye catching. I can not say I am entirely impressed with the typographic choices, I feel that one too many typefaces has been used within the branding, but the rationale for this is placed in the hand written signs of the traditional barbershop.
Giulliane
This barbershop is styled in a monotone colour scheme which is suitable for a barber shop fighting against the traditional red and white. The typeface is an interesting and unusual choice and it comes across of for of a fashion brand, however the images used mean that there is no confusing that the brand is a barbers. I feel that is a fortunate fall back for a barbers, many different typefaces and styles can be used, but if the silhouette of a man and his moustache is used, the purpose is unmistakeable.
Shave&
Shave & Blade has a very strong identity. The barbers looks very upmarket, which is acheived by the minimal colour palette and the introduction of gold. The finish of the print is of very high quality which allows the brand to exude an air of exclusivity. The name of the brand has given the visuals some freedom. They do not have to play on any gimmicks to come across as a barber shop as it is ‘all in the name’.
UGO/s
At first UGO/s seems to be very successful. It does look like a fashion brand at first, however the taglines affirm that it is a barber shop. I feel that there are too many typefaces being used in contrast with one another. I am all for a range of typefaces being used, if it is done correctly. I feel that the branding is let down by the over indulgence in different typefaces, and that the brand relies on further imagery to affirm that it is a barbers.
FIRM
The firm involves a nice piece of typography. I feel that the type is a nice nod to flair and masculine elegance. The type work is strong, and is backed up by nice desaturated duotoned imagery. The FIRM illustration is maybe a bit too much of a contrast too the logo, however it does not look too out of pllace due to the characteristcs of the sans serif typeface.
Barberx2
BarberBarber is a barber shop in Meadowhall Sheffield. The barber shop is similar to something I would like to acheive for blade. The barbershop has clear and effective branding that is simple enough to be easily translated over a range of deliverables. The design was done by sidebyside in Sheffield who are a design duo.
The branding for Barber Barber is strong in the sense that is has a couple of selling points that strengthen the brand and graphic design. The services that have been included and the Bonce and Barnet are ideas that are simple enough to reinforce the brand but also provide a unique selling point for the barbers. I am slightly unsure about the ad campaign as I think it is slightly below the belt, especially considering younger children get their hair cut there. I am all for racy copy and boundary pushing graphic design, however the tagline ‘You’re going to need a bigger black book’ just seems a little trashy and audience specific. The website is wonderfully put together and is flash orientated with fully ‘responsive’ integration. Some may argue it is a little over the top for a barbers. I am unsure that the trend for scrolling websites is really necessary. The website is full of filler bits of text and quotes, which I am unsure is the concern of someone in the need of a hair cut. In summary I think the visuals are very successful and the colour choices put a new intersting spin on the barbers. The visual form of the B logo ties it into tradition. I am slightly unsure on the over the top website, however some of the promotions have some brilliant ideas behind them, which I think could be presented in a simpler, easier to digest way.
These are some initial looks into how triangles are used within the format of pages. There are some initial ideas here that I have drawn on in the development of my own logo and branding for the Barbers. I feel the shape has an appropriate aesthetic to the nature of the barbers business, and I feel there can be some fashionably appropriate patterns that can form through the application of the shape.