Brand Identity - Brand Mark Update
Eric Ruffing/13THFLOOR
My roles on this project were:
A Global PowerHouse Suffers An Identity Crisis
We all knew The Bad Boy Club from the 80’s Action Sports Industry. Times have changed- and so did this brand! The license for BAD BOY in the U.S. had been dormant for some time, while BAD BOY International licensing had been quite alive and well and prospering with growth. Disparate visual systems and messages amid the different product markets from Licensee to Licensee and Nation to Nation had created a fragmented Brand Identity. Focus Groups confirmed our observations that the old mark was, as one MMA competitor put it, "Out of touch" and skewing too young for this market.
We all knew The Bad Boy Club from the 80’s Action Sports Industry. Times have changed- and so did this brand! The license for BAD BOY in the U.S. had been dormant for some time, while BAD BOY International licensing had been quite alive and well and prospering with growth. Disparate visual systems and messages amid the different product markets from Licensee to Licensee and Nation to Nation had created a fragmented Brand Identity. Focus Groups confirmed our observations that the old mark was, as one MMA competitor put it, "Out of touch" and skewing too young for this market.
MMA Brandscape Research
Already being familiar with the MMA industry, 13THFLOOR assembled a complete hit list of competitors, their marks and their positioning within the marketplace. Meeting with BAD BOY we reviewed the competitor's strengths and weaknesses and discussed MMA trends which brought the goals for the BAD BOY brand mark into the cross-hairs.
Already being familiar with the MMA industry, 13THFLOOR assembled a complete hit list of competitors, their marks and their positioning within the marketplace. Meeting with BAD BOY we reviewed the competitor's strengths and weaknesses and discussed MMA trends which brought the goals for the BAD BOY brand mark into the cross-hairs.
A New Identity Defined
BAD BOY in the U.S. today is all about MMA (Mixed Martial Arts.) In our discussions we found that it was important to understand that BAD BOY was not jumping on an MMA trend, but was rather one of the genuinely credible MMA Brands with solidly established MMA roots back to Brazil and Japan. Working closely with BAD BOY a positioning goal was clearly defined as wanting to stand out as a "Technical Brand" for athletes.
BAD BOY also asked 13THFLOOR to visually define 2 additional divisions of the brand with 2 distinctive Marks- BAD BOY PRO SERIES, and BAD BOY MMA. Each mark needed to stand alone, but clearly communicate BAD BOY, shown further down this page.
BAD BOY in the U.S. today is all about MMA (Mixed Martial Arts.) In our discussions we found that it was important to understand that BAD BOY was not jumping on an MMA trend, but was rather one of the genuinely credible MMA Brands with solidly established MMA roots back to Brazil and Japan. Working closely with BAD BOY a positioning goal was clearly defined as wanting to stand out as a "Technical Brand" for athletes.
BAD BOY also asked 13THFLOOR to visually define 2 additional divisions of the brand with 2 distinctive Marks- BAD BOY PRO SERIES, and BAD BOY MMA. Each mark needed to stand alone, but clearly communicate BAD BOY, shown further down this page.
BAD BOY Brand Mark
BAD BOY Global has a multitude of products in different markets that come in all shapes, sizes and forms, so we designed the brand mark with lockups that work in different applications and production techniques. This required the brand mark lockups to be designed with both functional and creative options.
BAD BOY Global has a multitude of products in different markets that come in all shapes, sizes and forms, so we designed the brand mark with lockups that work in different applications and production techniques. This required the brand mark lockups to be designed with both functional and creative options.
BAD BOY PRO SERIES Brand Mark
The BAD BOY PRO SERIES is a high quality line of equipment and apparel for training and competing in MMA. Designing a mark appropriate to this specialized and technical gear was needed in addition to the main BAD BOY brand mark. After discussions between 13THFLOOR and BAD BOY the design goal for PRO SERIES was to be easily identified as BAD BOY, but set apart enough to be recognized as a high-end and exclusively distributed line of MMA gear and apparel for the serious athlete.
The BAD BOY PRO SERIES is a high quality line of equipment and apparel for training and competing in MMA. Designing a mark appropriate to this specialized and technical gear was needed in addition to the main BAD BOY brand mark. After discussions between 13THFLOOR and BAD BOY the design goal for PRO SERIES was to be easily identified as BAD BOY, but set apart enough to be recognized as a high-end and exclusively distributed line of MMA gear and apparel for the serious athlete.
BAD BOY MMA Brand Mark
The BAD BOY MMA SERIES is a high quality line of products for training & non-competive uses. This highly technical gear was to be sold at mass retail and sporting goods chains. The "MMA" callout in the logo clearly differentiates it from the PRO SERIES, ties in with the global MMA trend as well and lets the less knowledgable consumer understand its intended use.
The BAD BOY MMA SERIES is a high quality line of products for training & non-competive uses. This highly technical gear was to be sold at mass retail and sporting goods chains. The "MMA" callout in the logo clearly differentiates it from the PRO SERIES, ties in with the global MMA trend as well and lets the less knowledgable consumer understand its intended use.
BAD BOY Flag IconsA Boost To Brand Equity
Brand Mark Guidelines
The need for consistency and clarity across different geographies and Licensees for the use of the new mark was to be managed with a well crafted set of guidelines. Both internal and external users at BAD BOY Global now had the tools to successfully apply the mark with global unity.
The need for consistency and clarity across different geographies and Licensees for the use of the new mark was to be managed with a well crafted set of guidelines. Both internal and external users at BAD BOY Global now had the tools to successfully apply the mark with global unity.
PROJECT CREDITS:
Design Direction / Art Direction / Production - 13THFLOOR: Eric Ruffing + Dave Parmley
Creative Direction - BAD BOY: Robin Offner, Alexandra Ponce DeLeon, JT
Brand Consultant - THE BRAND FACTOR: Brad Horn
Ad Photography / Ad Design - Tyler Clinton
Design Direction / Art Direction / Production - 13THFLOOR: Eric Ruffing + Dave Parmley
Creative Direction - BAD BOY: Robin Offner, Alexandra Ponce DeLeon, JT
Brand Consultant - THE BRAND FACTOR: Brad Horn
Ad Photography / Ad Design - Tyler Clinton
