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MELGES 17 GRAPHIC

 

CLIENT Glen Lake Yacht Club

DISCIPLINE graphic design

TIME FRAME 2009, 2010 (1 month)

ROLE ideation, concept development, design, typography, color management

TOOLS sketching, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator

MATERIALS two-color screen printing on cotton

 
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OBJECTIVES

  1. Design a graphic for a sailing regatta that highlights the characteristics of the boat.

  2. Create a design that can be easily updated for future editions of this event.

INSPIRATION

At the time of this project, the Melges 17 was a new boat unlike any other of its size. The generous application of technology and advanced materials set it apart from other boats. This was apparent with the sails, designed with kevlar, geometric panels of fabric, stitched reinforcement, and full-length battens.

 
 
 

The graphic celebrates the swiftness of the boat by referencing various elements of the sail’s design - the cut of the sail, the paneled construction and rigid battens, and the pattern in which air moves across its surface.

 
 
 
 

For two years, this graphic was used for the Melges 17 National Regatta. Originally commissioned by the 2009 event host, the Glen Lake Yacht Club, it was retained by the Okauchee Yacht Club for the subsequent season.

 
 
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RESULTS

  1. The geometry of the sails was explored to create a graphic that referenced both the technology and the performance of the boat. The resulting image was derived from studying the distinct visual elements of the sail construction, then reinterpreting those elements into a more streamlined form that conveyed a greater sense of speed and fluidity.

  2. The date and location of the event was isolated as a secondary block of text. This would allow the text to be edited independently of the main graphic.