Project Berlin Bike: The Far Ride

About six months ago I was invited to a design show in Berlin.  Seven was asked to design a limited edition bike that represented the Spirit of Berlin.  I was also asked to give a presentation on design.  How could I and Seven refuse such a great opportunity.

We're finally just about ready to head to the Show--one of the many projects we took on instead of going to NAHBS this year.  Maybe I'll find 30-seconds somewhere to post about some of the other projects we're doing at Seven.

For the Show I put together a directive and detailed description of the bike.  I'll post this information over a few posts running up to the show.  Here's the first section of the bike's description, along with some photos of our developement.

See you at the Show?

Berlin Bike Project Directive:  Develop a limited edition custom bike that artistically represents and celebrates urban riding in Berlin.

Photo:  One of the early concept sketches for the Berlin bike.  Using the Directive as the primary source of inspiration.   Also spent too many hours researching the city, its history, architecture, and current state.

My favorite quote:  "Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin."  -  Marlene Dietrich  -   "I still have a suitcase in Berlin."

Project Name:  The Berlin Far-Ride.  This stands for an Americanization of the German “fahrrad” - bicycle.  This is what we’ve been referring to the project at Seven, because it is a bike that will “ride far”.

Here are some details:

• The bike is a very stylized urban bike.  It is one part commuter bike, one part urban bike, one part utility bike, and three parts style.

First up, some of the logo and colorway tests:

We had a difficult time deciding what imagery and colors would be appropriate.  We didn’t want to choose anything controversial or too old school.  We experimented with a lot of the colorway templates and graphic images.  In the end we settled on:

 

•  Colorways include two shades or red as the primary palette, with black and white as accent colors.  Along with exposed carbon fiber.   The red and white represent the Berlin flag although we don’t use the flag on the bike.  And the black represents the Berlin bear.  Again, we don’t actually use the bear in any aspect of the bike.
• Graphics:  the primary Berlin references we chose are the Berlin skyline and the word “Berlin” very subtly integrated into the design.  The word Berlin intertwines with the Seven logo so as to say that Seven and Berlin are embracing and forever connected.
• Each person that worked on the bike signed bike.  Very simply and graphically.  It’s a mark of pride for the team.

 I'll post more tomorrow...  For now, here are more photos:

Working on font development and integration.

 

Evaluating ways to visually integrate Seven and Berlin.

Looking at colorways.  Berlin's colors are red and white.  With a bit of black.  We started working on a two-tone red scheme.

First draft of actualy decal layout on a frame.  No color decisions yet.

The scene in the paint area.

A colorway study.  Not quite right yet; but getting there.  Also exploring black or white Seven decals.  You can see the black decal peaking out over the side of the tube.

Next up, some parts design.  The most unusual I won't explain here, just a photo.  Can you tell what it will become?

Thanks for reading; maybe I'll post more later.  Or maybe it'll be another year.

 

Comments

[Iwo]

Looks great. Is it steel or titanium tubing?

[Rob V.]

Iwo: Thanks for reading about this project. The bike is actually titanium and carbon combined. I know it's an odd choice for an urban use bike. However, I thought that the unification of the two very different materials would be a nice homage to Berlin--east and west. The limited edition version of the bike that we're offering comes in titanium only--super durable, no rust, never and damage--the perfect city bike material.

[Links of London uk]

HHH Yes, the design of national policy is important, how our economic development plans for the next five years, how the implementation, how to make our economy even faster. Are designed to advance our focus to invest money in what ways it should be carefully arranged.