Studio Brief 1 LogoType Inicial Research

The company i choose to rebrand was urban outfitter. This brand is constantly changing its branding to keep up with current design trends, but still makes sure that the branding matches the feel of the company and brand image they have already successfully established. I intend to create a design that will be contemporary and also one that will be about to stick with the brand for a fair few years.

The company is owned by Richard Hayn and was started up as "free people" in 1972 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Shortly after Richard changed the name to urban outfitters as we know it now. Free people has stuck with the company and has become one of the many brand they sell along side the other company home brand Anthropologie.
The store originally set out to focus on 'funky' fashion and housewares, and has continued with this but people now class this funky style as 'hipster' and 'individual.'
The store is aimed at 18 - 30 year olds, with disposable income that have a unique fashion style or like something a little bit different to what is in the other high street stores.

"We try to appeal to the mainstream and those who want to cross the line every once in a while; we do stay abreast of fashion trends," ( source ) 

Here is the current sign for the urban outfitters in leeds trinity. 

The letters are all 3D and sit along and metal beam.

The font is very bright in colour so catches the eye as you walk past.

Inside the store as well as clothes there was numerous novelty items for sale such

as jewellery hangers, picture frames, candles and kits to grow your own bonsai tree.

These items give a fun and playful atmosphere to the store just like the owner intended.

These objects complement clothing well also as they are quirky, and individual items that

 you dont except to see in your average clothing store.   

"The stores maintained Hayne's "counterculture" approach, and the company relied heavily on its buildings and interior displays to entice customers to enter, explore its stores, and buy its goods." ( source )

The owner Richard decided that all the stores were to have a modern feel to them and renovated derelict buildings for the store to start out with, now store are made to look renovated and rustic. As you can see in the image above it is clear to see that that is still the key design to the store interior, even in the changing rooms.

From my visit to the store i found

-  that the atmosphere was light and friendly

-  the music was easily listening but not anything from the charts, incepting with the individual style

-  staff all had their own style and personality that was clear through their choice of clothes

-  and because of the style and lay out of the shop was unlike any other it was fun to shop and browse 

   what they had, this made me want to buy more as it would anyone else.

key things that i need to consider in my designs (influenced from this visit)

- playful / fun

- colour

- stlyish 

- retro / vintage?