Bronze Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design · 2020
HEMA Alliance Corporate Identity
- A' Design Award 2020 Bronze Winner in Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Pedro Panetto
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 16,012
- Verification code 00F2E4779D · Verify this award
About HEMA Alliance Corporate Identity
HEMA Alliance is a corporate identity created for an association that supports practitioners of Historical European Martial Arts. The identity includes 160 variations of the symbol, formed by 40 sword designs shown in four visual arrangements. Each sword follows the proportions of a real historical model. The letters, the spacing and the symbol diagram are based on the Golden Ratio, which keeps every variation consistent. Each practitioner can select the variation that matches a preferred training style and weapon.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- A brand with 160 variations. The HEMA Alliance is an US association that provides support for the practitioners of Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) and acts as an international meeting point for the community. The brand has a global reach; the 160 variations represent the diversity of the community and enable each practitioner choosing the symbol that best suits their preferences. The project connects with the historical heritage of the martial arts, it revives traditions.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Each letter was designed for this brand in accordance with the Golden Ratio. Spacing between letters and between elements of the Visual Identity also follows the proportional laws of the Golden Ratio. The symbol’s diagram, in all its variations, uses the same proportional relations of the Golden Number. Thus the use of the Golden Number, 1.61803398875…, is the main technical parameter for this Project and provides proportional consistence.
- Tags
- Golden Ratio, Logo, Brand, HEMA, Sport, Martial Arts, History
- Production Technology
- The production of this Project was very complex, the biggest challenge was related to proportions.Every sword and weapon design needed to follow exact ratios of real historical models. The symbol varied 40 times, and each individual symbol has 4 visual arrangements, totalizing 160 variations. A complex diagram was developed for the project, in accordance with the Golden Ratio, so the consistence in and between all variations could be measured and achieved.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge was offering a symbol representing a great number of historical weapons. For
each individual practitioner, its training weapon is the best in their eyes. To please such a large and
passionate community was the main creative and research challenge. The challenge was overcome
by a variable symbol, so all practitioners felt represented. As a result of this new, all-embracing
representation, the association quickly increased its membership after the launch of the new brand. - Operation Flow
- Each HEMA practitioner can choose the symbol variation that best suits their training style and sword preference, then embroider on their fencing jacket. The flexibility of this brand is big but still keeps the identity so each and every variation can be clearly identified as the HEMA Alliance symbol.
- Research
- It was necessary to convey a historical aspect to a martial-looking symbol. The research led to the blending of historical context to the tactical aspect of the current martial arts. The brand should be attractive, strong and at the same time convey the revival of a tradition. This blending was the guideline of the complete research process and design.
- Inspiration
- The Historical European Martial Arts are deeply connected to their heritage and have strong cultural bonds. The research comprised concepts from the medieval European culture, passing though the Renaissance and reaching as far as the Victorian era. Proportions of several historical sword models were investigated during this process. Within the HEMA context, it was investigated what kind of symbol could embrace every practitioner from this really diverse community.