Blackburn Designer Series
Water Bottle Cages
BRG Sports Incorporated
Photography Credit: Brian Vernor
In 2012 the iconic cycling accessories brand Blackburn
launched a limited-edition series of carbon fiber water bottle cages featuring a
diverse set or artists and designers. The concept was to generate buzz for the
brand and draw attention to a product category that was often overlooked. Every
month Blackburn planned to feature a different graphic, and I was lucky enough
to be asked to design the first one.
My designs focused on modern geometric patterns and set out
to break common rules of design in their composition as well as their placement
on the product. The graphics have a retro element and are a nod to the early
1980's and the experimentation occurring in art and design at that time. The
lines and patterns in the graphics are purposefully dissonant and unbalanced,
creating a striking juxtaposition to the perfect geometry of the bikes they
will go on.