A strong brand starts with a strong name and logo. For Zokusha, that meant blending Japanese culture with the look of custom automotive design. After many iterations, I created a wordmark inspired by Katakana forms and the curves of vehicle exhaust piping. “Zokusha,” meaning “car tribe,” is expressed through a logo that feels both culturally rooted and mechanically driven.
For a car workshop to be a fully functional business, there needs to be numerous deliverables, including but not limited to employee uniforms, promotional posters, and business cards. Every aspect of Zokusha as a brand needs to keep that same energy flowing, and no deliverable can falter.
No matter what component of Zokusha I was designing, I ideated numerous options, thinking outside of the box and pushing boundaries, while still maintaining a visual cohesion with the rest of the brand.
The signage featuring the building front signage on the left and street side on the right shows the simple but effective signs, which at night, truly shine. Lit by the neon light, once seen everywhere throughout Vancouver.
street signage
The business cards punch out the logo and take the white lines over the top of a black backdrop to bring the illusion of glowing without any need for a glow effect.
The offerings page, summarizes some of the popular customization options Zokusha provides, and organizes them into a fun, bold page with payment options included at the bottom.
Even though most of the promotions we see are through the lens of a screen, posters on the road are a great way to grab the attention of drivers frequenting the road, looking to tune up their ride.
For events held throughout the city, the custom car decal on the iconic 92 Nissan Skyline can be presented to promote the brand and let potential clients know the potential of customization Zokusha offers.
The bumper stickers meant to resemble neon signage seen throughout Japan are a great addition to any vehicle, customized or not.
Although stickers are made for cars, stickers work great on just about anything. After getting some new mods, a complimentary set of stickers would be a great bonus.
In the end, Zokusha’s overall branding redefines the status quo of what a car workshop can be. With a clear, bold identity, they leverage their passion for Japanese street culture through bold colours and glowing signage. Most importantly, all the deliverables are visually cohesive and drive the brand forward.