I was browsing through a font foundry site recently feeling distractible and stumbled upon an image of a car that caught my eye. The logo on this vehicle looked eerily similar to my company’s logo…
Brand agency
The studio behind this is Oker. Read more on the project here.
This was done in around 2022, so probably after I had updated my branding.
GP Logo Concept
Our logo is based on a diesel glow plug and a spark, which is pretty ironic since it’s so similar to the one being used on an electric car. Here’s a look at how we came up with the idea:
I must say, the font used by Jidu, a new car brand backed by Baidu and Geely, is pretty sexy. With Oker and CoType They’ve created a custom version of Aeonik and Aeonik Mono, which gives their branding a futuristic but ‘actually now’ feel.
The Rise of Chinese EVs
Chinese EV manufacturers are really starting to make a mark. Brands like BYD, Nio, and Xpeng are pushing the boundaries with their designs, making them look more futuristic than some of the Western brands, like Tesla.
I remember seeing battered, dirty BYD electric taxis in Shenzhen back in the early 2010s—they were ahead of their time, but they looked a bit rough around the edges.
Pressure on Tesla and the Future of Car Design
The competition from Chinese EVs is likely to drive innovation in design. Companies like Apple and Baidu are getting into the automotive scene, bringing a tech-focused approach that combines mobility and connectivity. This could mean traditional car makers will face some serious competition from tech giants, leading to a new era in car design that’s all about being futuristic and sustainable.
Tesla is very much the ‘car of today’, embodying the current state of electric vehicle technology. Its branding evokes a sense of quality and innovation that you can have right now. We’ve yet to see Tesla self driving really take off.
On the other hand, Jidu is positioning itself as the car of tomorrow. With its emphasis on advanced autonomous driving and intelligent features, Jidu promises a leap into the future of automotive technology.
As the car industry keeps evolving, it’ll be interesting to see how things play out. One thing’s for sure: the future of car design is going to be pretty exciting.