COMPUTERARTS.CREATIVEBLOQ.COMDESIGN INSPIRATION AUGUST 2019
I’m not a bike expert, a collector or even
a racer, but there’s something about bike
design – the paint work and graphics –
that has always caught my attention. My
appreciation probably started in the 80s
with BMX bikes, with their handle bar
number plates, paint work and graphics
merging with the engineering details
such as anodised valve stem caps. It’s
the blending of all these elements that
makes an object stand out, scream for
attention and want to be used.
Later in life I’ve tended to gravitate
towards bikes designed for a particular
event or function. Today, there’s the Klein
Mantra Pro, Cannondale Delta or the trek
Y-frames that are all retro mountain bikes,
but at the time they were unlike anything
else. Most of them haven’t aged well, and
I could be wrong but they probably
wouldn’t compete well compared to
today’s sophisticated machines. Yet it’s
their uniqueness and boundary-pushing
that’s worth celebrating.
As a designer I’ve come to appreciate
these machines on another level. Not to
say there’s anything wrong with vintage
steel or contemporary titanium frames
that use classic geometry, but it’s those
rare breeds that deserve admiration. Just
thinking about the combination of multiple
disciplines coming together seamlessly to
craft the bikes that are being made today
is staggering.
And it’s the influence of all these skill-
sets working together that translates
into an emotional connection with the
consumer. It’s easy to see it when you
walk into a bike shop and look around:
some bikes are built for cruising, some
for ripping down mountains and some for
breaking speed barriers. Lately, there’s
been a handful of well-crafted road
bikes that have grabbed my attention
with specific characteristics – unique
engineering for riders and eye-catching
finishes – that help them to stand out
within their category.
My admiration can extend to other
objects that are more heavily art- and
culturally inspired, such as skate boards
and snowboards. They all follow a similar
arc of being inspiring in themselves and
provide inspiration when put to use.
These objects, which have been
informed by design, engineering and
branding, can move you both physically
and emotionally. Sports cars can also
provide this combination of inspiration, but
bikes were a bit more accessible for me.
Regardless of the specific function,
it’s impressive to see the quality of bikes
and brands that are available. It’s a credit
to the manufacturers that are meeting
the needs of the many different cycling
activities out there, and the consumers
who are discovering different ways to
use their bikes. Furthermore, it’s been
interesting to see the potential of urban
and cross-discipline biking being tappedTHE CONTINUOUS
CYCLE OF INSPIRATION
Mike Schwoebel is creative director
at Nemo Design, based in Oregon,
Portland, US, and has over 14 years
experience in the creative industry.
http://www.nemodesign.cominto by manufacturers. While the results
aren’t as sexy as those 90s mountain
bikes, they still do the job well.
That’s the best part about an object like
a bike: they meet multiple requirements.
On one level they’re practical, simple tools
that can be inspiring through their design
and manufacture. And then, when you
get to ride them they enable you to find
inspiration on your travels, even if it’s just
around the block. They’re tools to find
inspiration: they unlock opportunities,
adventures, escapes and more.
The bike itself isn’t the final answer.
While they can be amazingly inspirational
and stunning to look at, they’re more of an
invitation. An invitation to let yourself go
and find even more inspiration.
Hopefully, you find – or have – that tool,
no matter what it is for you. That piece of
engineering, art, design or combination of
those three disciplines that calls out to be
appreciated and used. And through that
use, takes you places.Look beyond the basics and there’s a lot more to bicycle design, as Mike Schwoebel is keen to point out.