The non-standard approach to their products reflects the modern and original Vans logo. It symbolizes the speed, and energy of movement, focusing on the joy and vivid emotions from the possession of products.
Vans: Brand overview
Founded: | March 16, 1966 |
Founder: | Paul Van Doren, James Van Doren, Gordon Lee |
Headquarters: |
Costa Mesa, California, US |
Website: | vans.com |
Meaning and History
This brand is widely known among young people and athletes. And all because he was originally aimed at those who lead an active lifestyle – first of all, at skateboarders. Even his first logo first appeared on a skateboard, and only then they began to depict it on shoes.
What is Vans?
Vans is a company that makes skateboarding apparel and footwear but does not associate itself only with the sport. It offers fashionable accessories and closet items for everyone with an active lifestyle. The company was founded in 1966 by three comrades and is named after one of them: The Van Doren Rubber Company. The Van Doren Rubber Company was renamed after it became popular.
1966 – today
The Vans debut logo was invented by 13-year-old Mark Van Doren, the son of one of the founders. He made a stencil to spray paint on skateboards. James Van Doren immediately noticed this graphic sign and placed it on the heel of the Style 95 sneaker. Then the owner of the company decided to engage in the manufacture of skateboarding shoes seriously.
The logo contains the inscription “Vans,” which looks unusual due to the long horizontal line above “A,” “N,” and “S.” The line starts from the top point “V,” because of which the letter resembles the mathematical sign of the root. This is an important aspect of design, which has become the main element of visual brand identity.
2016 – today
In 2016, the developers made the word “Vans” red. The bright color symbolizes joy, energy, and passion. The white background conveys aesthetic purity and sophistication. The red and white palette is diluted with the black inscription “Off the Wall,” located underneath.
The history of its appearance goes back to the mid-1970s. California skateboarders Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta discussed in Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions store how they rode in an empty pool. Tony boasted that he had managed to turn onto a wall and fly into the air. And then the admiring Skip Engblom exclaimed: “Man, you just went off the wall.”
Vans owners have decided to perpetuate a catchy phrase in their logo. At first, she was depicted against a small skateboard that looked like a tortoiseshell. For this picture, they nicknamed it – “turtle.” A little later, the word “Vans,” styled by Van Doren even earlier, was added to the phrase “Off the Wall.” The combined trademark was used only on skateboarding shoes. All other things were decorated with an emblem with the name of the company.
In 2016, designers revised the old design by removing the skateboard and leaving the verbal part. But if at first the inscriptions were uneven, now the font is strictly unified: all letters are uppercase and symmetrical. The dashes are the same in width and length. No serifs at the edges: most lines end at right angles.
Font and Colors
The graphic sign was used for a limited period: the rest of the time, verbal symbolism, formed from the name, prevailed. The icon in the shape of a miniature skateboard reads “Vans Off the Wall.” The logo was nicknamed “turtle” for its turtle appearance. In 2016, the developers carried out a redesign, removing the drawn image and leaving only the text part.
The original lettering was uneven in height, but designers later aligned the letters, making them symmetrical in uppercase. The typeface is grotesque, chopped (sans serif), from the Sans Serif family. All signs in it are wide, executed at right angles. The corporate palette is tied to black, red, and white, where the latter acts as a background.
Vans color codes
Neon Red | Hex color: | #ff1818 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 255 24 24 | |
CMYK: | 0 91 91 0 | |
Pantone: | PMS 172 C |
Raisin Black | Hex color: | #262529 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 38 37 41 | |
CMYK: | 7 10 0 84 | |
Pantone: | PMS Neutral Black C |
What does the Vans logo mean?
The letter V, stylized as a square root, signifies the company’s unconventional approach to everything it does. At the same time, the long vertical stripe is perceived as a speedline, which means it emphasizes the energy of movement. The red color of the word Vans is also symbolic: it is associated with joy, movement, and bright emotions.
What does the Vans logo represent?
The Vans logo represents the name and the slogan of the brand. The first word has a non-standard design: the letter “V” is stylized as a square root sign from mathematics. As for the phrase “OFF THE WALL,” it has an interesting origin. It is used by skateboarders who skate in pools with sloping walls.
What is the font of the Vans logo?
The closest font that is suitable for reproducing the Vans logo is Tepeno Sans. It’s a bold geometric grotesque designed by Jayvee Enaguas. Another counterpart is Trade Gothic Next Heavy, designed by Jackson Burke and Akira Kobayashi.