Ape Ryder

An emerging e-bike company that was looking to establish a DTC brand from scratch in the U.S.

(Client)

RKS Motors

(Year)

2023

(Website)

aperyder.com

(Service)

Graphic Design

Creative Direction

(Details)

(Challenge)

Keep the Monkey, Change the Vibe

RKS Motors, a prominent Turkish bike manufacturer, reached out to us searching for a team that can build them a DTC brand for the U.S. market. The branding was completely up to us but, the logo and logo mark had to stay. There were already thousands of bikes with the wordmark and gorilla icon on them. I prioritized working around this and strived to make a strong brand regardless of the challenge.

(Goal)

Creating a Stand-Out Brand that Matches the Product

I set out to create a complement brand to the existing logo. This brand was would be made to complement the look and feel of our flagship bike, the Bonobo, and position the brand to spread into lifestyle/ apparel in the future. I focused on adding elements that enhanced repetitious (and sometimes boring) bike photography, along with a color palette that captured a rugged and fun feel.

(Result)

It's More Than a Bike, It's a Lifestyle

Ape Ryder now has a look and feel that matches the Californian hills it was born in. The brand has strong photography directions, website, and social media presence.