Makers Bolt is a small online hardware retailer based in Portland, Oregon. Their constantly expanding product line up consists of hard-to-find fasteners with high-quality anti-corrosion finishes.
The client sought a new logo that would differentiate their brand from other online competitors. It should express the strength and attention to detail that Makers Bolt provides in their products. And, as a new brand in the market, it was important to provide a clean and professional identity that would increase brand trustworthiness with buyers.
It was important that the new brand represent the durability of Makers Bolt products. The icon features a squared wrench cut out, in honor of the first product Makers Bolt sold, and forms a silhouette suggestive of both a helmet, for strength, and the letter M. The bold typeface with tight kerning and contrasting color palette evokes feelings of trustworthiness and quality.
Example pages from Makers Bolt Brand Guidelines Document
Unused Makers Bolt logo iterations
The brand campaign "Made For Makers" focuses on showcasing real-world craftsmen, artisans, and workers. The gritty nature of the photography and down-to-earth settings show that Makers Bolt products are built to get the job done.
Makers Bolt products, at this time, are primarily sold through Amazon.com. Product listing images and customized A+ Content with a clean, cohesive look have significantly raised the perceived trust among consumers. The client has reported increased conversion rates after implementing the new branding.
In late 2020, Makers Bolt expanded its product line and began working with a new distributor. During this process, they wanted to create new packaging that would improve the customer experience and better communicate the brand. Along with this, they also needed a consistent product label system to better organize their growing inventory.
I created a 3D model render mock-up of Makers Bolt packaging that was provided to the distributor to guide the development of the final product. The design makes a feature of the raw corrugated cardboard to give a utilitarian feel that matches the blue collar identity of the Makers Bolt brand. The tagline "Made for Makers" is displayed prominently on the top of the box, greeting the customer as they open to view the contents inside. The product label is displayed on the right side of the box for easy warehouse inventory. The left side boasts the Makers Bolt icon in bold color that grabs attention sitting on any workshop shelf.
Stock photography sourced through pexels.com and unsplash.net
Bolt phography provided by Makers Bolt