Tahoe Knight Monsters
The Barn was approached to strategically develop and brand the new ECHL hockey team in Tahoe . It is no secret how much we love hockey here so getting out hands on an ECHL team is something we were in love with from the very start.
After talking with the internal team about what want and needs there were (aggressiveness, speed, uniqueness, local flare, tie in with parent team) & many iterations, including the name, We came out with an homage to the local legend of Tessie as Lake Tahoe’s “protector."
What emerged was an aggressive primary mark and varying levels of traditional monograms, local specific marks, and a story to tell. The unique color palette flows with the colors of Lake Tahoe, and silhouettes make a scaleable brand for any size or occasion.
It was very difficult making such a complex idea of a creature into a simplified sports design, but we all loved the end product.
Scope of Work
- Brand Identity Development: Crafted a unique and cohesive brand identity that reflects the team's dynamic energy and local heritage.
- Brand Analysis
- Logo Design and System: Designed a primary logo featuring "Tessie," Lake Tahoe's legendary protector, along with a suite of secondary and tertiary marks that incorporate regional elements.
- Custom Typography and Color Palette: Developed a custom font and a production ready color scheme inspired by the varying depths of Lake Tahoe, complemented by an accent of Vegas Gold to signify the affiliation with the Vegas Golden Knights.
- Brand Guidelines: Produced an extensive brand guideline document to ensure consistency across all applications, from merchandise to promotional materials.
We pulled the color palette from Lake Tahoe itself, with a "depth chart" of shades of watery blue/teal down to the deep depths of rich black. Something that can stand alone across the ECHL landscape, while also being able to be easily produced in jerseys, merchandise, and promo blanks. We also ended with an accent of Vegas Gold, to create a "pop" color.
Sometimes you know something is going to work right from jump street, and our secondary marks were it. Lake Tahoe itself proved to be a really nice badge shape and we knew that "hiding" Tessie in it in one for or another was a home run. The detail we like the most in this is the pupil. That four pointed pupil became a much larger detail across the brand, making its way into the text lockups and tertiary logos as it’s own element.
For one of our secondary logos for Tahoe not only did we want to show the idea of Tessie living in the lake, but make it a little more specific to Stateline, Nevada where the Knight Monsters call home. Wanting to make it Local Specific we grabbed an image from looking at the lake from Stateline. Its very noticeable mountains shape and coast line prominent and exaggerated. Making the logo not just generic mountains but something the community can claim was a big factor for us. We also loved how the mountains gave an asymmetrical top to the overall badge shape.
"Working with The Barn Creative on our team's logo was an absolute pleasure!
From the very beginning, their team took the time to understand our vision, values, and the story we wanted our brand to tell. The result were logos that perfectly capture our spirit, style, and mission. Their creative expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence made the entire process seamless and enjoyable. We couldn't be happier with the final designs, and we’re excited to proudly showcase it as a symbol of our team’s identity.
Highly recommend their services to anyone looking to bring their brand to life!"
Lauren Muni
Vice President of Marketing, Zawyer Sports
The unveiling of the Tahoe Knight Monsters' branding was met with widespread acclaim, significantly boosting the team's visibility and marketability. The distinctive logos and color schemes have been enthusiastically embraced by fans, leading to robust merchandise sales and a strong community following. The cohesive brand identity not only solidified the team's presence in the ECHL but also fostered a deep connection with the local community, setting a strong foundation for future success.
This project exemplifies The Barn Creative's ability to blend local heritage with modern design elements, creating a brand identity that resonates on multiple levels and drives both fan engagement and commercial success.