The Assignment:
Hiker’s Weather App needed more than a logo, they needed branding, icons and illustrations that would visually represent its core mission of delivering real-time, location-specific weather insights for outdoor enthusiasts. The design needed to convey reliability, outdoor adventure, and a connection to nature, while being adaptable for multiple platforms.
Our Approach:
To capture the essence of hiking and weather forecasting, we explored combining symbols that evoke the outdoors with icons related to weather. Our brainstorming led to a series of designs featuring a hiker and a weathervane, symbolizing both movement and preparedness against changing weather. Additionally, we created an alternative icon featuring a backpack, cleverly designed with straps that formed the letters H and W—the brand’s initials.
The Solution:
The final designs included two primary visual components:
Main Logo: Featuring a hiker and weathervane, merging the ideas of exploration and weather forecasting. The weathervane element subtly introduces the idea of changing weather patterns, crucial for hikers.
Secondary Icon: A stylized backpack whose straps formed an “H” and “W” for Hiker’s Weather, providing a recognizable, versatile mark that can stand alone as an app icon.
Both designs maintained a palette of earth tones and sky blues to evoke the outdoor environment and to visually align with the app’s functionality.
Results
The dual design approach—the hiker/weathervane main logo and the HW backpack icon—allowed the brand flexibility in how it presents itself across various platforms, from app interfaces to outdoor signage. The logo successfully appeals to the target demographic by blending familiar outdoor visuals with practical, weather-focused elements.
Brand Force 5 illustrated simple, fun, and relatable characters to help bring the whole User Experience to life for the Hiker’s Weather App.
