Carded and Blacked Out

A bunch (for us) of bikes are going out the door. Thanks to everyone who is getting a bike from a company with out any readily accessible legitimate product information. You are a contrast to the "information age."

We decided to go completely nuts with the frame graphics.

We placed a request for quote on a popular design website and recieved 10 different proposals..8 of which came from China! We also approached local street artist and Friend of Tonic, Quad-XL, for a possible "collabo." He declined immediately.

Some of the more interesting proposals focused on the fact that most customers choose remove their frame stickers immediately.

One solution was to substitute adhesives for velcro, making the job quick, painless and reversible if the customer changes their mind.

Another idea was printing the stickers with a light sensitive ink that fades completely upon exposure to sunlight. Take the frame out of the box, and the stickers are gone in seconds.

There was also the proposal to screen our logos with dry-erase board marker ink, which could be wiped off with a cloth while the customer assembles their frame.

Ulitmately we settled on something self-generated and as boring as the day is long. The upside is that the frames are shipping with an envelope containing something you can carry around in your wallet.

Yes, a black frame..not to into these, but I guess it doesn't look bad.


The Tonic Owner Card.


-L