Instigar - surf brand logo design

I believe I've landed my dream project. What can be cooler than developing a logo for a surf company, especially if you find this lines in the brief:

Icon that I thought might work is abstract hardcore angel, abstract waves, yin/yang...

I totally fell in love with the whole concept behind the brand, just read this:

I realised that in South America there is such a love for surfing, but most people can not afford a surfboard or take part in competitions, yet they never complain, and love life no matter what, even if 5 people share one board, also countries like Venezuela, Argentina and Costa Rica, have some amazing surfers yet they dont get exposure as with countries like USA, SA, AUS and Europe, I wanted to create a brand that would sort of rebel against the well know leader markets..

I want people to feel like they can associate with the brand and that the brand has its roots in what matters the most, loving the surf and being stoked about life.

[lightbox link="http://www.andreydanilov.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/1_logo_instigar1.jpg"][/lightbox]

Let's look closer at our logo.

[lightbox link="http://www.andreydanilov.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/instigar_calligraphy.jpg"][/lightbox]

As far as Instigar is an Asian-based company, we wanted the logo to contain some Asian feeling, that is why we decided to use some elements of Chinese calligraphy in the type, just to give a slight hint.Below are hidden elements in the logo:

[lightbox link="http://www.andreydanilov.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/instigar_hidden_11.jpg"][/lightbox]

[lightbox link="http://www.andreydanilov.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/instigar_photo1.jpg"][/lightbox]

Photo made by my dad.

[divider]the process[/divider]

[lightbox link="http://www.andreydanilov.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/instigar_ink.jpg"][/lightbox]

Love playing with ink. Hera are some of the concept logos that I think are worth mentioning:

[lightbox link="http://www.andreydanilov.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/instigar_ink_logos.jpg"][/lightbox]

[lightbox link="http://www.andreydanilov.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/instigar_first_logos.jpg"][/lightbox]

I did try to make a hardcore surf angel though...

[lightbox link="http://www.andreydanilov.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/instigar_1finger.jpg"][/lightbox]

The idea with fingerprint developed from here.

[lightbox link="http://www.andreydanilov.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/instigar_tracing_paper.jpg"][/lightbox]

Hand lettering in progress.

[lightbox link="http://www.andreydanilov.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/instigar_tracing_tweaks.jpg"][/lightbox]

[lightbox link="http://www.andreydanilov.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/instigar_type.jpg"][/lightbox]

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[divider]color inspiration[/divider]

[lightbox link="http://www.andreydanilov.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/instigar_color_inspiration.jpg"][/lightbox]

[lightbox link="http://www.andreydanilov.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/instigar_black.jpg"][/lightbox]

[lightbox link="http://www.andreydanilov.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/instigar_white.jpg"][/lightbox]