Designing for iconic cycle brand Rapha: Jack Saunders and Paul Barnes

Published: July 6, 2018, 2:15 p.m.

\u200bSome of the most esteemed and enduring brands are those that build in their customers an emotional connection \u2013 they give us more than just practical function. A few of those them seemingly manage to create own worlds, and come to represent a lifestyle and system of values, too. \u200bOne such brand is Rapha, the cycling sportswear company founded in 2004 \u2013 now with a global following, thanks to a biannual magazine, the international Rapha Cycling Club, its in-store cafes, and a 2007 collaboration with Paul Smith. \u200bGraphic identity and art direction has played a huge part in keeping this all coherent and consistent \u2013 and adding to or changing any part of the brand is delicate business. \u200bIn discussion today: Jack Saunders and Paul Barnes, two people who are helping to nudge and navigate Rapha into a new iteration.