-
Designed in Alberta’s Lakeland
Without hesitation, any Lakelander knows our community is unique and what pride we feel creating products not only designed in Alberta but to showcase our little NE corner.
Lakeland Love
The lakes and rivers that connect the Lakeland, for which the region was named, provide the landscape for the only backcountry canoe circuit in Alberta and the camp life that goes hand in hand with it.An affinity for lake life is at our core, with adventureland in our backyard it‘d be hard for the lake not to be a huge part of life here. A source of inspiration and certainly nostalgia! Go have a listen to Mike Plume’s 8:30 Newfoundland if you want to beam with pride for it’s subtle but sincere nod to the Lakeland.
Community Support
We’ve seen individuals and businesses step up at any ask (even without ever being asked); whether that be supporting our local teams, schools and clubs, a family in need, or the many initiatives grounded here and striving to better our community. This sense of community sees Jr. A players return here to put down roots, neighbourhoods that allow families to grow and thrive, celebrating rich cultures and traditions… who else looks forward to perogy suppers (drooling a little), a bannock burger fundraiser (drooling a lot), Cabane à Sucre (I can hear the music), and the list could go on and on and on! A local pride I’ve seldom witnessed elsewhere resides here, from Bonnyville to Kehewin, Moose Lake to Cold Lake, Lac la Biche to St. Paul, and every hamlet, village, town, and city on the way.2020 was a year that brought the rain, so many of our local initiatives suffered greatly alongside the businesses and individuals who were most affected by restrictions. At the turn of the new year our online store was realized with products showing our Lakeland a little love and proceeds from each item proudly donated back into those funds that have been supporting our community for years.
LKND Collection
In much the same way that TWX has become interchangeable with “Thinkwerx” the summer of 2020 had us coining LKND representing “Lakeland” and how it fits so well with the retro “ALTA” for Alberta.LKND Tee (Canoe Edition) – An ultra-soft essential tee with a custom Lakeland design embodying lake life at its finest. This comfy tee is finished with the softest tonal print (our favorite) on the front chest and back tag for just the right amount of decoration. This ultra-soft crewneck was designed and printed right here in Bonnyville AND the proceeds are being donated back into the community to the Moose Lake Watershed Society!
Lakeland Collection
The Lakeland Tee – The DTG print has a photo of an infamous Lakeland sunset peeking through the typographic design on the front chest and finished with an equally soft tonal print on the back tag. This ultra-soft crewneck essential tee was designed and printed right here in Bonnyville AND the proceeds are being donated back into the community to the Moose Lake Watershed Society!
The Lakeland Mug – This Campfire Mug was of course designed in Bonnyville with camplife in mind. It attaches via the carabiner handle to your backpack while hiking or outdoor kitchen for quick access. Beautifully crafted, sturdy, and rugged makes for the coolest mug at the campground this season. We all know coffee, tea, or even cider tastes better around a fire.
The Lakeland Towel (Bonnyville Edition) – Another item in the Lakeland Collection just dropped! Showing Bonnyville all the love with this premo beach towel, if you’re at all familiar with our little “corner” or Alberta you’ll find the Lakeland no problem and if you’re not just look for the splash! A truly unique spot we have here, show your Bonnyville pride and snag one of these limited edition beauts designed in Alberta.
The very best part about purchasing the mug and towel is that proceeds are being donated to the Haying in the 30’s Cancer Support Society who continue to assist & has assisted more than 5800 individuals diagnosed with cancer in the local Lakeland region since 1999.
Be Kind Collection
For Pink Shirt Day (anti-bullying awareness) this past February our Be Kind Collection sales off thinkwear.ca allowed us to donate $1000 to the Tyler Chislett Memorial Fund, a local initiative promoting mental health education and support.The Lakeland Mitten
Since 2013 we have done a new TWX mitten and this year was the first year they were available for purchase. This limited edition design showcases our region of Alberta, from the geometric spruce on the tops of the mitt to the laser etched leather palms of a mama + cub and the mirrored ursa major and minor in the sky. These will be back up on the store this fall and proceeds from all the mittens are going to the Bonnyville Health Foundation.Designed in Alberta
I know I love seeing those little tags on purchases, Printed in Bonnyville, Produced in the Lakeland, Designed in Alberta, and Made in Canada to name a few. How about you? Supporting local was engrained in me from an early age and when box stores started to pop up in the area I saw how they threatened the local small businesses. I am seriously so proud of all the amazing innovation emerging in the Lakeland, and as a result I’ve been more conscious than ever of local and actively seek out local alternatives to almost everything I purchase. Our community is held in such high regard by those who call this place home and our team here at TWX has carefully curated the products sold on our online store to speak directly to the proud Lakelander; supporting those initiatives who have suffered greatly through the past year with cancelled fundraisers and honoring the unique place that is home.Shop Local. Support Local. Wear Local. thinkwear.ca
-
Different Types of Logos
What is a Logo Lockup? (Different Types of Logos + Where to Use Them)
Your logo, one piece of your brand’s visual identity… and arguably a pretty key element as this will be something viewed by many representing your brand at each turn. Putting some leg work into your logo design will make sure it is working for you; not only speaking to your ideal customer but assuring the logo works across ALL platforms, that’s where we come in.
Purposeful logo lockups are comprised of different types of logo components, these variations are carefully considered/designed to work together and apart (where permitted, read our post about Logo Guidelines, Every Brand NEEDS Them).
Wordmarks, lettermarks, brandmarks/icons, combination logos/logo lockups, and emblems are parts of a larger logo system. The variety within unity of a logo system allows for proper applications across a broad range ensuring your brands integrity, dictating how to use (and not use) the different types of logos.
Our Thinkwerx team has been lucky to work with some amazing brands over the years, from rebrands of established organizations to fresh startups, each with unique needs reflected in the final logo systems. Some amazing Lakeland brands we’ve helped shape like Dart Simmentals, NCHL, and Tay & Company can be viewed here, you will see the unity within the types of logos and how they come together to form a solid logo system.
Wordmarks
Essentially the name of the brand represented in your logo. Typography is a key component to your brand, legibility alongside type treatment impact on how your brand is perceived. Custom lettering is often how a wordmark is formed; a carefully researched stock typeface is modified OR hand lettering is composed to align with the logo design brief and logo as a whole; these designed wordmarks feature said lettering. Website header, building signage, business stationary, and wordmarks often work best on small promotionals like pens as well!
Lettermarks
The text that makes up a lettermark is like our TWX, similar to a wordmark as it too stems from typography BUT is usually an abbreviation/acronym. When you think TWX you simultaneously think “Thinkwerx” and it becomes so synonymous that the lettermark can be the go to phrase overtime, think NHL. Lettermarks can be a way for clients to have a version of their logo for community use (think sponsorships) or even in house use omitting long professional designations required elsewhere… We love this option as it often lands on apparel and having a lettermark will allow for promotionals that people actually want to wear. 🙂 Working your lettermark abbreviation/acronym into the SEO on your website will make sure that you will still show up by that name when searched!
Brandmarks
What most people think of when they are asked to think of a brand’s logo is likely the brandmark. This portion of a logo contains no text but an image/icon/symbol representing the brand. As it goes, people respond on a more instinctual level to an image as opposed to text and having this type of form included in your logo system opens up the opportunity for your audience to have this deeper connection with your brand! Brandmarks can be based on a character letter form like Tay & Company and DART Simmentals seen here (monogram inspired marks). The most versatile component of your logo system, it can be scaled down quite small to fit on any promo item and we ALWAYS love making apparel that people actually want to wear… thus your brandmark is great for hats/toques, tees, bags, blankets, mugs, and the list goes one! Your website favicon needs this mark as does that tiny space on social media account profiles!
Pairing a brandmark with a wordmark is standard practice and part of a larger logo system. When it appears with a wordmark, the whole is referred to as logo lockup/combination logo and often you will have not one but two or three of these logo lockups, giving your logo system plenty of variety for your brand!
Logo Lockups/Combination Marks
Possibly the most common types of logos. Where the logo elements we’ve referenced come together to create a new logo form and often the primary and secondary logos. Seeing the full system come together in a logo lockup allows for a complete view of said system that sums up your brand… at least on the visual side of things.
Emblems
An emblem can also be part of your logo system, a little more traditional and where you lean when you need to put all the extra. From taglines, phrases, locations, services, dates, ect. All too often a circle is the go to shape for these emblems as it allows for a seamless balance and application. Commemorative/anniversary logos often find a place through this form; where the branding is on point yet all the information is included to quickly communicate that longer story about your brand/history.
Types of logos vary in intention just as they vary in design, to assure you are always using your logo properly, follow your logo guidelines provided by your logo design team, they will help guide not only you but anybody using your logo.
Assuring the correct type of logo is called forward and usage is correct is indicative of your brand that you have worked so hard to build and maintain. Merely one part of the whole, one branding tool (with many moving parts) helping tell the story of who your company is. Whether you have a logo, are looking to rebrand or clean up your existing logo, or are starting out and need a fresh design to kick things off right our team would love to chat! Hooking you up with a full logo system, building on to your existing one part logo, or defining usage through NEW set logo guidelines, let’s chat!
-
Logo Design or Artwork
Are you looking for a Logo Design or Artwork?
From big companies to small, we’ve been creating artwork and designing logos for businesses here in the Lakeland and across Alberta and Canada alike for over 10 years. When it comes to FAQ, one of the most common questions we ask is: Are you looking for a logo design or artwork? This topic is seen as a bit of a gray area, so let’s clear things up!
Logo Design
Our approach to logo design is VERY different than it is to artwork creation, as it should be! A logo is a key component of your brand identity, designed to work across multiple platforms, works in one colour and full colour, particular attention paid to a specific demographic, both recognizable and representative of your company.Artwork
Artwork can still represent your company in a secondary way, but is just that, artwork. It is designed for the target audience of a specific order and works within your brand. Designed to work perfect on those new laser etched patch hats OR screen printed tee OR a fresh grad hoodie design.The Difference?
Artwork can be inspired from existing logo guidelines or a brand identity and can accompany your logo BUT it is created for a single/specific order. For example, your company is throwing a fundraising BBQ and your fundraiser artwork is front and center on your t-shirts and posters and promotional materials where your logo is secondary… think “CHILI COOK OFF” hand lettered artwork with a “Sponsored by logo”.
Using Thinkwerx here for a second example; we have our logo and we create artwork that embodies our original and bold style, friendly voice, and as per our brand standards is paired with our logo. Our brand persona is front of mind in not only designing our own artwork but yours too! Community minded, adventurous, authentic… we are ALL about supporting local and promoting the Lakeland and this can be seen through everything we design and print with the TWX name on it.
Did you know artwork is one of our FREEMIUMS? It’s true! Place an order with us and receive an original design for free! We also offer logo design services and advanced artwork can be purchased as well. Whether you are needing logo design or artwork we’ll hook you up with a great design. Let’s chat today!
-
WORK HARD. PLAY HARD.
A Team That Plays Together, Creates Together
We absolutely love a good challenge, so when KidSport Canada decided to host a local dodgeball tournament to raise funds for youth sports in our area, we couldn’t resist! First of all, it’s a MUST that Thinkwerx have matching t-shirts or jersey’s for any staff event and this was no exception! We screen printed our own 3/4 length fluorescent ball tees and got matching American Apparel sweatbands, then we hit the floor with passion!
Supporting KidSport Canada
…Unfortunately passion doesn’t ALWAYS win, because we ended up dead last. 🙂 But at least we looked good doing it, and had fun raising money for a great cause! KidSport is a national not-for-profit organization that provides financial assistance for registration fees and equipment to kids aged 18 and under and Thinkwerx is proud to be a sponsor! Through a confidential application process they provide grants so kids in need can play a season of sport. Since its creation in 1993, over 530,000 kids across the country have been given the chance to play sport through KidSport grants and sport introduction programming. Thinkwerx is always happy to help! *Plus we got to drink beer during (and after) dodgeball* Even though we lost badly, it still turned out to be a huge win-win.
If you’ve got a local event planned, Thinkwerx would be happy to help you with all your event advertising signage, custom printed apparel and branded items. We have tons of great ideas for tournaments of all ages and sports, whether it’s Beer League Baseball Jersey’s, Minor Hockey Tournament Player Prizes or Year-End Gifts! Here are few great ideas; screen printed toques, imprinted mini hockey sticks, custom skate mats, embroidered hats, imprinted sunglasses, trophies, medallions, team t-shirts & hoodies, or performance apparel! Give us a call at Thinkwerx!
-
REAL LOCAL TALENT.
A BUNCH O’ SMARTY PANTS
Most of our staff grew up in Bonnyville or have lived in the area long-term. Some of us moved away to receive a higher education, ranging from University degrees to college diplomas, yet we all made our way to this little town in Alberta, a place we are proud to call our hometown. It’s part of our Company Culture! Although we’ve got a small team and our senior staffers started out here as young adults, you’d be surprised at how much raw talent and sheer brilliance we manage to contain in one building. From university degrees to the those fresh from the school of hard knox, we’ve all come together as a great team!
TWX Company Culture
How on earth did we manage to attract such a beautiful bunch of misfits under one roof? That’s Easy! It’s engrained in our Company Culture at Thinkwerx. As the old saying goes, “A team that plays together, stays together”… right?! Thinkwerx provides a completely unique work atmosphere unlike any other job or company. You’re free to come and go as you please, regardless of what time you showed up or went home. We truly believe in a ‘Results-Only Work Environment‘ (ROWE). We’re all in the same boat together, and as long as we’re all ROWE’ing in the same direction we’re heading somewhere together as a team. It’s easy to spot someone that ROWE’s in the other direction, and those people don’t tend to last very long in our self-driven atmosphere. Thinkwerx isn’t just a ‘fun job‘, it has become a career for many of our senior team members who are approaching 10 years at TWX! Our atmosphere is capable of providing upward growth and skills development! A place where the best of us get a sense of fulfilment in our daily roles, a feeling that we’re accomplishing our personal goals and doing meaningful work along the way. Our culture is truly hard to explain. It just comes naturally, based on real local talent.