One-Ton Barbell Club
One-Ton Barbell Club
Branding, Illustration, Website Design
Branding, Illustration, Website Design
Price:
Price:
$6,000 USD
$6,000 USD
Price:
$6,000 USD
Turnaround:
Turnaround:
3 Weeks
3 Weeks
Turnaround:
3 Weeks
Role:
Role:
Creative Director
Creative Director
Role:
Creative Director
Engagement:
Engagement:
One-Time Project
One-Time Project
Engagement:
One-Time Project
Project Outcomes & Highlights:
Project Outcomes & Highlights:
15+ Designs
Merch designs for lifestyle brand launch on social and shopify
15+ Designs
Merch designs for lifestyle brand launch on social and shopify
500+ Members
After launching 500+ members have joined One-Ton Barbell Club online
500+ Members
After launching 500+ members have joined One-Ton Barbell Club online
Tattoo Inspired
This brand is inspired by neo-traditional tattoos making it unquie
Tattoo Inspired
This brand is inspired by neo-traditional tattoos making it unquie
One-Ton Barbell Club
One-Ton Barbell Club is a lifestyle gym brand and private membership club dedicated to bodybuilding and weightlifting enthusiasts.
The owner approached me to create a complete brand identity, design his website, and launch his first merchandise line. Working together over 3 weeks, we built his brand from concept to launch.
We began with comprehensive branding design, establishing the brand's identity, logo, visual system, voice, and market positioning.
From there, we expanded the brand into revenue-generating assets including apparel designs and an e-commerce website. The foundation of this project was creating a cohesive brand identity and transforming it into multiple income streams through sellable merchandise and a professional website for e-commerce and gym information.
Challenge:
Create a complete brand identity from scratch with immediate revenue streams to fund a private gym facility.
Solution:
Delivered neo-traditional tattoo-inspired branding, screen-print ready apparel designs, and a fully functional Shopify store for immediate market entry.
Services:
• Illustration
• Branding Design
• Website Design (Shopify)
• Art Direction
• Ecommerce Consulting
Role + Team:
Creative Director | Solo project with direct client collaboration
Key Phases:
• Project Brief
• Branding & Logo Design
• Concept sketches
• Illustration
• Website Design
• Shopify Configuration & Launch
One-Ton Barbell Club
One-Ton Barbell Club is a lifestyle gym brand and private membership club dedicated to bodybuilding and weightlifting enthusiasts.
The owner approached me to create a complete brand identity, design his website, and launch his first merchandise line. Working together over 3 weeks, we built his brand from concept to launch.
We began with comprehensive branding design, establishing the brand's identity, logo, visual system, voice, and market positioning.
From there, we expanded the brand into revenue-generating assets including apparel designs and an e-commerce website. The foundation of this project was creating a cohesive brand identity and transforming it into multiple income streams through sellable merchandise and a professional website for e-commerce and gym information.
Challenge:
Create a complete brand identity from scratch with immediate revenue streams to fund a private gym facility.
Solution:
Delivered neo-traditional tattoo-inspired branding, screen-print ready apparel designs, and a fully functional Shopify store for immediate market entry.
Services:
• Illustration
• Branding Design
• Website Design (Shopify)
• Art Direction
• Ecommerce Consulting
Role + Team:
Creative Director | Solo project with direct client collaboration
Key Phases:
• Project Brief
• Branding & Logo Design
• Concept sketches
• Illustration
• Website Design
• Shopify Configuration & Launch
"Nikolai has brought my dream to life! Walking us through how to start a lifestyle brand, and how to market our products effectively online. He has been core to our founding and guiding us on the right path to launch our gym lifestyle brand. I would recommend him to everyone!”
"Nikolai has brought my dream to life! Walking us through how to start a lifestyle brand, and how to market our products effectively online. He has been core to our founding and guiding us on the right path to launch our gym lifestyle brand. I would recommend him to everyone!”
Mike Trevino
Mike Trevino
Founder, One-Ton Barbell Club
Branding Design
The client wanted a visual identity inspired by neo-traditional tattoos from the seventies and eighties, rooted in American traditional style.
This became our core visual foundation - taking classic tattoo aesthetics and applying them to the weightlifting and bodybuilding niche. We drew visual elements from both communities, combining them into a cohesive brand that felt modern while maintaining authentic grit and character.
For inspiration, I researched neo-traditional tattoos on Pinterest and gathered reference images of vintage tattoos, badges, motorcycle patches, and classic designs. These elements were synthesized into a comprehensive Americana branding kit.
Brand Direction
Beyond visuals, we positioned One-Ton Barbell Club as a community centered around powerlifting, bodybuilding, and treating the gym as a personal sanctuary.
Our goal was transforming the tattoo aesthetic into a community-focused brand that celebrated gym culture and its imagery. Key brand mottos became integral to merchandise designs, including "Let's get at it," "Let's grind," and "Let's pump this iron out."
The overall brand direction emphasized community connection while drawing from Americana and neo-traditional aesthetics that resonate naturally with bodybuilders and gym enthusiasts - many of whom already embrace this visual culture through their own tattoos and gym lifestyle from the eighties and nineties era.
Branding Design
The client wanted a visual identity inspired by neo-traditional tattoos from the seventies and eighties, rooted in American traditional style.
This became our core visual foundation - taking classic tattoo aesthetics and applying them to the weightlifting and bodybuilding niche. We drew visual elements from both communities, combining them into a cohesive brand that felt modern while maintaining authentic grit and character.
For inspiration, I researched neo-traditional tattoos on Pinterest and gathered reference images of vintage tattoos, badges, motorcycle patches, and classic designs. These elements were synthesized into a comprehensive Americana branding kit.
Brand Direction
Beyond visuals, we positioned One-Ton Barbell Club as a community centered around powerlifting, bodybuilding, and treating the gym as a personal sanctuary.
Our goal was transforming the tattoo aesthetic into a community-focused brand that celebrated gym culture and its imagery. Key brand mottos became integral to merchandise designs, including "Let's get at it," "Let's grind," and "Let's pump this iron out."
The overall brand direction emphasized community connection while drawing from Americana and neo-traditional aesthetics that resonate naturally with bodybuilders and gym enthusiasts - many of whom already embrace this visual culture through their own tattoos and gym lifestyle from the eighties and nineties era.
Merch Design
A crucial element of building this brand was creating apparel that the business owner could sell on his website and to community members.
This merchandise would serve as one of the primary revenue streams to fund the business and generate capital for building his private gym facility.
We transformed his concepts and ideas into shirts, hoodies, and other apparel products for sale on the Shopify website we developed.
The core focus of these designs was capturing the authentic gym experience through powerful messaging including "Comfort Kills," "Times Are Taken," "No Regrets All Gains," and "Let the Past Die" - phrases that resonate with bodybuilders and gym enthusiasts during their workouts, reflecting the mindset and motivation the client experiences in the gym.
Design Process
The design process began with researching reference imagery on Pinterest, focusing on vintage tattoos from the sixties, seventies, and eighties that embody Americana aesthetics. This research was combined with the client's vision for a modern yet gritty gym aesthetic.
We executed this vision through a streamlined illustration workflow. All illustrations were hand-drawn on iPad using Procreate, then transferred to Adobe Illustrator for vectorization. Text and additional graphics were integrated to complete each design.
All final artwork was delivered print-ready to the screen printer for production. Since the client chose screen printing for cost efficiency, we strategically limited colors and shading to keep production costs manageable.
The goal was creating standout designs that people would purchase for their visual appeal while connecting them to the gym community he was building.
Merch Design
A crucial element of building this brand was creating apparel that the business owner could sell on his website and to community members.
This merchandise would serve as one of the primary revenue streams to fund the business and generate capital for building his private gym facility.
We transformed his concepts and ideas into shirts, hoodies, and other apparel products for sale on the Shopify website we developed.
The core focus of these designs was capturing the authentic gym experience through powerful messaging including "Comfort Kills," "Times Are Taken," "No Regrets All Gains," and "Let the Past Die" - phrases that resonate with bodybuilders and gym enthusiasts during their workouts, reflecting the mindset and motivation the client experiences in the gym.
Design Process
The design process began with researching reference imagery on Pinterest, focusing on vintage tattoos from the sixties, seventies, and eighties that embody Americana aesthetics. This research was combined with the client's vision for a modern yet gritty gym aesthetic.
We executed this vision through a streamlined illustration workflow. All illustrations were hand-drawn on iPad using Procreate, then transferred to Adobe Illustrator for vectorization. Text and additional graphics were integrated to complete each design.
All final artwork was delivered print-ready to the screen printer for production. Since the client chose screen printing for cost efficiency, we strategically limited colors and shading to keep production costs manageable.
The goal was creating standout designs that people would purchase for their visual appeal while connecting them to the gym community he was building.
Website Design
As a completely new brand, One-Ton Barbell Club required a website built from scratch.
We leveraged the established branding kit and product designs to create a streamlined Shopify store that served as a proof of concept for the client. The primary objectives were launching quickly, showcasing the merchandise, and driving immediate sales.
The design maintained a minimal aesthetic, focusing on product imagery and logos as core visual elements, complemented by brand colors and custom typography from the branding kit.
This simplified approach perfectly suited the client's needs as a startup business without an existing customer base or complex requirements.
Goals For Website
The primary objective was rapid product launch and community sales activation.
The website functioned as a conversion point for visitors discovering the brand through social media and other marketing channels. Users could explore the community concept and purchase apparel to immediately connect with the brand.
Our strategy focused on seamless brand integration - getting shirts, hoodies, and other apparel into customers' hands to quickly establish community membership and brand loyalty.
Additionally, the website provided a scalable e-commerce foundation for future product development and business growth.
Shopify proved to be the optimal solution because of its user-friendly interface, rapid deployment capability (launching the e-commerce business in under a week), and long-term maintenance simplicity for the client.
Website Design
As a completely new brand, One-Ton Barbell Club required a website built from scratch.
We leveraged the established branding kit and product designs to create a streamlined Shopify store that served as a proof of concept for the client. The primary objectives were launching quickly, showcasing the merchandise, and driving immediate sales.
The design maintained a minimal aesthetic, focusing on product imagery and logos as core visual elements, complemented by brand colors and custom typography from the branding kit.
This simplified approach perfectly suited the client's needs as a startup business without an existing customer base or complex requirements.
Goals For Website
The primary objective was rapid product launch and community sales activation.
The website functioned as a conversion point for visitors discovering the brand through social media and other marketing channels. Users could explore the community concept and purchase apparel to immediately connect with the brand.
Our strategy focused on seamless brand integration - getting shirts, hoodies, and other apparel into customers' hands to quickly establish community membership and brand loyalty.
Additionally, the website provided a scalable e-commerce foundation for future product development and business growth.
Shopify proved to be the optimal solution because of its user-friendly interface, rapid deployment capability (launching the e-commerce business in under a week), and long-term maintenance simplicity for the client.
Homepage (Scroll For Full Page)
Homepage (Scroll For Full Page)
Product Pages
Product Pages
Homepage (Scroll For Full Page)
Product Pages
Category Page
Category Page
System Pages
System Pages
Category Page
System Pages
Solution:
Starting from zero, we built a complete brand identity and business foundation for One-Ton Barbell Club in just 3 weeks. We delivered a comprehensive branding kit with logo, visual identity, and brand positioning rooted in neo-traditional tattoo aesthetics and Americana style.
From there, we created a line of apparel designs including shirts and hoodies with gym-focused messaging that could be screen printed and sold to fund the business.
We also built a fully functional Shopify e-commerce website that showcased the brand and products, allowing the client to start selling immediately. The end result was a cohesive brand that went from concept to revenue-generating business, complete with community-focused messaging, professional apparel designs, and an online store that the client could easily manage and scale as his gym community grew.
Reflections:
• Working with a completely inexperienced business owner taught me the importance of balancing creative work with business education - I had to explain both the design decisions and how e-commerce works
• Understanding production constraints early on was crucial - limiting colors for screen printing affected every design decision and taught me to always consider the end manufacturing process
• Building a brand from absolute zero was challenging but rewarding - every decision had to be intentional since there were no existing guidelines or customer base to reference
• The combination of consulting and execution was demanding but valuable - teaching business fundamentals while creating assets gave me a deeper understanding of how design fits into business strategy
Solution:
Starting from zero, we built a complete brand identity and business foundation for One-Ton Barbell Club in just 3 weeks. We delivered a comprehensive branding kit with logo, visual identity, and brand positioning rooted in neo-traditional tattoo aesthetics and Americana style.
From there, we created a line of apparel designs including shirts and hoodies with gym-focused messaging that could be screen printed and sold to fund the business.
We also built a fully functional Shopify e-commerce website that showcased the brand and products, allowing the client to start selling immediately. The end result was a cohesive brand that went from concept to revenue-generating business, complete with community-focused messaging, professional apparel designs, and an online store that the client could easily manage and scale as his gym community grew.
Reflections:
• Working with a completely inexperienced business owner taught me the importance of balancing creative work with business education - I had to explain both the design decisions and how e-commerce works
• Understanding production constraints early on was crucial - limiting colors for screen printing affected every design decision and taught me to always consider the end manufacturing process
• Building a brand from absolute zero was challenging but rewarding - every decision had to be intentional since there were no existing guidelines or customer base to reference
• The combination of consulting and execution was demanding but valuable - teaching business fundamentals while creating assets gave me a deeper understanding of how design fits into business strategy
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