Logo Challenge: Strength and heritage of Sri Lanka

17 Sep Logo Challenge: Strength and heritage of Sri Lanka

Excerpt: manvsglobe.com

Photo: Jaromír Kavan | Unsplash

Sri Lanka’s highest town and the heart of the country’s most beautiful region, the southern hill country, Nuwara Eliya sits beneath the towering Pidurutalagala mountain in a bowl of verdant, tea-covered hills. Although the region was once occupied by the Kandyan kingdom, the town itself is very much a British creation. It was established in the mid-19th century as a retreat by Sir Edward Barnes and touted as Sri Lanka’s ‘Little England’ for the way this Victorian relic resembles a quaint English country village.

manvsglobe.com

The Narrative

The Tamil culture is deeply rooted in this region of Sri Lanka.

Tamils of the Chera Dynasty produced ‘the finest steel in the world, known as Seric Iron to the Romans. This steel was exported as cakes of steely iron that came to be known as ‘wootz,’ a crucible steel characterized by a pattern of bands and high carbon content. Wootz steel was widely exported and traded throughout ancient Europe and the Arab world and became particularly famous in the Middle East.

Second only to China’s exports, Sri Lanka also produces some of the finest tea in the world. Nuwara Eliya, meaning ‘city on the plains’ is a city in the hill country of the Central Province. It was established by Sir Edward Barnes in 1828 as a holiday retreat. English explorer, Samuel Baker, later established a farm in 1846 and aspired to cultivate potatoes and rival the beauty and prosperity of Neel Grans mountain range.

During this time, Baker also introduced horse racing to the area, with the inaugural horse race being held in 1875. Horse racing was banned in 1956, but was later reinstated in 1981. The Nuwara Eliya Racecourse is the only remaining horse racing venue in Sri Lanka.

The Challenge

Develop a brand associated with strength, performance, and the history of the region. The design can be used for any business, but should incorporate aspects of Nuwara Eliya — horseracing, tea, or ancient steel (hint, hint).

Imagery

The Results

Incorporating “wootz” steel was too hard to pass up. In fact, the name is so catchy, I thought it would make a great name for tea. The mustang sitting in the cup of tea is a nod to the Nuwara Eliya’s horseracing history — fast, strong, bold animals doubling as a metaphor for the region’s equally strong and bold tea. The design also showcases bands and patterns characteristic of wootz steel.