Introduction: Brave and Daring
It is really weird how the legends that companies producing perfume offer to the public have little to do with the product. However, it is even more miraculous how impressive these legends are. It can be claimed with a considerable amount of certainty that this success has a lot to do with the design of the perfume bottle; one of the most graphic examples of the given phenomenon is the 2012 Diesel. Only the Brave Tattoo cologne.
Point and Line: The Charm of Seeming Simplicity
What falls into the eye straightaway is the smooth, almost cartoonish, contour of the “hand”; adding elegance to it, it balances out the symbol of “force.” The most brilliant idea, however, concerns not the form of the “hand” itself, but the fonts that the designer used to put the title of the fragrance and the name of the company on the bottle. The striking contrast between the elegant “Only the Brave” on the back of the “hand” and a solid uppercase “Diesel” printed on the “fist” is an incredibly good find.
Shape: Symbolism at Its Best
Having the shape of a fist with a bottle of cologne in its grip, the bottle immediately catches the viewer’s attention. Needless to mention, the shape also works perfectly as a symbol of manliness and all the qualities that one can attribute to a man, i.e., strength, power, courage, etc.
Form: Where the Key Idea Lurks
Considering the design of the bottle from a three-dimensional perspective, one must agree that the bottle looks truly impressive and quite natural. While one might argue that the hand seems somewhat inflated, which makes it cartoonish, the form still leaves an impact. The anatomy of the “hand” is beyond praise, and the gesture, i.e., the tight grip, leaves a powerful impact on the viewer.
Texture: Smooth and Shiny
As it has been mentioned, the soft, curvy lines of the bottle create the impression that the hand might belong to a cartoonish character; however, when the color and especially the texture take their toll, it becomes evident that the legend behind the Only the Brave Tattoo should be taken seriously. Although the glassy surface might look somewhat girly, the transparency of the blue bottle and the matt black color of the alternative design do not leave any room for doubt that the cologne offers a legend of a man with a James-Bond-like temper.
Time and Motion: An Unusual Take on a Frame
As hard it is for a piece of glass to move, the shots of the bottle of cologne still have a lot of energy in them. Moreover, it seems like someone accidentally made a shot of a “hand” taking a grip on the bottle. Thus, the idea of speed is added to the legend behind the bottle design.
Colour: Back to Black
It is important to mention that the original Diesel. Only the Brave Tattoo cologne had a bluish steel color. It served the purpose well, stressing the idea of a “man of steel” behind the legend. However, the recent update, a new black-colored Diesel. Only the Brave looks even more impressive. In contrast to the previous design, the black one looks like a tight glove, which adds to the style; in addition, the black color looks much more aggressive compared to blue, which also contributes to the legend behind the perfume.
Proportion: In Search for the Golden Mean
Despite its obvious positive aspects, the diesel Only the Brave Tattoo design has a problem in the proportion department. While the bottle is designed in such a way that it could look like a hand holding a bottle, and, needless to say, the bottle looks very natural, it is still clear that the left side of the bottle is larger than the right side. Thus, the design comes out of proportions. Though a nitpick, this is a remark that should be taken into account, since a form should never dominate over function.
Unity and Variety: The Harmony of Design
As it has been stated above, there are two variations of the cologne bottle. Despite the fact that the only difference between these designs is color and texture, it is clear that the two create completely different images of a man, the black one representing an elegant gentleman, and the blue one being a symbol of a nonchalant back street boy. Together, they make a perfect entity.
Conclusion: Blazing a New Trail
With the help of a unique design that combines several exotic elements in an original way, Diesel has managed to come up with a truly impressive way to promote their product. While one must give the company credit for creating a fantastic fragrance, it is the design of the bottle that tricks the customers into paying attention to it. Therefore, the design of the Diesel Only the Brave Tattoo is worth being considered an example of how a breathtaking legend can be created solely with the help of the imagery.