two-tone and as simple / incomplex / sleek as possible (not only for optical reasons, but also for scaleability)
vector graphics (lossless scaleable)
free to use for anybody and every organization within the unicycling community
The background is, that I would like to try new ways to spread unicycle related information on various platforms and try to design some templates for picture based platforms. But I also think, having such icon available would come in handy for others too, e.g. unicon organizers.
Way too complex. That’s not an icon, it’s a whole picture. I was imaging something as simple as our unicyclist.com-icon or as the logo of the german unicycle hockey league, but without text.
It’s quite a challenge to make icons simple enough and different enough to recognize the disciplines. This topic reminds me of the logo of the French Triathlon Federation:
I would also be very interested in seeing a set of unicycle discipline icons similar to those used in the Olympics for the various events. It would be great if they were universal and licensed in a way to be used freely for various unicycle events.
I tried making a set for the 2001 NUC held in Toronto and then again for the limited disciplines featured in the TOque Games (Trials, High Jump, Long Jump, UMX, Cyclocross). I found it super difficult to produce something that looked good and concisely conveyed the subtle differences between the disciplines, which all have to feature a unicycle as the primary focus.
For design reference here are all the Olympic pictogram sets since 1964:
This is the list of unicycle disciplines that I was wanting to create icons for:
Freestyle (Generic)
Freestyle Individual
Freestyle Pairs
Freestyle Group
Standard Skill?
Track (Generic)
Track IUF slalom?
Track Coasting?
Track Still Stand?
Track Wheel Walk?
Track Slow? (is that still a thing?)
High Jump
Long Jump
Flatland
Street
Muni (Generic)
Muni Cross-Country
Muni Downhill
Muni Uphill
Muni Cyclocross
Trials
Speed Trials
Basketball
Hockey
Distance (Generic)
Distance 10K?
Distance Marathon?
Distance longer?
Un-Planned Dismount (UPD) - Bonus
Standard Mount - Bonus
Did I miss any?
As far as the icon design, some notes I made long ago:
All icons must be from the same perspective (Side View)
All icons must feature the common type of unicycle used for the discipline, scaled appropriately relative to other icons
All icons must feature a rider on the unicycle in the most common riding position for that discipline
All icons must minimize the use of props or terrain
Seeing this thread has renewed my interest. That being said I’m not a great artist, but do have some design background, so might try sketching some ideas in my free time.
I feel like for muni in general, either you could display the unicycle with a really knobby fat tire, or perhaps a Hatchet (though I don’t know if using the likeness of a Hatchet for a general icon would conflict with trademarks or other legal issues).
For general distance, perhaps a 36er with handlebars. 29er would work too but for an icon it might help to exaggerate a bit.
Freestyle… Somebody doing a wheel-walk in my mind
For trials, perhaps a unicycle balanced precariously on top of a sawhorse, going down (or up) a flight of stairs. Perhaps hopping should be indicated in some way?
Unicycle basketball and hockey could be easy as it could probably just depict a rider dribbling a ball or holding a hockey stick.
For track… Simply displaying a 24” uni + rider might work, though I feel like somebody might think of a better idea
uhm he is riding an Ultimate Wheel. There is no seat. Besides I have both hands either in the air simultaneously or just hanging by my side. This dude looks like a policeman telling traffic to stop
Well, at least it’s an icon…
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