Trek works across brands with its product development, design and marketing specialists to color its collections. However, since the minds have always been divided on trends and colors, Trek offers “Project One” as an additional configuration platform for individual creations.
Being at least one year ahead of the trend is one of the most important tasks in Trek’s design team. In special colour meetings the designers decide which colours will set the tone in the coming year. “Designers and product managers gather data material, visit exhibitions worldwide, interview dealers and also cycling professionals.” Micah Moran is a product graphic designer and a member of the design team. He at the headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin (USA) and other colleagues at the European headquarters in the Netherlands each put their heads together via videoconferencing, sort out all the information and narrow down the future colour family. “Each year, about five colors or shades of color are added or subtracted.” The decision-making process can take up to six months. “No sooner have we decided on one colour palette than we start the new discussion for the next collection,” explains Micah Moran.
Not only Trek, but also sister brand Bontrager manufactures based on the same color palette. This allows the customer to match his bike and accessories at any time. “The matching of colors between our brands is very important to us.”
Earth tones in the coming winter – soft pastel colours for 2018
The colours for the coming winter have been fixed for a long time. The Swiss retailers have also largely completed their orders for their winter collection. Micah Moran reveals: “We will see some new dark earth tones in the autumn. And next year we’ll see some soft pastels.”
Project One – the platform for individualists
However, there are now always customers who have an unusual dream bike with individual components, a very specific colour or an unusual design in mind. That’s why Trek has a solution for individualists. The “Project-One” configuration platform allows you to put together individual products online. “Project One is ideal for bright neon colours in particular,” enthuses the graphic designer. The frames are built and injection-moulded by hand in Wisconsin, the delivery time is about two months.
Once again this year, Trek is providing 9 racing bikes from the Project-One configurator to the neutral racing service of the Tour de Suisse, and will be demonstrating the full extent of their painting skills on the attractive one-offs. These are three racing bikes each of the models Madone, Domane and Emonda. The VIP area of the Tour de Suisse will once again feature a unique Trek product.
Here you will find the Project One configurator.
The current models of Trek can be found here.
