JKR

A new book by Sven Voelker gives a design overview of the graphical decoration of racing cars. I’d recommend this short film to anyone who likes cars or design. In it he explains how the original designs (effectively amateur efforts by the mechanics and race teams) were described as “warpaint”. They were intended to make cars look faster and to intimidate the competition.

It’s fascinating to see the examples of cars as blanks transformed into superfast-looking machines with the judicious application of some stripes. And the best brand exponent of this art must surly be Martini for Porsche – the cars were unmistakably sponsored by the drink, but the brand livery was brilliantly re-configured to make the car look streamlined and fast.

Paint might not physically make a car go faster, but by generating confidence, perhaps it can help. It’s a neat example of how decoration can say “No.1” before the race is even run, and how this approach might give one an edge over the competition. It’s only a matter of ink and confidence, whether it’s a racing car or a pack of biscuits.

The book is Go Faster, The Graphic Design of Racing Cars. Published by Gestalten.