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Cardinal Knives

NAMING | BRANDING | PACKAGING

What's in a name?

Cardinal Knives was an early naming and branding contender for Acre Knives. “Cardinal” refers to the cardinal points on a compass and conveys confidence, expert knowledge, and an entrepreneurial spirit. It represented new beginnings for a team of experienced bladesmiths positioning themselves as expert guides to anyone looking for a quality knife.

Stay sharp.

While the name Cardinal didn’t stick, many of its sharper elements did and can be seen throughout the final Acre brand. Unique to the Cardinal brand was an octagonal shape that served as a primary logomark. I utilized this octagon throughout the brand in many of the same ways the Acre hexagon was incorporated. Additionally, a star-shaped pattern mimics the cut of a knife and refers back to the navigation motifs of the Cardinal name.