Charging Cycles

Design Element

This design element consists of two concentric circular strips that are reflections of one another. Together they make up the “charging cycles”. Inspired by graphics indicating charging levels, they give the layoutLayout
The layout provides the designer and requesting party with an impression of how a communication ... composition focus and dynamic. Both of the circles are open at one side to remind the viewer of a C, for the “Charge” in TruckCharge.

The charging cycles are not a logo; they are a design element with a brand-defining character. For reasons relating to trademark law, this element must never be used without the logo. The design specifications laid out for various media are to be applied respectively. If these do not allow for the logo to be used, the charging cycles should also be omitted.

This design element is available in all the requisite media-specific versions and color variants.

Composition

The charging cycles should be seen as a standardized design element and their composition should remain unchanged. In their natural alignment, the opening of the inner circle faces right and is horizontally centered. The outer circle mirrors this with the opening facing left and decentered upwards. Using the charging cycles can thus create added tension and excitement in a composition.

The angle of aperture of the opening is 40°. In the outer circle, this goes from 150° to 190°; in the inner, from 340° to 20°.

The charging cycles are available in cyan and white. Cyan may be used irrespective of the background color. The charging cycles may only be used in white if the imageImage
The publicly perceived image of a company, brand, product or service. Determined primarily by ... material or layout already contains a high degree of cyan.

The charging cycles may not be changed independently by using other colors or transforming or distorting their shape.

Protection Zone

The protection zone around the charging cycles is defined as y and corresponds to the width of the circular strips. It applies to the whole composition. The inner and outer circles are also separated by a distance of 1y, the sole exception being the opening of the outer circle. All design elements must respect the protection zone. The logo may not be positioned within the charging cycles.

Cropping

The charging cycles may be shown cropped to about one third, provided that at least one of the openings is fully visible. The crop may only be smaller if the charging cycles are being used as a connecting element.

Incorrect Usage

These examples illustrate how the charging cycles are not to be handled:

• They may not be distorted or transformed.
• The composition of the individual circular strips may not be altered – for example, by rotating or shortening them.
• Nor may their color be changed.

Charging Cycles and Logo

The logo may not be positioned within the charging cycles. The logo may not be overlaid across the charging cycles or vice versa.

Protection Zone Vehicle

When positioning the charging cycles on images that include vehicle models belonging to co-brands, certain criteria must be applied. Vehicles have their own protection zone, and design elements may not be positioned inside this. This relates to images focusing on the respective vehicle. If vehicles are only visible in the background, the protection zone does not apply.

The design element must not appear at the same vertical height as the Mercedes star and must maintain a certain distance from this. Provided they meet the above criteria, the charging cycles may be placed near the vehicle.

The vehicle must always be in the foreground and may not be overlaid by the design element.

The design element must be substantially different in size from the Mercedes star. The charging cycles must be integrated into the layout in such a way as to come across as a design element belonging to the TruckCharge brand.

The charging cycles may not be positioned inside the marked area.

Use on Images

Vehicles
The charging cycles have a brand-defining character. With images that include vehicle models belonging to co-brands, the charging cycles must be positioned so as to be clearly visible but also not be in competition with the co- brand. The composition must not appear clumsy or conceal large, essential parts of a visual motif. The design element must be positioned on an uncluttered area of the image.

The charging cycles may applied cropped, although at least one third must be visible. The opening of one circle must also be visible. They may not be distorted, and their composition must remain unchanged. They may also be integrated into the visual background (perspective) so as to emphasize particular elements of the picture, but must not cover them. The charging cycles should not compete with or cover text content. In addition, they may not be positioned near any brandingBranding
At Daimler Truck, branding refers to using the company’s name and Daimler logotype and Corporate ... area used by the co-brand.

The charging cycles can be used playfully – in the design of social media content, for example, by using them to interlink individual stages of a carousel post.

People
With images that include people, like for those with vehicles, the charging cycles must be positioned so as to be clearly visible. If the logo of the co- brand is prominently integrated into the scene depicted, this must not be covered by any design element. The composition must not appear clumsy and no essential parts of the visual motif may be concealed, especially faces. The design element must be positioned on an uncluttered area of the image.

Images containing people offer a little more scope in design terms: the charging cycles can be integrated into the visual background (perspective) of the scene so as to emphasize particular elements of the picture. Here, too, important elements of the scene must not be covered, and the charging cycles must not be too prominently in the focus. Under no circumstances should the design element be distorted. Conversely, the charging cycles themselves may not be too heavily concealed by elements of the image. The rule on crop usage applies. As is the case with vehicles, the design element should not compete with or cover text content or be positioned near any branding area used by the co-brand.

The charging cycles can be used playfully – in the design of social media content, for example, by using them to interlink individual stages of a carousel post.

Colors

The charging cycles should be set in cyan. If the image material or layout is dominated by cyan, the design element may be used in white.

Other colors are not permitted. The design element may only be used in the colors provided.

Animation

For content containing moving images, the charging cycles can be animated. When creating such animations, be careful to ensure that they are never overlaid across the TruckCharge logo. They can be positioned on simple backgrounds or on pictures or moving images. Such an animation may not be modified or transformed.

The same rules apply to use of animated charging cycles as to the static variant.