logo refresh and new website for a local mechanic shop
DARE Automotive, a trusted name in Dayton and Centerville for auto repair and maintenance, approached ruef Creative to modernize their brand without losing the legacy they’ve built over decades. Their original logo, while familiar to loyal customers, needed a refresh to better represent their high-quality service in today’s digital landscape. Alongside the logo redesign, DARE's website required a complete overhaul — the previous site was outdated, difficult to navigate, and not optimized for modern users.
ruef Creative worked closely with the DARE team to craft a logo that honored the shop’s heritage while giving it a fresh, modern edge. We then carried that new visual identity into a fully redesigned website — one that not only looks great but provides customers with a seamless, mobile-friendly experience.
our process
Our design process began by taking the existing logo — which relied on dated clip art and basic typography — to identify the elements that held the most brand recognition. The goal was to create a new mark that would feel fresh, flashy, and modern while maintaining a timeless quality that would effectively recall the existing, recognizable local brand and serve the business for years to come.
We reimagined the logo using custom line work to give the design a more refined, handcrafted feel. For the typography, we selected a modern, sans-serif font with subtle retro influences, bridging the gap between the company's longstanding history and its forward-looking future.
Let's create a good idea together.