The brand was created in 1979 by the lifelong surfer Bob Hurley. Originally, Hurley Surfboards was just a small factory-retail outlet in Huntington Beach.
Meaning and history
After developing the Billabong brand in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Bob Hurley decided to return to working on his own namesake brand in 1998. It was bought by Nike in 2002, but the founder stayed as CEO until 2015.
Symbol
The Hurley logo exists in two versions. The full one includes the “two surfboards” symbol and the name of the brand, while the short version comprises only the surfboards symbol.
Emblem
Probably the most recognizable element of the logotype is the stylized letter “H”. For many customers, the “H” emblem is enough to identify the brand, even if there is no wordmark. The letter is formed by two parentheses (inward and outward), which are supposed to represent surfboards.
Font
The typeface is a bespoke one. It is a harmonious combination of curves and sharp angles. Some of the fonts that have slightly similar glyphs are Futura Futuris Bold, Century Gothic, and Avant Garde Demi.
Color
Typically, the Hurly logo in white appears against the black (or just dark) background. However, the colors are often inverted (the logotype is black, while the background is white). The simple color scheme would have seemed a bit old-school-ish for the modern surf brand if not for the overall shape of the letters and the minimalistic emblem giving the logo a totally contemporary look.