Love Sports and Graphic Design?

Become a Sports Logo Designer By Sarah Clark
Sarah.clark@graphicdesignschoolreview.com
Graphic Design School Review Columnist

A graphic design job making sports logos could be an ideal jobs. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of sports teams at the professional, college and amateur level that need insignias. The history of the logos of a couple of well-known sports franchises shows how important visual communication is to a sports team.

The New York Yankees

The history of the New York Yankees logo, which has endured more than 125 years, shows the power of visual design. The overlapping NY insignia was created by Louis B. Tiffany in 1877 for the New York City Police Department for a medal presented to John McDowell--the first police officer in New York City to be shot in the line of duty.

The logo was adopted by the New York Highlanders in 1909. In an effort to assume a snappier name, the team adopted the New York Yankees name in 1913, and thus a lasting connection began between the famous logo and a beloved baseball team.

Green Bay Packers

While the New York Yankees kept the same logo for more than a century, the Green Bay Packers changed theirs several times. In 1950, the Packers adopted their first logo--an orange football with the word Packers written in fat green letters.

Just four years later, the team changed their logo again, this time opting for a design with the outline of the state of Wisconsin and a passer wearing No.41, the jersey of Arnie Herber and Clarke Hinkle. Both are stamped on a large football that serves as the background for the insignia.

Other visual devices were developed to appear on Packers' stationary and publications, but the most recognizable design, one which endures today, is the giant G. The G was adopted in 1961, a helmet logo designed for Vincent Lombardi. The Packers took home two world titles in the two years after adopting the G, so maybe fresh graphic design can bring a little good luck to a team too.

These examples only begin to reveal the innumerable number of sports logos that have been developed in history. Working on a team's visual communication or graphic design projects can be a fun way to combine your love of graphic design and sports. Pursuing graphic design in sports what may be your most rewarding job yet.

Sources:

• The New York Yankees
• The Green Bay Packers

About the Author

Sarah Clark is a freelance writer who lives in Arlington, Virginia.