Project Overview
City Football is a personal design study exploring the fusion of urban identity and sports culture. The project combines the Knoxville skyline with the iconic shape of a football, creating a visually striking graphic that celebrates both the city’s architectural identity and its athletic heritage.
The study emphasizes iteration and exploration, demonstrating how cityscapes can inform apparel graphics across multiple sports while maintaining clarity, meaning, and aesthetic appeal.
Project Scope
- Deliverables: Primary t-shirt graphic design for football, with exploration of additional sports (baseball, basketball, volleyball), including color-specific graphics reflecting Knoxville heritage.
- Tools: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop
- Role: Designer, Creative Director
Design Challenge
The challenge was to integrate the Knoxville skyline into the shape of a football while preserving the city’s recognizable architecture and the ball’s characteristic form. Later iterations extended the concept to other sports, requiring adaptability without sacrificing legibility or visual impact.
The design needed to feel intentional and urban, celebrating the connection between city identity and sports culture in a way that works for apparel.
Concept and Design Approach
The core concept uses the skyline to define the football’s contour. Positive space is created by the city’s architectural silhouettes, while negative space below the buildings forms the ball’s characteristic curves.
Dimensionality was enhanced by curving the laces, and color accents—including a nod to Pat Sumit blue—were added to reflect Knoxville’s local heritage.
This approach allows the graphic to communicate both urban identity and sports iconography in a single, cohesive design.
Iteration and Exploration
- Original Version: Football graphic with Denver skyline, flat silhouette.
- Updated Version: Knoxville skyline incorporated, curved laces for depth, and subtle color highlights.
- Expanded Sports Exploration: Baseball, basketball, and volleyball versions tested using the same skyline integration technique.
These iterations demonstrate concept flexibility while keeping the focus on urban-sports design and visual storytelling.
Outcome
The final graphic showcases a clear connection between Knoxville’s city identity and sports culture. Even as a personal study, the work highlights:
- The adaptability of skyline-inspired design across multiple sports
- Effective use of color to convey local heritage
- Clarity, balance, and legibility suitable for apparel graphics
This project serves as both a visual exploration and a portfolio piece demonstrating concept-driven design thinking.