NY Islanders T-Shirt
Create A T-Shirt Design For The New York Islanders
How can I make a t-shirt design to win over the hearts of the New York Islanders and their fans? To submit in the #islesstyle t-shirt contest and benefit the Islanders Children Foundation I must:
Decide how to integrate the New York Islanders' branding into my design
Balance design needs with work that represents the past and present legacy of the New York Islanders, their fans, and myself
Produce quality work with the pressure of a tight deadline
Illustrate a piece that is functional for t-shirt production
Be unique, create something fans don’t already own
Research, Ideation, Creation, & Critiques
Before beginning my illustration, I turned to the biggest Islander fans I know, my family. I asked them what would make a design stand out in the hockey community and what was important to include. I then conducted a business analysis on the New York Islanders Organization to make sure my vision aligned with the team and its foundation. I started my design with their updated “NY” logo to match their current branding and decided to fill the remaining space with everything that makes up the team. I wanted to express the memories, community, and experience the New York Islanders create past just a hockey game. To ensure my design didn’t look overwhelming I outlined each object to create balance and white space. By incorporating the New York Islanders’ color palette specifically to its current “NY” logo it brought liveliness to the present while honoring the past.
Design Is Communication
I noticed the fan interaction of people commenting on their favorite aspects that I incorporated. For some, it was the hot pretzel they get at every game, the Islander's retro Fisherman logo they want back, or their proudness of the team’s legacy. By basing my design on the deeper message hockey represents I created a design that resided with a larger audience. Properly going through the design process, reflecting on the purpose of my work, and paying attention to details was my solution in the long run because it led to more appreciation for my work. Additionally, I managed to create a full-page design that wasn’t too overwhelming due to my selected use of color and white space.
Creating For A Cause
After 3 days of fan voting, I was announced the winner of the #islesstyle t-shirt design contest. Therefore, my illustration would be placed on t-shirts to be sold at the New York Islanders Pro Shop, as well as:
Contributed to the $15 million dollars raised for the Islanders Children’s Foundation to help provide support and opportunities to children in the local community
Winning the majority of votes demonstrated how my artistic style can be successful in representing any industry
Increased my professional confidence leading me to create and enter multiple other design contests
Was so popular with fans that outside retailers tried copying my design for unauthorized merchandising materials
Was a major milestone in my career as my first design to be sold in stores
