Selected sports identity work created by Verlander Design.
Featured are sports logos designed by graphic designer Mark Verlander. Included are NFL Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, among others.
Verlander Design is a passionate multi-disciplined graphic design studio that specializes in identity design and brand experiences.
Visit www.verlanderdesign.com
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Thoughts on My Sports Designs
By Mark Verlander
I've had great experiences working with many good people at the NFL. I have incredible respect for the heritage and history of each team. When I'm working on a team, it usually takes several months or over a year to design a logo. I start sketching right away, even though research takes months.
With the Texans, I went on a research trip there a year before I even got the job, I felt then that the final logo would evoke the bold passion of the Lone Star flag. I believe there were three or four other names the NFL had me explored at the same time, but I really pushed for the Texans name, and backed up my feelings with lots of research. I and was so relieved when it was chosen.
Sometimes the initial sketch ends up being the final direction, that's what happened with the Falcons. I knew that I wanted to be as pure to the original Falcons logo as possible. It had remained unchanged since being introduced in 1966. My very first sketch on the phone while hearing about the job ended up being the final logo. I even tried to keep it black and white like the original, but the new owners wanted to add red and silver, which worked well in the end.
No matter what the team or logo, for me it's really about the drawing. I learned from two great teachers. Tom Nikosey, my teacher at Art Center, who taught me the value of hand drawn lettering, making it flow and balanced. Ray Wood, my good friend and mentor when I worked at Keith Bright. Ray would work and work a logo, redrawing and balancing it until it felt just right.
Sometimes I draw dozens of each logo, work towards the perfect balance of curves angles and shapes. Changing the curve of a line can really make a difference, like in the eyes and features of the Arizona Cardinal bird. With the Dallas Desperados, the NFL delivered the logo to the team before I finished it, so the one you see here is more resolved than the one they used.
Also, I'm always keeping in mind that most of these logos have to not only look good on a helmet, but will be enlarged 30 feet or more for a football field. With the 49ers, I really started drawing the 'S' really big, as a large flowing sculptural sketch. I wanted it to have power and grace, yet the historical gold rush look. I kept picturing how it would look in the end zone, extra large. Ironically, it was never used by the team, maybe some day.
Which leads me to the reason I design. not because I'm doing NFL sports logos, but because I love to make art. The challenge of creating something original, and know that it works is what makes me happy. For instance with the Titans, my first mark for the NFL, I knew what I wanted to do, and the power and the energy that the shapes could have. Even though the design wasn't chosen, it still makes me happy to see it, like looking at a painting I suppose.
So even though I'm not doing many logos for the NFL these days, I'm always drawing and thinking, and making new art. I always try to help people with my art, and that's the real pleasure. So I wish you happiness, now go make some art!
Mark Verlander, June 2011
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My other passion is music and playing music. The music on this movie is Bodysnatchers by Radiohead, from their In Rainbows album. Buy it at iTunes or even better get it on vinyl.
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