NBA & WNBA
One of the greatest opportunities I’ve ever had as a designer is being able to participate in designing and art directing a brand new official product launch. These kind of things don’t come around very often. Not only did I aid in designing the new official ball of the NBA and WNBA, but dozens of other products targeted and players and fans alike. To say it’s been a success is something of an understatement. With my team and I we implemented a new, more effective approach to design not seen in the category by building out consumer profiles and heavily focusing on trends.
Its classic to be sure, but in a way the NBA has never seen before.
Product Design
Graphics
2021-Present
A Team Effort.
Our team was formed in January 2020. A new way to do things at Wilson. Graphic design was now embedded with industrial designers and R&D. Our first big challenged arrived in March of 2020 when our fledgling group was separated by distance, but not purpose. In May of 2020 the brand new partnership with The NBA was announced and only then were we able to start our work in earnest. What followed was a whirlwind of creativity and innovation.
In 6 short months we had our line plan and official ball, all ready to be launched the following year. Truly, it was a team effort, each member was vital to its success. Collaboration to the highest degree, as much as can be achieved via Zoom in the middle of a pandemic.
WNBA
I was incredibly excited to be part of an opportunity to promote women in sports. The WNBA were consummate collaborators, pushing and pulling us in just the right ways.
I’m particularly proud of what is often one of the most overlooked aspects of ball design, the valve art. Unique to the ball as unique as the WNBA is to the game.
MO’
MONEY
The Moneyball has always been a big deal at All-Star Weekend.
When Wilson took over as the official basketball of the NBA, we knew we wanted to use the yearly Moneyball as a way to flex our creative muscles. Little did we know, that flex would become pretty popular.
Originally intended to appear as the last ball in each cart for the 3 point contest, the design was so popular it became the de facto ball of All-Star Weekend 2023 appearing in the 3-Point Contest, skills competition and being dribbled around by all manner of celebrity on social media.
