Soccer+Design

In the spirit of the World Cup I thought I would post something related to the games. 

If you've watched any of the World Cup action, then you may have noise each country has their own distinct uniforms. What you may not know is the effort put into creating these uniforms to the exact specifications of top athletes while simultaneously creating a visually appealing uniform that represents its country well. 

So I decided to do a little research on the designers behind these uniforms and came across Martin Lotti, the Creative Director of Nike Football. Lotti oversaw the designs of uniforms for several countries including the good ole U.S. of A. Not only has he been busy designing soccer kits since the last World Cup, he oversaw the designs of the London and Sochi Olympic apparel. 

Lotti is a native of Switzerland and has been with Nike for 17 years. He has his hand in some many things produced by Nike it would be impossible to mention them all here. But perhaps his most notable project as of late is his work on the Brazil national team kits. 

If you don't already know, Brazil is a dynasty of soccer greatest. You may have heard of Pele? He was Brazilian. They have won 5 World Cups and are looking for their sixth as they host the 2014 World Cup. So as you can imagine, there's a lot of pressure that goes with designing all of the official apparel for the Brazilian national team. 

Obviously it takes a team for a project of this size, but it's fascinating to read about some of the thought behind the design and the overall process of developing the look and performance of every piece. 

So if you have some time between games, check this interview with Lotti http://www.designboom.com/design/martin-lotti-creative-director-for-nike-football-interview-12-19-2013/. And as your watching the rest of the World Cup, take some time to notice the ridiculous detail that has gone into each one of these uniforms. 

The Whimsy of Paul Lancaster

Last Summer the gallery at the Parthenon featured a local artist, Paul Lancaster. I came into the show with no idea who Paul Lancaster was, but left with a genuine affinity for his works.

Lancaster paints innocence. The repetition and detail allow you to get lost in the painting and venture into what feels like a very safe and sacred place. The bright colors add to this sense of whimsy and guide your eye through the entire scene. 

The only book of Lancaster's work, Paul Lancaster: Immersed in Nature is worth every penny. Not only does it give you insight into the life of Lancaster, it features some of his most fascinating paintings.

The book reveals his journey into self-taught art. Remarkably Lancaster has never taken a formal art course--nor does he intend to. Perhaps even more interesting than they way in which he honed his talent is the contrast between his life and his works. Contrary to all that is conveyed in his paintings, Lancaster's life was one of struggle. None of the whimsy and delight featured are in any way reflective of his life. 

As a designer, Lancaster has challenged me to create more intricate patterns and to see the natural patterns that exist in nature. He has also given me permission to re-imagine the ways in which I view nature. Trees don't have to be traditional but can instead be formed to the feeling you wish to convey. 

Should you at any point find yourself needing a break  in your day, I would strongly recommend doing a Google image search of Paul Lancaster and taking a tour of new worlds we all wish to be part of.