I collaborated with the client to identify characteristics of the VOLO brand, from which a creative strategy was developed. I created a range of concepts in line with the strategy for VOLO's 2019 range of products. This included design with colour systems for consumers to differentiate across the different tiers, plus a variety of approaches to quality cues such as finishing and textures to justify the various price ranges of balls. The challenge was to create something unique, contemporary and desirable to try to increase awareness of and interest in the fair-trade product, but not so disruptive or 'cool' that it fell into the same arena as industry leaders Nike or Adidas.
The basis of the design is an abstraction of the word 'VOLO', using a series of geometric parallelograms, chevrons and triangles - based on an isometric grid inspired by the VOLO brand's triangular mark. The grid also lends itself perfectly to the hexagonal net of a soccer ball.
A particularly interesting part of the process was mapping out the net on a physical ball to create a working prototype. Experiencing the design in 3D allowed me to make important design decisions I otherwise may not have been able to make. Significantly, cheating a pattern based on mathematics by adjusting angles to create an end result that appears optically correct.
On confirmation of design I provided artwork, supplied print-ready production files for the client's print supplier in Pakistan for sample products in time for a trade show last year. The balls have now been produced and are available to purchase for 2019 - and will be the official supplied equipment of the 2019 Vancouver International Soccer Festival.
I'm currently in the process of designing a range of goalkeeper gloves using the same visual language.
