Field of Design is the news, stories and nonsense you need from the sports creative industry.
We connect, support and up-skill current and aspiring creatives in the Australian Sports community through storytelling, networking and creative workshops.
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Field of Design is the news, stories and nonsense you need from the sports creative industry.
We connect, support and up-skill current and aspiring creatives in the Australian Sports community through storytelling, networking and creative workshops.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Natasha Fordham is the Senior Graphic Designer and Marketing Coordinator at the NRL's most successful club of the modern era; the Penrith Panthers.
This episode was recorded in October 2024, just off the back of the Panthers 5th consecutive grand final and 4th consecutive Premiership.
*The recording had some audio issues and needed some repair. And while we could not completely salvage the file and present the episode to an audio standard we would prefer, Natasha's story and experiences are too valuable for us not to share*
A Penrith local and Panthers fan, Natasha practically manifested her position at the club. Starting during the time legendary rugby league figure Gus Gould was Executive GM of Football and laying the foundations of impending astronomical success, Natasha journeyed through the a creative stabilisation at the club. While the on field team built a modern day dynasty, the creative team were pulling back the layers of multiple visual identities and rebooting the brand of the Panthers.
In our episode we discuss the life of design during the success of the club, the process of decking out facilities on game day. We talk about connection; connecting with community and connecting with players and the importance of bridging them together through design. Natasha shares on the teams affection with pop culture (like the internal Top Gun theme in the 2021 Finals) and what role it has played on storytelling at the club.
We talk kits and the bold decision by staff to use thirds and alternate jerseys in finals campaigns instead of the traditional home/away and we ask Natasha whats the official origin of the "licorice all sorts" colour combination.
You can connect with Natasha at: @Tash_graphicdesign
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"I brought a different perspective. I wasn’t that typical fan girl who knew everything and loved everything about the sport, it was almost from an actual design perspective that I designed, not from a football perspective, so that’s what differentiates my style overall."
Humble, Hungry & Smart. These are the three virtues identified in Patrick Lencioni's book The Ideal Team Player. The book's primary focus is on building a strong team of individuals who demonstrate the attributes; Humble, Hungry, Smart.
During our conversation with Vittoria Anzelmi I couldn't help but return to the book's themes and consider how highly she performs with these virtues. Like a lot of of creative professionals, the proud Italian showed talent in early childhood with life size portraits in led pencil. Vittoria navigated school and creative tertiary education before working in print until the age of 27 where she was the first full time graphic designer at AFL club Carlton.
After thriving through the growth of the social media boom for clubland and the launch of the AFL's Women's game, Carlton's Senior Designer found a new opportunity at A-League's Melbourne Victory and while the Pantone was the same (296c) there was a lot that was very different.
We explore a lot during Vittoria's time at Melbourne Victory including some key design moments for the club. By 2024 restructures across the league meant a change of scenery where Vittoria has now landed a creative role with Tennis Australia. Still blue but at least not 296c.
Humble
It's being self confident but not arrogant. In our chat we talk about #SerifClub; the term contrived internally when Vittoria and the MVFC team began using serif fonts in their collateral and watched as other Australian clubs followed suit. And while setting the trend locally, doesn't take a step without crediting their own European inspirations. We also dive into how she took on Victory's uniform designs. Simplifying elements, introducing a pink strip and a kit without the clubs' iconic chevron. All to a commercial success.
Hungry
The inherent desire to learn and grow as a creative just oozes from Vittoria. There is no clearer sign of a relentless desire for more than to devote your own personal time and money to the cause.
Personal trips to Europe mean investing some days to pop over and visit Macron, Hellas Verona, Genoa CFC, Juventus and Inter Milan. Connect with the teams, network, take a tour and watch the creatives in action. Or reaching out to MLS designers in the US and collaborating on some artwork to see how others work learning new ways to design and operate.
Smart
The fine balance of getting the job done and connecting with people in the best way. Like when Vittoria identified that "the wrong people were in the room" when making important decisions that were effecting the brand and navigating her way through this, becoming a voice in that room to advocate her design opinions, getting them across the line.
It's these qualities that have driven Vittoria to the personal and professional successes she has achieved to date and undoubtedly the passion will continue to reward in unexpected ways or places.
While we dive into all the details above, we also cover the day to day duties of a club creative, the importance of mentors and networking. We explore where Vittoria's inspirations come from and the advice she passes onto those wanting to get into the industry.
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“The moments after the game; the celebrations, the tears, the raw emotion that you can tell a story of through a photo, is what I look for as a photographer. Those moments where you can show character and emotion… They’re not just a footballer, they are a person.”
You can find Gaby on Instagram @gabybarnscreative
With a camera in hand since the age of twelve, it wasn’t long for Gold Coast local Gaby Barns to ignite her sports creative career by securing a school based traineeship with local NRL franchise Gold Coast Titans. Still in school Gaby begins work in the club’s community team, focusing on club content for off-field initiatives and local community groups.
It’s here in community marketing, Gaby develops her skills and learns the ways of “clubland” until a restructure in 2020 gave “the push that escalated my career” shifting her to the on-field marketing team leading social media and content.
Then, a decade after arriving as a teen at the Titans, it was time to move on. Gaby steps into the world of freelancing, unlocking new opportunities with Queensland Maroons, Supercars, SailGP and Tennis Australia; where she took a courtisde seat photographing the 2024 Australian Open Men’s & Women’s Finals.
Gaby reflects on the learnings of moving into freelance work, the importance of networking and the value strong working relationships with industry contacts.
We talk about the technicalities of photography and what different approaches are required for recording different styles of sports.
There’s life inside team Titans such as team bus rituals (don’t sit in ‘that’ seat), the moments after a win or loss and the rollercoaster ride of managing those results on socials.
Gaby shares the advice she would give to her younger self and the advice to aspiring young creatives, who want to thrive in a world of sport that includes mainstream female representation.
We talk prized projects and moments, the ones she wish she could do over, education vs experience and what the future might hold.
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"There is always going to be people that don't like change and we experience that all in our lives all the time... but if you take those people on a journey with you and sell the brand to them in a way that can resonate with them, then they will forget about that pretty quickly ."
Tara Campbell-Barry is the Creative and Brand Lead at NRL franchise, Gold Coast Titans. The Print and Graphic Arts Graduate from RMIT earned her stripes as the sole designer for Ticketmaster Australia/New Zealand before a six year stint at AFL club Richmond and then the Titans.
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Creative to the bone, Tara has dipped into freelance work from time to time and dabbled in other medium such as music, but it is "big brands with many eyes" where she thrives.
We talk about her time at Ticketmaster; particularly who and what set her up to succeed in the industry, Richmond; the dark years and the golden ones, and now life at the Titans.
Tara gives the inside scoop on team meeting rituals, behind the scene video/graphics content and projects that never make it to the public eye.
We discuss the importance of female representation in the industry, who inspires her as well as her eagerness to continue paying it forward to the next generation of female creatives.
Tara shares her perspective on the "buy in" for the club you work for, artificial intelligence, experience vs certificates, professional development, imposter syndrome, leadership and more.
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This weekend is the Grand Finals for the AFL, NRL & NRLW, but there is so much more on our mind:
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"I think there is something cool in capturing athletes and making them look like gods".
Kurt Thomson is a Brisbane based Freelance Photographer and Videographer who has traveled Australia and the world to capture athletes and sport.
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With a 9-5 career as a draftsman for over seven years, a fast-and-loose Kurt picked up a camera one holiday and instantly found love. It was not long after this vacation fling that he decided to study the art, make it it his second job before quickly taking the plunge into full time self employment.
Kurt shares his growth story; from how maintaining a presence on his Instagram page miraculously catapulted him to the United States to photograph the most legendary golfer of all time... (yes, that one).
We talk about some of his work with FOX Sports, NRL side Brisbane Broncos, NBL side Brisbane Bullets, Australian Super Netball and golf brand TaylorMade.
We get a bit philosophical in this episode and talk about success and failure, living in the moment and striving to always be better.
Kurt breaks down some of the things he is looking out for when he is doing a shoot, how he operates while on set, content IP and shares a really great story involving his camera and roller-blades.
We talk motivation, inspiration and who he likes to follow online.
You can find Kurt on Instagram @kurtogram
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"Be proud of what you make and keep going".
Joshua Blakey is the Multimedia Graphic Designer at Port Adelaide Football Club, a professional AFL team with a long and rich history.
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As a kid, rather than immerse in colouring-in books, Josh preferred to draw on blank paper. To him the bold black printed lines were like prison bars, confining the infinite creative opportunities of a blank canvas. And although getting steered away from the creative industry during his schooling years, Josh eventually found his path to Graphic Design through his tertiary education and eventually Port Adelaide Football Club via some unique employers.
In this weeks episode, we discuss the roles and responsibilities of an AFL club's Multimedia Graphic Designer.
Josh talks us through the ethos of Port's Men's and Women's collateral, the value of the AFLW and the importance of First Nation's Rounds.
We dive into commercial partners and integrations, taking and giving feedback, as well as the pros and cons of working remotely.
With a rapidly evolving industry, we theorize what the future may look like for sports creative, the best skills to have, advice for those looking to get into or level up in the sports creative industry and reflect on some good and bad trends making their way around this year.
Finally we get some truly amazing recommendations from Josh on who we should be following:
Josh's Recommendations:
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We really hope you like listening to people talk about Rugby Jerseys:
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Nick and Mason discuss the following in this weeks episode:
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It's been a while. We touch on the red hot topics from the past six weeks in this uninspiring return to the podcast.
Maybe not Washington Commanders
Dawg pound has its day
Monsters swear black and blue with their brand refresh
Talk of the town with Manchester United & Arsenal 2023/24 kits
Comm Youth Games uniforms revealed
Team GB celebrate the everyday extraordinary
Plus slightly a little more. All compacted into this 1h 12 minute audio file for uneasy listening.
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Tassie look to finally be getting their team. To step up to the occasion, we have reviewed the branding of the AFL's expansion teams from 1987 - 2012.
Mason and Kit also discuss the ARL's reduction to Australian team supporter jerseys, a preliminary look at FIFA's 2026 Branding (zzZzz), SSN First Nation Dresses and the search for Victorian 2026 Production Team.
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Guest Host Callan Jones joins us this week for an exclusive behind the scenes chat on what the Queensland Maroons creative team have been working on in the lead up to Rugby League's 2023 Sate of Origin series.
We also ogle at the incredible catalogue of Indigenous themed designs being worn across the Australian Sporting landscape, breakdown the emotions of a hockey puck, review the design entries for Cleveland's "Dawg Pound" logo and talk rainbows, devils and a black and silver blast from the past.
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Brisbane born and raised, Luke grew up both watching and playing sport.
Not until finishing school, studying law, working at Woolies and interning for some local football teams did the freshfood kid realise where his career was destined to go. It was through those internships that Luke unlocked his network and opened up substantial work opportunities at Brisbane Roar and now Brisbane Broncos.
In our conversation with Luke we talk about his career progression and working at the powerhouse club; the Broncos. We explore the creative work not commonly seen at the club and his heavy involvement with the very popular 2023 Broncos City Jersey.
With tradition, we asked Luke for his perspective on working in the industry as well as getting his recommendations on who we should be following online.
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Indigenous Jersey's roll on in. Refresh look for the Arizona Cardinals. FIBA's Women's World Cup branding. Wallabies wear white and La Liga's new logo leaks!
An all new episode of the Field of Design Podcast from you friendly neighborhood jerseyboys.
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With a true passion for the product, there was nothing stopping Shaun from making bold moves to progress his career.
A young South Adelaidean fascinated with the designs of team uniforms, Shaun's young obsession manifested into a career that has taken him across the globe. Starting in design at a local sportswear manufacturer in Adelaide and taking opportunities where they presented, Shaun became increasingly frustrated that the "design department" was not valued in the industry and left himself looking outside that department to further his career.
When an opportunity to move to China to work in factory kept presenting itself, Shaun finally took flight...
In today's episode we talk about the earlier years of the sports creative industry and the lack of positive networking and community. The culture shock of moving to China, his role as a Product Operations Manager and what design departments look like in bigger organisations. Shaun shares some of his thoughts on good and bad apparel and the most important things to be doing in the sports creative industry.
As always, we asked for recommendations on which creatives we should be following and Shaun didn't disappoint (with links to all Shaun's mentions on the episode 53 page on our website).
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What are the best and worst ANZAC jerseys produced in the AFL and NRL? We look back and find our most memorable designs.
EA Sports also released their brand to replace their "FIFA" branded game, Cricket gets a revamp in the US, Inter Miami goes green and the Kiwis are keen to host the games*!
*Commonwealth Games.
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We look at the run of jersey that have been released in the past fortnight and the mess that followed the Wests Tigers ANZAC jersey.
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We were as pleased with the Nike FIFA Women's World Cup reveals as we were with last years Lightyear movie.
Recording one day early from the drama that followed at Wests Tigers with their ANZAC Jersey (I'm sure it will be touched on next week) we do discuss the jerseys that had been released to date, as well as Queensland Maroons Captains Run Jersey and FIBA's glass LED courts.
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Adidas dropped their FIFA Women's World Cup away kits, so naturally (see what we did there), we discussed.
We also look at St Kilda's 150 Guernsey, Barca's claim of purple, Rabbitoh's John Sattler Tribute Jersey and why the text is required below the NRL Logo.
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Ireland has got a new look, Cowboys Jersey leaked, Lions warm up tee is messy, we chat this and more on this weeks pod.
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