Hello again
A bit has been going on.. to say the least.
I’ve been MIA from social & substack.
Truth be told, it’s probably the busiest I’ve ever been.
Professionally:
We had the start of the season and everything that comes with it.
1. We launched the biggest brand campaign in club history.
We had two separate kit launches, separate because the kits were late… for the 3rd year running.
2. First, I was told to spend no money, which is always a fun brief. I didn’t want to do another version of what everybody else does, but a much cheaper (& shitter) version..
It’s also a kit that there isn’t much too. It’s a modern take on a traditional football pattern, with 34 waves making up each checker.
So I leaned into the captain and his accent.
Side note: I lost the vote on making the checkers darker and was then told to make them darker in post-production. Go figure.
3. The second was definitely one for me. The football world has consumed my life for the last three years, so I wanted to treat it more like a fashion project and have work that’s closer to how I feel and what I want to create moving forward.
As always, super small team. If you all can’t fit in one car, you’ve got too many. That said, it came out very strong and sold well.
Highest-selling kit release day in club history. Breaking the record, I previously set with another jersey I designed two seasons ago.
4. We had to do media day the week of the home opener, and then turn around signage, posters and scoreboard graphics for the home opener.
5. Rebrand the stadium.
Busy start to the season was an understatement.
Personally:
All the while knowing I was wrapping up less than a month later because Chantelle and I were moving to London.
This is the third time we have left (new) family and friends in a city we have called home for nearly four years.
Logistically, we are pretty good at it.
But emotionally, it’s a lot. We’ve created relationships that we will have forever. Some of these people know who I am better now than my oldest friends - not saying they are better friends. But they know the person I am today better than anyone.
And why London? Well I think that deserves it’s own post.
Just wanted to check in and explain where I’ve been, but I’ve been thinking about you, and I have missed this.
As always, thanks for reading.
Hayden