Sometimes we get the chance to work alongside our personal art and design heroes. I was part of the team that reimagined the impossible—the new Cleveland MLB team identity. The project spanned several months of research and development and, although it was initially met with mixed reactions, it was ultimately embraced by the community. The work even led to an unexpected collaboration with the luxury brand Gucci.

As Pete Mancia put it:

“After many interviews and conversations with Clevelanders—from community organizers to Terry Francona himself—and a deep dive into the city’s history, we attempted to make something that spoke to the words we heard over and over again: LOYALTY, RESILIENCE, PRIDE.

The unmistakable Hope Memorial Bridge, anchored by the famed Guardian statues, became our foundation:
1/ The new C echoes the statues’ forms and the bridge’s architecture.
2/ The script typeface draws from the bridge’s trusses and Art Deco details while nodding to classic baseball lettering.
3/ The Champion G, inspired by the Guardians’ winged helmets, wraps around the ball like a split-finger fastball, a tribute to the club’s pitching heritage.

We hope we did it justice. Unlike many hollow brand narratives, this one truly reflects the team, the city, and the spirit of the game.”