Recently, I read Steve Wilson's book, The "Why" of Sports Design. Not only did it give me more insight into the world of sports design, it also gave me practical advice and tips for a future in sports.
Wilson, a designer for athletics for nearly twenty years, has worked on sports design for television news as well as two Division I colleges. He wrote this book to help aspiring designers think strategically about their work, instead of trying to follow the latest trends they see around them.
The main themes and ideas found in this book are to make sure you keep your audience in mind while creating any graphic. Wilson also encourages the reader to understand how short of an attention span many viewers have and to keep designs strategic and simplistic.
"It's not about what you like, it's about what they prefer." -Steve Wilson
Wilson explores how photography, color, text, visual cues and white space can enhance or disrupt your team's message. The audience's perception of your work is much more important than your own opinions or preferences, according to Wilson.
I enjoyed this book because it really made me think deeper about how I approach design projects in the future. It also gave actual advice and practical tips that beginners, like myself, can use to improve our work. Wilson's witty writing makes it lighthearted and easy to read.
Wilson also includes sample images of various teams' graphics that illustrate the points he is making in the text. As a visual learner, this is very helpful to put an image to an idea that is being explained.
"We're not just mouse or pencil pushers, designers are problem solvers." -Steve Wilson
This book didn't only give me good advice, it also presented the true challenges that being in sports design entails. Though it intimidated me at points, it ultimately inspired me to improve my skills and excited me for the work to come.
As someone who wants to end up working in sports, I plan to use this book as a reference in my journey after graduation. I will use the tips and tricks Wilson offers to improve my own design skills and to strategically think about the design used around me.
No matter where my career path takes me, I can always be sure to strategically think about how design influences my audience, thanks to this book.
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