Discussion: Uniform Designs

Hi All,
The juniors have been working on ideas for new uniform designs. Here is a link to the survey of the different uniforms. We would love some feedback. Thanks

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/17FR9kPt2AYcISL3QM...

for some reason the link is not working, ill try and get a better one.

Salivating over here....

If the previous link causes problems, use this one: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/17FR9kPt2AYcISL3QM...

Also, if you've previously submitted a response, DO NOT submit another one. DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT. I will hunt you down and boil your flesh if you do.

Also if anyone would like to CHANGE THEIR VOTES, submit another response and the SEND ME AN EMAIL (ehchilds@uvm.edu) with the subject "Uniform Design Response Change" and give me your name and the three choices you want. This way I can go in and delete the old response.

By now, I think everyone here knows that I'm interested obsessed with athletic aesthetics. I've designed several sports uniforms, so here's my input.

I've written about orienteering jersey design before, but here are some other things to consider for this specific project, the uniforms for the US Junior Team.

Consider the potential goals for the uniform: (more details below)
1) instill a sense of team pride in the athletes wearing it
2) instill a sense of team pride in other stakeholders
3) effectively communicate the team's identity to viewers/spectators
4) effectively reinforce the larger brand(s): Team USA, Orienteering USA, etc
5) merchandising
6) sponsorship


1) I think it's important for athletes, especially juniors, to have some input and a sense of ownership in the design. I would encourage you to figure out what elements you want the uniform to have: Stripes or stars or both or neither? What color(s) to predominantly feature? Other symbols? Gradient or solid color-blocking? In-your-face or subtle? Modern or tradtional*? The final design phase (whether done professionally or in-house) is a lot easier when you know what you want.

(* this is not bike jersey vs pajama, but rather Oregon vs Alabama football, Broncos vs Packers, Mavericks vs Celtics)

2) Remember that there are other stakeholders in this, too, like family, friends, donors, sponsors, etc. What might look awesome to you might look ridiculous to a lot of other people who provide emotional and financial support. I'd avoid public votes and design-by-committee, though. I'd get a few trusted individuals and ask: is this good or is this stupid?

3) This is for a sporting competition, which means that there will be other athletes, live spectators, video feed, online photos, etc, so you want to avoid the question of "Who the heck is that?". Think about legibility from a distance and using bright contrasting colors or patterns. Good examples from this from WOC are New Zealand, Canada, and the UK. It's instantly obvious to anyone (including non-orienteers) who those countries are once they enter the finish chute. There's one thing in particular that's worth mentioning here is the bib. Keep in mind that in major competitions, runners will be wearing bibs, so I'd suggest placing any detailed design elements up on the chest, and not on the stomach.

4) Branding is an important element these days, and it has a role in team uniforms, too. Did you know that Orienteering USA has official Pantone colors? Did you know that Orienteering USA has a specific logo for Team USA? Or that there's a white version of the logo that goes on a dark background? Should there be an overall uniform design system used by the junior team, senior team, and mountain bike teams? These don't have to be identical, but could have similar design elements. (I'm not necessarily advocating this, but it's something to consider.)

5) It used to be that uniforms were just things worn on the field, but merchandising is big business nowadays, which is why you see professional teams with several uniform styles (home, road, alternate, throwback, etc). Do you intend to have other people buy and wear these? More sales means more money for the team. One clever idea used by some professional soccer teams is to have all of the names of the season ticket holders in fine print on the jersey. You could do something similar by including all O-USA members. If your name is on a jersey somewhere, would you be more inclined to buy and wear one?

6) On a personal level, I'm very much against sponsorships logos on international uniforms (I love the clean look of World Cup and Olympic matches). But, I also understand the financial reality of the situation. But if you're going to have sponsor logos, at least make them look tasteful and integrate them into the design. I dislike what we UniWatchers call "bumper sticker" ads.

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That's my input on the macro level. I don't feel comfortable voting for specific designs, because I believe that following a design process is usually more effective than a voting contest. That said, there are some here that I generally like.

What's the timeline on these? When is the final design going to print?

On a separate note, I've noticed several people only vote for a single design. If that's the only one you want to vote for there's no problem, I just want to make people aware you can vote for up to three.

Also, very interesting input on uniform design I haven't considered before, and if I ever have the chance to do this again in the future it'll definitely be taken into consideration.

Who all is eligible to vote?

I think as long as they orienteer they're eligible. At least it seems that way based on how many people have responded. Technically anyone can do it, but it I don't think it would be appropriate to have people who aren't involved in orienteering filling it out.

any orienteer is eligible to vote because we are not just redesigning the junior uniform, but the OUSA uniform. This includes the senior team, the bike team, and the ski-o team alongside the junior team. It would be nice to get as many people to vote as possible to see the general consensus on which designs are more popular so that we can incorporate aspects from these designs into developing more designs. Like pink socks said it's a process.

Even Australian orienteers? I'd like to see team USA in a nice pastel pink ;)

What is the process going forward? Who is leading the project?

Let's say that someone has an USA orienteering uniform all ready to go, but didn't know about getting it into a vote?

To add to Pink Socks' last comment. What if we didn't know there was a uniform design process happening? And what if we have strong opinions on how to improve uniforms and what we would NOT like to wear? (feeling like as a team member we should all have a strong say as we are the ones who HAVE to buy and race in this)

I probably am in the minority, but I've felt that the team-only logo (with the star in the circle) reduces the brand identity of the OUSA logo overall. You see OUSA stuff, and then you see the most visible OUSA-branded "items", team members in team jerseys, and they're different logos. (If this has been discussed already, please ignore me.)

You mean, this team logo?

Yes. Also, that is brilliant.

Made me smile to see it again :) That link was dated Apr 26 2011, so it was discussed back then. The ability to put different things inside the circle (star, flying pig, corn-on-the-cobb) was a big selling point for selecting the OUSA logo to begin with.

I had seen the logo with the star in it around, but never came to the realization that it had anything to do with the teams...

Matej's 5th design should win hands down. It looks like something Evel Knievel would wear.

I think the logo can be added to any of the designs, and one can even talk location, it does not always have to be on the left upper chest area. Well liked designs without a logo should thus still be considered.

I need to know who "skunk," "dasha," and "C.H.," are or I will have to delete their responses. Also, anyone who did not include their name will not have their response count.

Someone also mentioned how there should have been a choice to keep the current design. I realize that's something I should have considered and put up there as an option, but if a significant number more people mention it then I will bring it up to people who have influence. Otherwise the survey has been available for too long to get a realistic idea of how much people like the original design.

any orienteer is eligible to vote because we are not just redesigning the junior uniform, but the OUSA uniform. This includes the senior team, the bike team, and the ski-o team alongside the junior team.

It would be nice for "the senior team, the bike team, and the ski-o team" to be included in the design process, not just the voting process.

I think this was originally supposed to be a junior-team thing but somehow it spread. I agree, if the designs are going to be used for all teams then everyone should have had the chance to partake in the design process. I'll pass this along.

Agree with Cristina. Also, I suspect that Pink Socks has a clean, well thought out, flexible, and nicely contemporary design sitting on his laptop.

I appreciate what you all are doing, but I am very disappointed in OUSA on this one. Given the importance of uniforms and branding, this process should be undertaken with considerable more seriousness and directed by OUSA. I expect they may not be fully aware, but in this case, they ought to be.

A short update as the senior team uniform rep. First, we (uniform reps from each team) need to decide on the uniform provider for this year. Depending on what company is selected, there may or may not be a uniform redesign.

I think it's really awesome that a bunch of the juniors have spent time working on designs. First there are some cool things that maybe we can incorporate into the next uniform, whether that happens sooner or later. Second, I bet many have learned that this uniform design stuff actually involves quite a bit of thought, work and creativity. I know Alex and I figured that out last uniform design, working along with Sofi and o21e.

I thought all the teams were basically required to wear the same kit. Also It seems a bit silly to order very small amounts of 4 different designs. plus it makes it hard for people following say JWOC, then WOC, and then this year WUOC to follow if we aren't the same.

And yes as I said before I was unaware of the designing going on and would have liked to be informed/ given a chance to give opinions.

Maybe I was misunderstood? The foot-o teams will all have the same uniform. The ski-o and MBTO will be as close as we can manage.

Sorry Ali think i was typing at the same time as you :/

With a new design, would that mean that all the previous uniforms would be obsolete meaning that everyone will have to buy a new one?

yes.

Catching up after the weekend in San Fran...

I've felt that the team-only logo (with the star in the circle) reduces the brand identity of the OUSA logo overall. You see OUSA stuff, and then you see the most visible OUSA-branded "items", team members in team jerseys, and they're different logos.
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The ability to put different things inside the circle (star, flying pig, corn-on-the-cobb) was a big selling point for selecting the OUSA logo to begin with.

Yeah, now that we're almost 4 years (!) into this, it's interesting to reflect a little bit on this, as I just went back and looked back the pitch I submitted.

The original pitch had the logo without the red circle, and I think adding the red circle strengthened the logo itself, but it also made it more difficult to use the circular window for other applications, because you had to remove part of the logo to effectively do that.

I said then, and I''ll reiterate: branding is really about the usage. If you look at the Nike logo, for example, it's pretty unspectacular; it's just two curves. But Nike have used that logo so well that its branding is pretty legendary. There can be mediocre logos with fantastic branding. There can be fantastic stand-alone logos without any further branding.

Specifically about Team USA, that was something that I included in the original pitch, as an example of using the logo's window. It's really been the only one that's stuck around. The intent was to have a parent organization logo that could be used on maps, brochures, banners at trade shows, websites, letterhead, stuff that organizations use logos for. And I also wanted a version that could be specifically owned by the competitive teams for things like jerseys and banners at NAOC and WOC.

I'm not here to defend the usage (which has really been out of my scope... I was just the designer), but to explain how we got here.

And speaking of air force roundels, I think the team logo (especially the one in the pitch), looks more like the USAF, instead of the RAF.

Given the importance of uniforms and branding, this process should be undertaken with considerable more seriousness and directed by OUSA.

Here's what I'd do: start the process over.

This isn't to say that we can't use any of the junior design concepts (some of them are good). It's just that the process is flawed. A free-for-all public vote isn't the most effective way to do design projects, in my opinion.

Get the team reps together, along with someone from O-USA, and ask yourselves:

Why do we want new uniforms?

You may find out that you don't. Or maybe you just don't like the fit, form, or function of the uniform, but you still like the graphic design. Or maybe O-USA has landed a huge sponsor that requires a major uniform design change (like Norway with DNB). Or maybe you want to sell more merchandise and generate more revenue. There can be a lot of reasons why you want a new uniform design, or why you'd want to stay with an existing design. Basically, consider those 6 things I mentioned in my above post.

If you've decided that you do want a different uniform, then have that same team of people figure out what they want or need to see in a new design. This could be something generic like reinforced branding or brighter colors. Or it could be something very specific like mostly navy blue, sponsorship logos on the right shoulder, team logo on the left chest, etc. If you can't generate many requirements on your own, then this is where you can open it up for suggestions and design concepts (like what's been done with the junior team). Seeing additional ideas may spur some things you want.

Once you have your requirements (however generic or specific), then get a designer (or design team) to draw up some options. The designer can either be affiliated with the supplier, or from within the orienteering community, or from the outside. Whoever he/she is, the designer will be able to create new concepts, or combine or improve elements that came from things like the junior designs, if there are some things there that you like. One great thing about working with designers is that they can be flexible with design changes during the process. If you open it up to a vote, you oftentimes can't compromise.

But really, you want the major stakeholders and experts to figure this out, not open it up to an online forum. When it comes to graphic design, everyone fancies themself as an expert online (read any comments section after any institution releases a new logo). It's really easy to ask for public opinion, but at the end of the day, there are too many opinions out there, and you'll often end up settling with something uncreative that tries to appease everyone, and offend none.

Consider an analogy from orienteering. We don't ask for public opinion on course design. For course design, there are initial requirements like hosting a middle distance WRE. And there are additional restrictions like out-of-bounds areas and adequate areas for beginner courses. And there are specific stake-holders like the event directors who want the staging areas to be in certain places, and like land managers who want to avoid sensitive areas.

During the course design process, the course design team designs the courses, and works with vetters, test-runners, IOF controllers, other course consultants, event directors, and land managers. In other words, the stakeholders work together and let the experts design within the set parameters.

We don't open up the course design to public entry and public vote. And we don't open up course design to people who have no idea what they are doing. (Can you imagine if we did?). We don't do this with course design, so why should we with any other type of design, whether it be web, graphic, or uniform?

My sense is that the uniform designs done by the juniors started out as something fun and enjoyable for them to do. And, my sense is that they liked doing it because several of the kids came up with multiple designs and some were just colored drawings

Again, I'm just guessing here but my guess is that one or several thought "hey, lets put these on attackpoint and see what happens". And than, they though, "you know, maybe one of these could even become the official design---wouldn't that be cool." Again, I don't know how this unfolded and even though one of my sons seems to be in the middle of it, he never said anything about it. In any case, it would have been better if a little more explanation would have accompanied the survey.

So, why am I posting this. Well, what Pink Socks says above is probably all correct. But, it is taking the fun out of the whole thing. Again, I don't know how this started but my sense is that the juniors took the initiative upon themselves to do these design because it would be a fun thing to do--- so good for them. As for what the next uniform design will be, I don't have a clue but I would guess that there will be at least one more step beyond the results of this survey.

By the way, if the uniform design does come down to a vote among the athletes representing the US at WOC, WUOC and JWOC, the juniors will most likely comprise the majority of the voters; especially considering the size of next years WOC team.

My major problem with the current uniform is not with its design, but with the material that it's made of: rough, scratchy fabric that itches. I simply can't run in it without an undershirt, and even then, the uniform does a terrible job at moisture wicking. It's quite honestly one of the worst running shirts I've ever worn.

That said, I don't mind the current design. In my opinion, it's a little overdone, but if the uniform fabric was of higher quality, I wouldn't mind sticking with the design we now have.

Well, what Pink Socks says above is probably all correct. But, it is taking the fun out of the whole thing. Again, I don't know how this started but my sense is that the juniors took the initiative upon themselves to do these design because it would be a fun thing to do--- so good for them.

I don't think I've stressed the following very well in this thread (though I've said it directly to involved parties): I think it's great the that juniors are expressing their enthusiasm in team uniform design! I would be doing the exact same thing if I were in their shoes, and I'd probably be a bit annoyed with a 30-something trying to take the fun out of it.

And some of the concepts are quite good! Which is why I've been critical of the process, not the designs themselves. From where I sit, this has seemed to escalate quickly from "here are some juniors having fun designing" to "make sure everyone gets their vote in because we're redesigning all of the teams' uniforms".

Yes, exactly. I think it's great that the juniors are interested in the uniform design and have taken initiative. It just seems that the process got ahead of itself.

I trust Orienteering USA has a rule in which their juniors must only own one Orienteering suit....

Bet there's a slight chance this contraband kit might get traded at JWOC...