NBA x ESPN

Celebrating the NBA's 75th anniversary alongside ESPN, this collaboration features championship gold goggles and sleek black and gold packaging.

Client

NBA Finals x ESPN

What

Brand Partnership
Product, Motion,
and Visual Design

Team

Riley Kalbus (CD)
Eddie Obrand (AD)
Jennifer Emery (Producer)
Claire McMahon (PM)
Colin Defenbau (Photography)
Bryce Casper
(Senior Designer)
Chris Hatch (Product Development)

Project Link

https://shorturl.at/WB7OE (The Fader Article)

The design process for the gold goggles and packaging celebrating the 75th NBA Finals, created in collaboration with the NBA and ESPN, was a meticulous endeavor aimed at combining luxury with celebratory flair. The packaging design was crafted to exude sophistication and exclusivity. Featuring an all-black gloss base, the box showcases the NBA x ESPN Finals logo lockup prominently on the top, while the ESPN x NTWRK logo lockup is displayed on the front lid. This sleek design not only highlights the grandeur of the occasion but also sets the stage for the gold goggles inside.

The gold goggles themselves were designed with the intention of being both practical and symbolic. Intended for use by champions in the locker room during the post-finals champagne celebrations, the full-face goggles offer protection while maintaining a stylish, celebratory look. The choice of gold for the goggles ties directly into the championship theme, symbolizing victory and success.

The NTWRK live episode was designed to mirror the excitement and prestige of the finals. The set featured a basketball court-styled wooden floor with a large NBA x ESPN Finals logo lockup at the center, creating a focal point that celebrated the event. One of the most striking elements of the set was the implementation of an actual basketball hoop alongside a fully 3D backdrop screen graphic. This backdrop included a dynamic crowd, branded banners, and a central jumbotron screen, all rendered in an overlay theme of gold and black with pops of red, reflecting the colors of the goggles and packaging.

A short promotional video for the goggles further captured the essence of triumph. The video features individuals wearing the championship gold goggles as they are showered with gold confetti in super slow motion. This visual captures the exhilarating feeling of victory and the celebration that comes with being crowned a champion. Through these design elements and promotional assets, the project successfully conveyed the luxury and excitement of the NBA's 75th post-championship celebration in a much dryer and sober fashion.

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