Identity Crisis

Hello everyone!

You've likely seen the news by now on the revealing of the Winnipeg and Edmonton Heritage Classic jerseys. I'm not going to go into a lot of detail since Ryan wrote on them yesterday, and Jets96 has a good article coming up tomorrow. I'll just say that the Winnipeg jersey is about what you'd expect, and that's a good thing. That jersey is going to sell like crazy in Winnipeg. The Edmonton jersey was underwhelming, but both jerseys will look good together.

Lots going this week at the blog! Our "365 Club" Competition has entered the voting phase, we have our usual Concept of the Week vote, a Concept of the Month vote for July, and a new competition starting for an international outdoor event!

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COTW-July vote (ends Friday @ noon Eastern)

COTW July 29-Aug 4 vote (ends Friday @ noon Eastern)

365 Club Top 4 Vote (ends Friday @ noon Eastern)

Calgary Flames Alternate Concept - Zeke G.

Positives: Colors are balanced well. Logo set looks good. Striping pattern works with the logos and collar. Name outline helps with legibility. Outlining the whole name instead of each individual number was a good choice. Please take note of that detail, readers. Too often artists make the mistake of outlining each individual number, but in effect, make the numbers less readable.

Negatives: The numbers feel a bit low to me, and maybe off center slightly to the right. 

Overall: A solid jersey, with some minor proportional oddities. (8.5/10)

Carolina Hurricanes Identity Swap Concept - Lucas D.

Positives: I love seeing an artist try to use their own logo. It's an ambitious move. Lucas's "Identity Swap" series has been interesting. Execution of the conceptual theme is good, as is the technical side. The hurricane warning flag striping works pretty well as a chest stripe.

Negatives: Lucas's logo is great. I gave it a 9/10 a few weeks ago. However, I like it as a secondary logo, not a primary. It's not bad, but it isn't ideal in its current setting. 

Overall: I like the idea. The jersey is executed well. I like the logo, too. I just don't know if I like it as a primary here. (8/10)

Edmonton Oilers Identity Swap Concept - Lucas D.

Positives: Putting an "E" in an oil drop is a great idea. I can't recall having seen a concept using that before, but now that I'm seeing it, I'm wondering why I haven't. It's one of those things where it seems obvious now that I'm seeing it, and I wish I had thought to do it first. The logo is great. It works on so many levels (E on an O). Color balance is good. Execution is good. Presentation has improved. 

Negatives: Separating the blue and orange stripes on the white jersey would improve it.

Overall: It's one of those sets that continually grows on you over time. Lucas has been a roll lately. (8.75/10) 

Toronto Blue Jays Concept - Kevin B.

Positives: Yoke actually works pretty well with the maple leaf designs on the cuffs. Striping complements the typeface well. 

Negatives: You have to arch the nameplate on a Blue Jays jersey. Stitching overlaps the striping. No sleeve numbers - that's a huge deal. Not including sleeve numbers really hurts the authenticity of your work.

Overall: Some good ideas. Execution needs some work. (6/10)

Edmonton Oil Kings Concept - Brooks F.

Positives: Striping perfectly complements the logo and typeface. This set has that intangible balance and harmony that make a set aesthetically appealing. Execution is flawless. This is a challenging logo, and Brooks rightly chose to lean into it rather than fight it. Presentation is good. Brooks has a great ID logo.

Negatives: I'm not 100% sold on the yoke for the white jersey. The typeface fits, but it isn't my favorite in itself.

Overall: This is more unique and a better fit for the logo than the recolored Ducks jersey the Oil Kings wear. (8.75/10) COTW nomination from me!

Michigan Wolverines Concept - Ryan C.

Positives: Striping is just different enough to be interesting. Colors are balanced well. The different crests give the set something unique. Typeface looks good. Collar design fits the feel of the set.

Negatives: Some of this set falls into the same problems that I mentioned last week in terms of striping. This looks good, but I'm ready to see something different from Ryan. Something that goes beyond the realm of "solid;" something that is difficult to forget.

Overall: Another solid set from Ryan. It's really good. (8.5/10)