The Best Part of Writing for HJC

Hello everyone!

This week we've been hyping up voting, competitions, and writer applications. Steven gave us a really great post on Friday about the history of HJC writers over the many years of the site's existence. Today I'm going to tell you about the best parts of writing for HJC, maybe some stuff you've never heard before.

• Steven's pre-post titles: Most writers title their post just before making it, but Steven prepares his in advance, and often changes his titles to different references and in-jokes through the week. My favorite one: "Posty McPostface." 
• Seeing everyone's work in advance: Being a Sunday writer, I get a few days to look over, digest, and really delve into the details of each concept. 
• Making fun of Ryan H's concepts in my drafts: I don't know if He's ever noticed it, but when I start my posts in advance, I usually trash Ryan's concepts to death in my post drafts, and then change it just before the post goes live. I like to think he finds it funny. 
• Bringing people together: How many times would a person from Tennessee have opportunities to interact with people from Nova Scotia, Toronto, and people from Chicago who are sober and nice? It's rare and wonderful.
• Having an outlet: I don't know about you, but where I'm from, there aren't many people who share my interest in athletic design. Having an outlet for that is cathartic.
• You get to decide who wins all the competitions: This doesn't actually happen, but sometimes pretending that it does is fun.
• It actually makes you better as an artist: Nothing helped me take my work to a higher level than writing. It helped me find my unique design perspective. You notice details better and it makes your execution sharper.
• A game-worn Teemu Selanne Mighty Ducks "Wild Wing" jersey:You get one in the mail as soon as you become a writer. You just have to send Ryan your size. It's pretty cool. Mine was even autographed.
• A phone call from the President: Obama called to congratulate me both when I first became a writer in October of 2013, and when I rejoined the site after an 10-month absence in January. 
• Knighthood: All writers are knighted by Queen Elizabeth. 

Anaheim Ducks Concept - Ryan H.

Positives: Execution and presentation at the realistic, flawless, and professional level that you expect with Ryan. Colors are balanced really well. I could see this being a fan favorite. The striping reminds me of those comically large wrestling belts you see in shirtless male soap operas WWE wrestling, and I actually think that fits Anaheim well. 

Negatives: I'm not sure about both gold and silver being used for striping trim. There are four colors in the striping pattern here. That may be too much. Personally, I would have made the gold trim white and replace the silver with gold. I know Ryan likes to keep striping patterns simple and traditional, but that's an area where we're going to simply disagree on design approaches. I'd prefer a diagonal or organic pattern here, but I know that's not Ryan's thing.

Overall: Other than philosophical design differences, the only change I'd make is a small color change. Everything else is quality work. (8.5/10)

Philadelphia Flyers Identity Swap Concept - Lucas D.

Positives: I was wondering when Lucas was going to combine these two teams, as they seem like one of the more natural combinations to me. The Red Wings striping pattern works well with the Flyers colors, and it's balanced well. The logo is a good combination of both team aesthetics. 

Negatives: I'd be interested to see if Lucas would keep Philly's contrasting nameplate. Seeing the back would help.

Overall: An identity swap that feels unusually natural. (8.75/10)

Team North America U-23 World Cup Concept - Avi S.

Positives: NAu23 has the best jerseys of any team in the World Cup. They are the only ones that don't just result in me staring at the Adidas stripes, trying desperately to will them into oblivion with my mind. Colors are balanced better here with a little more orange being used. Typeface looks great, it's appropriately edgy. Execution and presentation are very professional.

Negatives: It's not quite edgy enough. I'd like to see a more aggressive, angular, and creative pattern. This is an opportunity to rethink what these teams could have looked like, and I feel Avi let the constraints of Adidas's designs tie him down.

Overall: There's a lot to like, but I can't shake the feeling that if Avi was burdened by practicality, we could truly find out what could be done with these World Cup jerseys. (8.5/10)

St. Louis Blues Concept - MP Melton 

Positives: Colors are balanced well. Ditching the darker blue was a good choice. The white yoke is really sharp here.

Negatives: I'm not feeling the organic pattern here. I think it would really work for the Peoria Rivermen, though. The Blues' alt trumpet logo just doesn't work as a primary for me. It looks out of place. The 50th Anniversary logo is what really confuses me here. Why wear a jersey you've never worn before for your 50th Anniversary?

Overall: I like the striping pattern, but just not here. Logo use is also an issue. Other than that, there's some good things to build off of. (7/10)

That's all for this week! Get those applications in, send us your International Outdoor Competition entries, and don't forget to vote!

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COTW Aug 5-11 vote (ends Friday @ noon Eastern)

International Outdoor Competition (ends Friday @ noon Eastern)

HJC Writer applications (due Friday @ noon Eastern)