Designer Spotlight: Michael Jordan Tribute

Designer: Robb Harskamp

Harskamp’s tribute to Michael Jordan is incredibly moving, as the NBA faces closures in the wake of COVID-19. The cancellation would make 2020 the first year without a basketball champ since 1946. Additionally, ESPN + Netflix released The Last Dance, a series evoking nostalgia for basketball fans across the globe. Robb speaks further about both Michael Jordan’s legacy and his work as a designer:

can you speak to the timing of this piece?

Since the NBA season has been postponed and most sports are on hold, The Last Dance, was a wonderful thing to look forward to. In case you don’t follow sports, The Last Dance is a 10 part series about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls 1997 season, as the Bulls tried for their 6th NBA Championship in 8 years. This is significant to me because I grew up watching the Chicago Bulls religiously. This was a great peek behind the curtain with what really happened and a great flashback to why I fell in love with watching Michael Jordan.

what inspired this graphic?

I’ve always been interested in the aesthetic of sports jerseys. I’ve been drawing them since I was a kid, really. So for this graphic, I wanted to be classic and really pay respect to Jordan’s career.

advice for designers who are passionate about sports?

If you’re a designer interested in the sports industry, now is a challenging time since most sports are at a standstill, but I would say do your research on who is doing what. There are a lot of options, from working in-house with teams or with agencies that do brand campaigns and marketing for teams. Take advantage of this slow time and do some self-initiated projects about things that you’re passionate about — and share them on social. Be true to who you are and have fun with it.

You can see more of Robb’s work at:
Harsky.com
@harsky