Project

The Square Ball

A badge sewn and sublimated onto a sports shirt.

Overview

Decorated with scores of fanzine award wins and nominations, The Square Ball has been the irreverent voice of Leeds United fans for more than three decades. I was approached in 2016 to come up with a badge to be used on merchandise such as T-shirts, living alongside the existing logo. After a little exploration, we arrived at an icon that takes a fittingly lateral view of the fanzine's name (itself a term borrowed from football parlance). The final badge was received so well by the team at The Square Ball that it immediately took over as the main logo as well. In the years since it has gone from strength to strength across a raft of touchpoints, used as both a hero logo and as a supporting icon.

Photos courtesy of The Square Ball.

The Square Ball logo, in blue on yellow.
Construction lines underpinning the logo for The Square Ball.
Issues of The Square Ball on sale outside Elland Road. The logo can also be seen on a poster affixed to a fence.
A few issues of The Square Ball spread out on a table.
A close up of The Square Ball logo rendered on a badge, worn on a fan's jacket.
A badge sewn and sublimated onto an Admiral sports shirt.
The Square Ball logo is seen on a screenprinting frame, propped up on the floor of a printer's shop.
Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix models a 2022 shirt in the colours of a Leeds United home shirt, made for The Square Ball by Admiral. (opens in new window)
Comedian Maisie Adam models a navy polo shirt featuring the central ball icon of The Square Ball logo. (opens in new window)
A row of The Square Ball issues on sale outside Elland Road.
The Square Ball issues and merchandise on sale outside Elland Road.
The Square Ball and Milltag cycling shirt.
Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix models a 2022 shirt inspired by Marcelo Bielsa's old club Newell's Old Boys, made for The Square Ball by Admiral. (opens in new window)
A phone mock-up showing the icon used as part of a podcast title card. (opens in new window)
An issue of The Square Ball's 2018 summer special issue.
A fan outside Graveley's fish and chip shop wears a hoodie featuring the logo of The Square Ball. (opens in new window)

Visit: The Square Ball (opens in new window)