The Art of the Jersey
From hand-drawn sketches to professional baseball uniforms. Not exactly where I expected a few markers and a love for design to take me, but I'm certainly not complaining!
During my time with the Houston Astros, as their Marketing Director for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, I had the opportunity to develop original specialty jersey designs in collaboration with OT Sports and some incredible brands and organizations, including Disney, Harry Potter, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Cape Fear Valley Hospital, the U.S. Army, and more.
Each project brought a different creative challenge, whether it was incorporating an iconic character into a baseball uniform or designing something that honored the people and communities surrounding the team.
Seeing those concepts go from paper to production and eventually onto the field was an experience I'm grateful to have had. Even better? The jerseys went on to support charitable auctions, raising money for meaningful causes.
Turns out a baseball jersey can do quite a bit more than play ball.
Marvel
A Super-powered Collaboration
As part of Marvel's Defenders of the Diamond initiative, I had the opportunity to develop an original Captain Marvel-inspired specialty jersey for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers.
Working alongside OT Sports to bring the design to life, we incorporated Captain Marvel's signature colors and imagery while maintaining the Woodpeckers' identity.
The collaboration also included a reversible promotional bucket hat that I designed, with 1,250 hats distributed to fans.
The game-worn jerseys were later auctioned to benefit the Governor's Institute, adding a meaningful charitable component to an already memorable collaboration.
Military Appreciation
A Salute in Every Stitch
Fayetteville's connection to the military runs deep, making this project especially meaningful.
Working with the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg, I developed an original specialty jersey concept that incorporated camouflage, American flag elements, and the Woodpeckers' branding.
With the help of OT Sports, the design moved from an initial sketch to a finished uniform worn by players on the field.
The jerseys were also featured in a charity auction, creating another opportunity to recognize and honor the military community.
Star Wars
Welcome to the Dark Side
A long time ago, in a ballpark not so far away...
I had the opportunity to work on a Star Wars-inspired specialty jersey featuring Darth Maul, one of the franchise's most recognizable characters.
Developed through a collaboration involving Disney and Lucasfilm, the design incorporated Darth Maul's distinctive imagery into a custom Woodpeckers uniform.
Seeing the original sketch become a finished jersey through the production process with OT Sports was a memorable experience, made even more meaningful by the opportunity to auction the game-worn jerseys for charity.
Healthcare Heroes
A Different Kind of Uniform
Not all heroes wear capes. And some of the most important people in our communities don't always receive the recognition they deserve.
In collaboration with Cape Fear Valley Hospital, I developed an original Healthcare Heroes specialty jersey to celebrate the healthcare professionals who dedicate themselves to caring for others.
The design incorporated healthcare-inspired symbols and illustrations into a bright, playful pattern, which OT Sports helped translate into the finished uniforms.
The game-worn jerseys were auctioned to benefit the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation, supporting an organization whose work makes a difference in the lives of patients and families throughout the region.
Autism Awareness
Different by Design
For the Woodpeckers' Autism Awareness initiative, I developed an original specialty jersey featuring a colorful, puzzle-inspired design using imagery commonly associated with autism awareness at the time.
Working with OT Sports, the concept moved from a hand-drawn sketch to a finished uniform worn by the team.
The jerseys were also featured in a charity auction, bringing together creativity, community awareness, and charitable giving.
PROJECT DETAILS
Organization: Houston Astros | Minor League Baseball | Fayetteville Woodpeckers
Industry: Professional Sports / Entertainment
Collaborations:
OT Sports
Disney
Lucasfilm | Star Wars
Marvel
Cape Fear Valley Hospital
U.S. Army
Harry Potter
Disciplines:
Original Product Design
Creative Concept Development
Licensed Brand Collaboration
Sports Marketing
Community Engagement
Cause Marketing
Merchandise Development
Featured Projects: Captain Marvel · Military Appreciation · Star Wars · Healthcare Heroes · Autism Awareness
