New York Design Agency Work Up Unofficial NYC FC Branding

In the wake of the news that New York City is going to have a first division soccer team, uber cool design agency Hyperakt have worked up a whole branding portfolio for the new franchise. Although unsolicited and unofficial in any way, the stylish designs are definitely worth a mention.

Although its name is already associated with the New Jersey based Red Bull's, New York City does not have a Major League Soccer team playing within the five boroughs. That of course has just changed with the recent announcement that MLS will incorporate New York City Football Club as the 20th franchise in 2015 and it will be owned by Manchester City with the New York Yankees as minority partners.

With a blank slate, the stage is set for a whole new design concept to emerge. This however is no easy task given the New York Cosmos, a club with a huge heritage and following, has long been favored as the logical choice for expansion. But New York based Hyperakt believe they're up to the task and have lauched this unofficial pitch.

Hyperakt are no strangers to the footballing world, having worked with clients such as Fox Soccer, ESPN Magazine and Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. Having their say on the brief at hand, Hyperakt said this "New York City Football Club feels big in scope. It is unfettered by associations to mascots or natural phenomena, which is refreshing for an American sports franchise. The only clear inheritance is the blue color palette of the parent organizations. Other than that, this brand is completely wide open".

The agency set out to create the club's identity with three simple goals. Build a globally recognized football brand that captures the attitude and visual iconography of New York City. Embed the legacy of the ownership partners, Manchester City and NY Yankees. Create a modern classic, a clean identity that appeals to both young and mature New York City football fans.

We think they've done a pretty decent job of achieveing their goals and creating a stylish, iconic looking design. The New York Yankee Navy and Manchester City Sky blue work really well together giving the feel of an instant classic rather than that of a modern, brash new franchise.

Another nice touch is the use of a pentagon in the logo, with each side representing one of the New York's five boroughs. It will certainly be interesting to see the official branding when it is finally rolled out and how much influence Hyperakt have had on the final designs.