Capturing the power and passion of college fandom, everywhere.
Services: Identity, Guidelines
LEARFIELD is the industry leader in college sports and live events. Powered by media, technology, and data, they unlock value for university partners and venues, connecting brands to fans, wherever they are.
Developed at MogoSME, I had the distinct honor to ideate and execute on multiple brand identities for an array of programs and properties designed to target these fans, including:
• EDGE Academy — a proprietary platform to empower diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• The Varsity Network — a fandom-fueled app that brings free live gameday broadcasts, original content, and national college programming to hundreds of schools and their fans.
• LevelNext Gaming — a collegiate esports league supporting more than 2,500 schools.
• The Fan Exam — a live, digital college sports trivia game hosted by Mike Golic.
• The Varsity Network — a fandom-fueled app that brings free live gameday broadcasts, original content, and national college programming to hundreds of schools and their fans.
• LevelNext Gaming — a collegiate esports league supporting more than 2,500 schools.
• The Fan Exam — a live, digital college sports trivia game hosted by Mike Golic.
All work completed at MogoSME.
Creative Director: Jason Vogel
Managing Director: Conor O'Flaherty
Following a detailed naming process, EDGE Academy (fka Learfield Minority Academy) was reborn in fall of 2021, with the intention to serve as a platform to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, foster a sense of community, and create an opportunity network across college sports.
Following a months-long development process, the new, modular identity system was unveiled.
The custom typeface used to create the mark intentionally treats each letterform with equal height and width to honor the company's dedication to equity in the organization. An equal sign—a visual representation of inclusion— can also be seen capping the second 'E' in EDGE.
The Varsity Network—a fandom-fueled app bringing live gameday broadcasts, original content, and national college programming—kicked off just ahead of the 2021–22 college sports season.
To properly reflect the nature of the app, a brand identity system was designed to construct and deconstruct as needed given the digital-first nature of the product.
A strong and striking icon featuring a knocked out 'V' cutting through a spotlight serves as the anchor for the system, with a stacked, sporty wordmark supporting the family of marks that includes vertical and horizontal compositions.
Launched in October 2020, LevelNext combines official athletic marks and promotion, sports broadcast production and content value, cash prizes to players and esports clubs, and engaging competition, delivering excitement to millions of college esports fans.
A custom typeface was developed for the brand identity, applying a bold, collegiate look to draw an immediate connection among fans and players alike that this isn't just an esports league, but one exclusive to college sports fans and students.
It is the largest intercollegiate esports league and home to the national college championship for Madden.
In November of 2020, college sports fans across the U.S. geared up to play The Fan Exam – a live trivia game hosted by Mike Golic, notable sports media personality and ESPN college football analyst.
Twice a week—Tuesdays and Thursdays—fans accessed the game via TheFanExam.com or through a dedicated entry point on the official athletics website, or mobile app, of their school of choice.
A stacking brand identity system was developed to kickoff the series, locking up a bold, collegiate-themed wordmark with an icon featuring one of the most universal symbols of sports fandom–the foam finger.
