COMPLEXCON × MURAKAMI
CUBS & LAKERS CAPSULES
CREATIVE DIRECTION • DESIGN DIRECTION • PROMOTION
In 2019, ComplexCon opened in two cities in the same year for the first time ever. Chicago in July, followed by Long Beach in November. At the outset of the year, I worked with Murakami and his studio on the visual direction for both events, centered around a trio of bear expressions adapted from some of his previous works. The bear, called Ursa, symbolized possible futures – one placid and calm, one dark and distorted, another chemically altered. The bear mascot lent itself naturally to collaborations with Chicago sports teams, and through a connection in the Complex office we kicked things off with the Cubs.
We worked closely with Mitchell & Ness to create top-notch executions of the artwork, which was designed collaboratively between Takashi’s TM/KK studio and our Complex team, Nick Sultana and Warren Cochrane, under my design supervision.
We launched the Cubs collab at Wrigley field, with hometown hero and Hot Ones host Sean Evans throwing out the first pitch wearing the gray letterman jacket despite the blazing summer heat.
The Lakers capsule launched in the fall at ComplexCon Long Beach and was an instant hit. We worked with vintage Lakers logos going all the way back to their time in Minnesota, comprised of a triangular logo layout, and a script face from their early years in Los Angeles. We paired the graphics with a custom Murakami double-flower that debuted in this collection and became a signature graphic.
Once again a collaboration between TM/KK and our team, with lead designer Nick Sultana and Warren Cochrane.
