Faith Powering Professional Football
Ristozi FC needed a comprehensive rebrand to match their ambitious vision of becoming Baltimore's premier soccer team. The project required honouring both the club's connection to the Ristozi Church in Albania and the founders' childhood roots in Greece. The rebranding aimed to expand the club's presence and strengthen community ties, while creating a professional identity that could attract investment and talent, setting a foundation for their growth into professional leagues.
The visual identity maintains key heritage elements while embracing a more professional aesthetic. The modernized crest keeps the shield and cross as central elements, symbolizing the club's faith and connection to the Ristozi Church. We removed the soccer ball to streamline the design and elongated the shield's body to enhance its authoritative presence. The side stripes were extended to the top of the shield, creating a balanced and commanding design that honors tradition while looking toward the future.
The comprehensive logo suite includes three key elements: the primary crest, a wordmark, and a minimalistic brandmark. Each component serves specific purposes while maintaining visual cohesion. The wordmark utilizes the custom Ristozi Neo-Gothic typeface, incorporating elements from the visual identity. The brandmark offers a simplified version of the crest, designed for scenarios requiring a more concise representation of the club's identity.
The Ristozi Neo-Gothic typeface, created exclusively for the club, merges neo-Grotesque and Gothic styles. This custom design embodies the club's commitment to tradition while establishing a professional presence. The typeface brings distinction to the brand wordmark and maintains consistency across various touchpoints, reinforcing the club's unique identity.
The club's home and away kits feature minimalist designs governed by strict guidelines to maintain brand integrity. These rules ensure consistent representation regardless of manufacturer, creating immediately recognizable uniforms that align with the club's visual identity and professional aspirations.
The merchandise collection for Ristozi FC was designed to extend the brand identity beyond the field. Various items including shirts, hoodies, and accessories were created following the brand's minimalist approach, ensuring each piece serves as a proud representation of the club. The designs incorporate the logo suite elements strategically, maintaining visual consistency while offering fans different ways to connect with and showcase their support for the team.
Following the rebrand, Ristozi FC achieved significant milestones, including a partnership with Puma for team kits and acceptance into the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). These achievements validate the new identity's effectiveness in positioning the club for growth. The rebrand has strengthened community ties, attracted investment, and elevated the club's status within the football world, setting a solid foundation for achieving their long-term vision of becoming Baltimore's premier soccer team.
