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Adam Spangler is about as passionate about soccer as we’ve ever known anyone to be about anything. Spend two minutes reading his Nike-sponsored blog—titled simply “This is American Soccer”—and it becomes evident just how serious a topic this is for him. But look past his stern commitment to the sport’s legitimacy here in the states, and you’ll also find a deep-seeded fascination with the culture that’s spawned around soccer in a country where it’s supposedly unpopular; his undeniable excitement and unquestionable authority make for an incredibly readable blog, regardless of whether you’re a big soccer fan or not. Hell, he might even make you a fan.
TIAS was a challenge because it needed to feel like more than a simple sports blog. It needed to reflect not only soccer but also the culture around the sport, as well the author himself (it could be argued that TIAS is equally a study of all three). After missing the mark a few times, we landed on a look that straddled the line between beautiful and chaotic, while remaining very readable and engaging. Reclaimed wood (which Adam had a particular affinity for), large photo space, and sleek elements mixed with light weathering effects. The overall effect is one of a well-crafted piece of equipment that has seen years of use, but is only better for it.
In addition to the blog’s design, we worked out a neat little logo mark that plays on the American soccer idea; A star constructed from five pentagons that evoke a soccer ball. Fun right?