A new season called for a refreshed social media look. While preparing for the 2026 season, I identified an opportunity to further explore the “space” narrative embedded within the Rocket City Trash Pandas’ brand—an aspect that, despite the team’s six-year history, had not yet been fully utilized.
The creative direction draws heavily from mid-century modern graphic design, particularly the work of Saul Bass, as well as iconic visual language from classic science-fiction cinema, including “Star Trek” and “2001: A Space Odyssey”. These references helped me implement the use of bold composition, simplified shapes, and negative space throughout.
A new branded element introduced this season is what I refer to as, “Sprocket Camo.” Sprocket, the Trash Pandas’ mascot, appears throughout official MiLB logos and this motif became the foundation for a custom pattern. By manipulating the Sprocket logo through scale, color, and depth, I created a camo-inspired texture that adds visual interest while remaining uniquely tied to the brand.
The color palette is anchored by red and black, a high-contrast pairing that enhances legibility and reinforces the futuristic, space-aesthetic. Minimal texture treatments and scattered star elements were used to add dimension without overwhelming the content.
This system was designed to be flexible and instantly recognizable across all platforms, strengthening brand consistency while pushing the Rocket City Trash Pandas’ visual identity into a more cinematic, space-driven direction.
Social Graphics
Grateful Dead T-Shirt
During the 2026 season, the Rocket City Trash Pandas hosted a Grateful Dead Night, and I was tasked with designing a custom T-shirt included in a limited, first-come-first-served ticket package. I was granted access to official Grateful Dead brand assets, including approved typefaces, color palettes, logos, and iconography. While strict brand guidelines needed to be adhered to, I was given creative freedom to develop the overall concept.
The final design merges the identities of both brands by reimagining the infamous “Grateful Dead Dancing Bears” with trash can lids as hats—an intentional nod to the Trash Pandas’ raccoon mascot. This playful visual solution allowed both brands to coexist cohesively while maintaining instant recognizability. The resulting T-shirt strikes a bold balance between two culturally iconic brands, creating a memorable theme-night experience that resonated with fans of both baseball and music.
Pocket Schedule
2.5” x 3”
The 2026 Trash Pandas pocket schedule expands on the social visual system I developed during the off-season, refined and simplified specifically for print. The goal was to create a piece that felt bold, highly scannable, and visually impactful at a small scale.
Designing within the constraints of a pocket format presented a challenge, particularly balancing dense information with clarity and hierarchy. Through careful typographic decisions and layout refinement, the final piece maintains readability while preserving a strong visual presence.
Beyond the design itself, I led the preparation of the final print-ready files and collaborated directly with an external print vendor to ensure accuracy, consistency, and production readiness. Seeing the project move seamlessly from concept to press was both rewarding and satisfying.
Business Cards
3.5” x 2”
I was tasked with redesigning the company’s business cards. The goal was to ensure the cards aligned seamlessly with the dark, space-inspired visual language that has been consistently applied across all platforms throughout the season.
Maintaining cohesion between print and digital assignments was a key priority for this project. By carrying over the established color palette, tone, and atmospheric elements, the business cards function as an extension of the brand’s social presence was successful.
The final design emphasizes clarity and contrast resulting in a modern business card that feels intentional and on-brand.
Each season, the Rocket City Trash Pandas present season ticket holders with a custom-designed gift as a thank you for their continued support. For the 2026 season, I was tasked with designing both a gift box and a commemorative ticket housed inside, creating an unboxing experience from first interaction to reveal.
The gift box design uses the custom “Sprocket Camo” pattern introduced in the 2026 brand system, paired with the Season Ticket Holder logo on the front panel. Additional details include an abstract logo treatment on the base and the full 2026 RCTP home schedule printed on the interior panel, revealed as the box is opened. Each surface was intentionally considered to reinforce brand identity throughout the physical experience
The commemorative ticket required a different design approach. As the industry continues to move away from physical tickets, I viewed this piece as an opportunity to celebrate print as a collectible artifact rather than a purely functional item. The goal was to create a keepsake that fans would feel proud to display and preserve.
Prior to designing the ticket, I consulted with renowned sports graphic designer Todd Radom—whose work includes season tickets for MLB organizations such as the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox—to gain insight into his conceptual and typographic approach. That research served as a base for the balance of hierarchy, composition, and detail in the final piece.
The resulting ticket design is closely aligned with the 2026 Rocket City Trash Pandas social media visual system, ensuring consistency across print and digital while elevating the overall season ticket holder experience through thoughtful, brand-driven design.
Season Ticket Holder Gift
Website Graphics
Magnet Schedule
Christmas Edition | 8” x 6”
