Athlete Branding
Personal logos, wordmarks, and brand identities for pro and college athletes, their agents, and NIL collectives.
T/A Martin Studio has designed athlete brands for NBA guards Tyler Ulis and Malik Monk, and the logo on MLB All-Star Matt Carpenter's Nike player edition cleats. The Tyler Ulis Foundation logo was shortlisted by the Clio Sports Awards and featured in PRINT Magazine's Regional Design Annual.
With name, image, and likeness, college athletes can build their brands before they ever turn pro. We help athletes, families, agents, and collectives create marks that are personal, ownable, and ready for merchandise from day one, with every project led directly by Creative Director Adam Martin.
Selected Athlete Work
What an Athlete Brand Includes
strategy
›› Brand Positioning
›› Name & Nickname Exploration
›› Brand Guidelines
identity
›› Custom Wordmarks
›› Number & Initial Marks
›› Patterns & Graphic Elements
merchandise
›› Player Edition Footwear Marks
›› Production-Ready Files
›› Packaging
digital
›› Content Templates
›› Foundation & Charity Branding
›› Website Visual Design
How We Build Your Brand
Story
Every great athlete brand starts with the person. We dig into your hometown, nickname, number, family, and the things you care about off the field to find what makes your brand yours.
Sketch
We explore dozens of directions by hand and on screen, looking for the shapes, letters, and symbols that tell your story in a single glance.
System
The strongest idea becomes a complete identity: a primary logo, a custom wordmark, and supporting marks and patterns that work on a cleat, a hoodie, or a phone screen.
Launch
You receive brand guidelines and production-ready files for apparel, merchandise, and social, so you, your agent, and your partners can put the brand to work right away.
Case in point: Malik Monk is proud of Lepanto, Arkansas, and the neighborhood known as "The Woodz." While sketching, the studio found an M and a W hiding in the lines of a basketball, which became his logo, plus a pattern that carries the brand onto apparel and merchandise. See the Malik Monk case study. More marks for athletes and teams live in our logo collection.
Recognition
- Clio Sports Awards, Shortlist
- PRINT Magazine Regional Design Annual
Athlete & Brand Experience
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, NBA
- Tyler Ulis, former NBA
- Malik Monk, NBA
- Matt Carpenter, MLB
- Nike Field & Team Sports
- Nike Basketball
- adidas Basketball
- Under Armour Basketball
- Steph Curry Brand
- Athlete Essentials Group
- Overtime
- SLAM Magazine
Frequently Asked Questions
What's included in an athlete brand identity?
Most athlete brands include a primary logo or monogram, a custom wordmark, supporting marks and patterns, and brand guidelines, delivered as production-ready files for apparel, merchandise, social, and footwear.
Can college athletes hire you for NIL branding?
Yes. Name, image, and likeness rules let college athletes build personal brands while still in school. We create logos and merch-ready identities for student-athletes, and we recommend checking your school's NIL and compliance guidelines before launching.
Do you work with agents, agencies, and NIL collectives?
Yes. We regularly partner with athlete-services firms, including Athlete Essentials Group in Lexington, Kentucky, to design brands for the athletes they represent, and we can support collectives building brands for multiple athletes.
Who owns the finished logo?
The athlete does. Final artwork is delivered for your ownership with the files you need to produce merchandise, register trademarks with your attorney, and share with partners.
Building your brand, or representing athletes who need one? Let's talk.
New Business: newbiz@tamartin.studio
Branding an entire program? See our college athletics branding work.