The studio worked with our strategic partner Athlete Essentials Group, a Lexington, Kentucky business services firm for professional athletes, to design an athlete brand identity package for former University of Kentucky basketball favorite and athletic NBA shooting guard, Malik Monk.
Monk, a native of Lepanto, Arkansas; and more specifically a neighborhood called "The Woodz", is passionate about where he is from. He once stated, "If it wasn't for Lepanto, I wouldn't be the person I am today." in addition to having "The Woodz" tattooed on his chest as seen below.
The world of college athletics is also no stranger to the Monk name as Malik's older brother and business manager, Marcus, played football at a high level in the SEC for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
As we were working on this athlete branding project, we noticed right away through the sketching phase the serendipitous shapes of an M and a W incorporated into the traditional lines of a basketball. This presented a unique opportunity to create a logo as the primary element of the visual identity with both elements forming an implied basketball shape above a custom wordmark for the name Monk.
Additionally, we developed a pattern using the forms created by the W and M of the abstract basketball which allows the brand to scale to other applications such as apparel and other merchandise in order to support the Monk Family's athletics legacy.
credits
CLIENT Marcus & Malik Monk Malik Monk, Inc.
ACCOUNT MANAGER Ron Brown, Athlete Essentials
CREATIVE DIRECTOR + DESIGNER Adam Martin, T/A Martin Studio
