ONE EVENT, THREE PIECES
The T-shirt, lanyard, and bib share a recognizable visual rhythm without becoming identical.
ALL WORKCONTACT ↗// DARK MATTER GRID / CASE STUDY C09
EVENT DESIGN / APPAREL / LANYARD / RACE BIB
NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
A coordinated T-shirt, lanyard, and race bib designed for a youth cross-country championship.READ THE STORY ↓
DISCIPLINEEVENT DESIGN / APPAREL / LANYARD / RACE BIB
ROLEDESIGN
PROJECT TYPEREAL CLIENT WORK
PATHARRIVE → IDENTIFY → RUN → REMEMBER
01
THE STRATEGIC HOOK
Make three race-day objects feel like one event.
The assignment focused on three physical pieces: the participant T-shirt, lanyard, and race bib. Each needed to work independently while still feeling connected across a busy youth race environment.
02 / THE ORGANIZING IDEA
“Use one clear visual language across what runners wear, carry, and keep.”
03
THE DESIGN LOGIC
How the system works.
ENERGY WITH CLARITY
Movement and color create excitement while names, numbers, and race information remain readable.
DESIGNED FOR USE
Every choice responds to how the piece is worn, handled, photographed, and seen at a distance.
A MEMORY AFTER THE FINISH
The T-shirt and lanyard continue carrying the event long after race day.
04
THE IDENTITY
The idea becomes visible.
A disciplined red, navy, and white system uses directional lines, circular marks, and confident typography to connect the T-shirt, lanyard, and race bib.
Their next mile starts here.
PACE CONDENSEDEVENT / HEADLINES
ROUTE SANSWAYFINDING / DIGITAL
SPLIT MONOTIME / DATA
COURSE RED#F04B32MOTION / SIGNAL
NYRR NAVY#101C4BIDENTITY / DEPTH
RACE WHITE#F7F7F4APPAREL / TYPE
ASPHALT#A8A9AAROUTE / SUPPORT
05
THE VISUAL LANGUAGE
MAKE FORWARD MOTION VISIBLE.
Directional lines, bold event color, and clear information create a shared language across the three completed pieces.
06
APPLICATION
THREE PIECES. ONE RACE-DAY STORY.
The completed work is intentionally focused: one T-shirt, one lanyard, and one race bib. The case study shows how their typography, color, scale, and directional graphics work together.
THE SYSTEM, APPLIEDTHREE PIECES. ONE RACE-DAY STORY.
The completed work is intentionally focused: one T-shirt, one lanyard, and one race bib. The case study shows how their typography, color, scale, and directional graphics work together.
07
EXPERIENCE
DESIGNED AROUND THE RUNNER.
The three pieces follow the participant through distinct race-day moments while maintaining one visual identity.
WEAR
The T-shirt gives the field a shared visual presence.
CARRY
The lanyard keeps event identification visible and accessible.
RUN
The bib prioritizes the participant number while carrying the same graphic language.
Three objects.
One race-day memory.
This case study stays focused on the work that was completed for NYRR: the participant T-shirt, lanyard, and race bib. Together, they connect arrival, identification, participation, and remembrance.
FLAGSHIP / PUBLIC EXPERIENCET-SHIRT / LANYARD / RACE BIB
REAL CLIENT WORK / THREE DELIVERABLES
T-SHIRT
The largest expression of the system creates a shared presence across the field.
LANYARD
A compact vertical format carries the event identity through check-in and gathering moments.
RACE BIB
The most functional piece keeps the runner number dominant and the event recognizable.
SYSTEM
Scale, color, type, and directional forms connect the three pieces without inventing additional deliverables.
09 / LAUNCH SYSTEMBuild recognition.
Build recognition.
Then build return.
01ARRIVAL / LANYARD ESTABLISHES THE EVENT
02START / BIB PRIORITIZES THE RUNNER NUMBER
03AFTER / T-SHIRT CARRIES THE MEMORY FORWARD
A focused three-piece system gives the event consistency at the moments participants encounter most directly. The value comes from coordination and usability, not from claiming a larger campaign scope.
11
THE RESULT
A system with gravity.
The T-shirt, lanyard, and race bib form a concise physical system that makes the event feel unified without overstating the scope of the work.