Michael Benford
Creative Strategist.
Brand Designer. Photographer.
Building and Enhancing Sports and Entertainment Brands for 20+ years.
In my career, I've worked with some extraordinary leagues, teams, and people, including the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), and Fortune 500 companies, including AT&T, Mercedes-Benz, Coca-Cola, and American Family Insurance.
CASE STUDY AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST:
How We Repositioned an NFL Brand and Drove Nearly $1M in Revenue in the First 24 Hours
Travel Photography
I believe it is important to unplug, embrace the unfamiliar, and open ourselves to be influenced by something, someone, and somewhere new. I have recently traveled to Cuba and China – wiping my palate clean, in a sense to see the world through a different lens.
Sports Photography
Early in my career as a designer, I recognized photography as a powerful storytelling tool to connect with fans. On Sundays, I traded in my cozy press box seat for the sidelines to capture and share the NFL's exciting and emotional moments.
Insights + Experiences
Behind the Design of the New Falcons Uniforms.
For three years, I led the Nike, NFL, and Falcons in-house teams through the design of the uniform and the development of the evolved Falcons brand identity.
Hear the story behind the redesign, including the role of fans and players.
Creative Rising Podcast
In this final episode of season 3, I discuss how I went from a career in music to leading design for the major leagues. How I tackle the product and process of creating highly-visible design — from stadium signage to redesigning team uniforms — and share how to stay innovative season over season.