Why We Don't Like Streamlined League Kit Fonts
Yesterday, we took a closer look at the streamlined fonts of the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1 and Serie A. However, while more and more leagues introduce league-wide kit typefaces(most recently Serie A and J League), we are no fans of them.
Streamlined Football Kit Typefaces - Disadvantages
Unfitting Design For Kit:
The biggest disadvantage of a having a streamlined kit font is that it often does not fit the design of the kit. In example, teams in Spain's La Liga have got a classy jersey that is destroyed by the big La Liga font.
Limited Choice Of Color:
Another big issue in several leagues with a streamlined font is that there are just a few colors to choose from. In example, the Premier League just has five different color options - the font does often not match the kit colors (in example the shade of yellow), which also causes teams to use unfitting number colors (e.g. black with Leeds' home kit).
Boring For Designers And Football Kit Fans:
What we most hate about streamlined football kit typefaces is that they reduce the number of bespoke typefaces being released and visible on-pitch. Watching Premier League matches might be interesting in terms of football but it is not in terms of kits.
Streamlined fonts have three big advantages
Of course, there are also advantages. Below are the three most logical.
Streamlined Football Kit Typefaces - Advantages
- A streamlined kit font prevent teams from having strange fonts that are hardly legibly.
- It is (might be) also good for the streamlined visual appearance of the competition.
- It makes it easier (and cheaper?) for retailers to sell custom kits with the correct font.
The only big league to have no streamlined kit font is the German Bundesliga. Custom typefaces are allowed in FIFA & UEFA competitions, including the Champions League, World Cup and Euro.
Are you a fan of league-wide streamlined kit typefaces? Comment below.
