CONTENDER Studio

NIGHT NIGHT for Curry and UA! Steph Curry is redefining what it means to be an athlete entrepreneur. From being underestimated to becoming the face of a global brand, Steph bet on himself long before athlete-entrepreneurship was a trend. He didn’t just change the NBA with his shooting… he changed the blueprint for how modern athletes build power, influence, and ownership. Now, with his future beyond Under Armour wide open, Curry enters a new era — one driven by identity, branding, and entrepreneurial vision. 🏀 Will he join a giant like Nike or Adidas? 🏀 Lift a challenger brand? 🏀 Or step fully into ownership with a standalone Curry brand? Whatever comes next, one thing is clear: Curry isn’t just playing the game anymore — he’s building the business behind it. And today’s athletes — especially NIL athletes — should be taking notes. Your brand is leverage. Your identity is equity. Your story is your strategy. “Good enough is never good enough.” — Stephen Curry @stephencurry30 @currybrand #StephCurry #CurryBrand #AthleteEntrepreneur #AthleteBranding #SportsBranding #NIL #SportsBusiness #NBA #HoopsCulture #ModernAthlete #AthleteIdentity #BuildYourBrand #CreatorAthlete #ContenderStudio

The face of the league? YES. We’re still buzzing about @shai Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Finals MVP run last year. ⚡️ Averaging nearly 37 minutes over 23 playoff games—leading the Thunder @okcthunder to a title and grabbing the triple crown: League MVP, Finals MVP, and Scoring Champ! We visualized his insane player load to show the story behind the success. 🎨 Beyond the numbers, SGA is simply one of the most exciting athletes to watch this season. Get ready. #SGA #ShaiGilgeousAlexander #OKCThunder #NBA #FinalsMVP #Basketball #DataViz #Infographic #NBAPlayoffs #OKCThunder #nbatipoff #DataDesign #Infographic #PlayerLoad #sportsanalytics #moneyball #basketballstats #nbastats #datavisualization #sportsdesign #canadabasketball #canadianbasketball @nba @nbacanada @canadabasketball @jsnjaydesign

With the international premier of @thesmashingmachinemovie in Venice. @therock @emilybluntofflcial @bowedtie @ufc @tkogrp @tiff_net This is the final poster in The Smashing Machine concept series. This one took a different direction. A much more abstract, raw, and turbulent. The illustration style reflects the unsettling atmosphere around Mark Kerr @markkerrtsm during that era: a figure of dominance in the cage, yet facing deep struggles outside of it. While the early 2000s-inspired typography and colors ground it in the era of Pride FC and UFC’s rise. The goal was to capture not just the fighter, but the emotional and physical landscape that defined his journey. #TheSmashingMachine #TIFF2025 #MMA #PrideFC #MoviePosterDesign #SportsDesign #MarkKerr #UFC #DwayneJohnson #EmilyBlunt #tiff #tiff50 #therock #sevenbucksproductions #A24 #UFC #typography #sportsdesign #ufcartistseries

Another poster in The Smashing Machine concept series. @thesmashingmachinemovie This design pays tribute to the era of Pride Fighting Championships, a time many still consider a pinnacle in mixed martial arts. I recreated the iconic large white canvas ring, layering in typography inspired by Pride’s bold visuals. Against that clean, stark backdrop, the addition of red blood on the canvas became a powerful contrast — symbolizing both the physical toll of fighting and the human cost behind the sport. The design is more than a nod to the sport’s past; a reflection of Mark Kerr’s @markkerrtsm journey and the many pioneers with whom he shared this arena. As part of my series celebrating the upcoming film The Smashing Machine — directed by @bowedtie Benny Safdie, starring Dwayne Johnson @therock and Emily Blunt @emilybluntofflcial — this poster is a tribute to both an era and a legend. Looking forward to seeing how @sevenbucksprod @a24 @tkogrp , and @ufc bring this powerful story to the screen at @tiff_net #TheSmashingMachine #TIFF2025 #MMA #PrideFC #MoviePosterDesign #SportsDesign #MarkKerr #UFC #DwayneJohnson #EmilyBlunt #tiff #tiff50 #sevenbucksproductions #A24 #UFC #typography #sportsdesign

Thanks for the inspiration @therock 🎥 The Smashing Machine – premiering @tiff_net As a passionate martial artist and lifelong fan of MMA, this project hits close to home. I first watched The Smashing Machine documentary back in 2004, and it left a lasting impression. It wasn’t just a behind-the-scenes look at the fight game in the UFC and Pride Fighting Championships. it was an unflinching portrait of the struggles fighters face outside the ring. Mark Kerr @markkerrtsm was a true pioneer, making wrestling and the ground-and-pound style an unstoppable force in MMA. His journey was raw, revolutionary, and often unstable, which is what inspired this concept poster. For this design, I distorted and fractured the typography to reflect not only the impact of fighting itself, but also the fractured nature of Kerr’s life at the time battles that were just as fierce outside the ring. Seeing Dwayne Johnson @therock take on this role is perfect. His transformation into Kerr is uncanny, both in look and presence. With Emily Blunt @emilybluntofflcial starring alongside him and Benny Safdie @bowedtie directing, this film has the potential to be one of the most powerful MMA stories ever brought to cinema. Excited to celebrate this story and its premiere at @tiff_net , with @sevenbucksprod , @a24 , @tkogrp , and @ufc bringing it to life. 👊 Tribute to a legend. Tribute to a sport. #tiff #tiff50 #TheSmashingMachine #mma #MarkKerr #sevenbucksproductions #A24 #UFC #PrideFC #Tiff2025 #movieposterdesign #typebeast #typematters #goodtype #typography #sportsdesign @contender.studio @jsnjaydesign

🔥 Final Four, Reimagined 🔥 What if the Final Four looked a little different? Here are 4 alternate logo concepts for this year’s NCAA Men’s Final Four contenders: 🐊 Florida Gators 🐅 Auburn Tigers 🐾 Houston Cougars 😈 Duke Blue Devils Blending school spirit with modern identity — fierce mascots, and Final Four energy. Experimenting with bolder silhouettes, and elevated detail — not to replace tradition, but to explore how these identities could flex for today’s era of NIL deals, social media presence, and big-stage moments. A creative exercise rooted in respect for the legacy — and curiosity about where it can go next. 👇 Drop your pick in the comments — and let us know which school you’d remix next. #FinalFour #NCAA #MarchMadness #LogoDesign #SportsBranding #CollegeBasketball #NILEra #AthleteBranding #ContenderStudio #DesignProcess #BehindTheScenes #VisualIdentity #BasketballDesign #AthleteMarketing

🏒 Blue, White & Black: Honoring Black Excellence in Toronto Maple Leafs History! @mapleleafs Hockey is for everyone. Blue, White & Black is a tribute to the Black players who have proudly worn the Toronto Maple Leafs crest—pioneers who shaped the game and paved the way for greater diversity in the NHL. Inspired by my work in the Scotiabank Arena Artist Collection - Maple Leafs Legacy, this collage channels the nostalgia of vintage hockey cards, creating a visual time capsule of the Leafs’ history. Each card tells a story of resilience, representation, and inspiration. Honoring these Leafs legends: 🏒 Grant Fuhr 🏒 John Craighead 🏒 Jamal Mayers 🏒 Ryan Reaves 🏒 Robbie Earl 🏒 Wayne Simmonds 🏒 André Deveaux 🏒 Mark Fraser 🏒 Val James Their legacy is more than stats—it’s about breaking barriers and inspiring future generations. This Black History Month, let’s celebrate their contributions and push for a more inclusive game. #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackExcellence #TorontoMapleLeafs #MapleLeafsLegacy #HockeyIsForEveryone #RepresentationMatters #NHL #SportsDesign #SportsBranding #SportsBiz #PlayerBranding #ContenderStudio #LinkedInSports #TML #ISupportHDA #Hockey #HockeyLegends #LeafsForever

🇨🇦 RJ Barrett: Repping Mississauga, Owning the North 🇨🇦 From Sauga to the 6ix, RJ Barrett is making his presence felt—balling out for the Toronto Raptors and representing Canada Basketball on the international stage. 🌍🏀 A true hometown hero, he’s putting up big numbers and proving he’s coming into his own this season. This logo concept is a nod to his roots. The RJ monogram is inspired by the old Mississauga City logo, a tribute to where it all began. The bold, structured design reflects his strength and versatility, while the fluid underline symbolizes his smooth, dynamic game. With NIL and personal branding bigger than ever, a strong visual identity helps define an athlete’s legacy beyond the court. RJ isn’t just playing for the Raptors—he’s representing a nation. What do you think of this design? Drop your thoughts below! ⬇️ #RJBarrett #WeTheNorth #TorontoRaptors #Mississauga #TeamCanada #CanadianBasketball #NIL #AthleteBranding #ContenderStudio #LogoDesign #design #sportsdesign #sportslogo #NIL #athletebrandjng #sauga #saugacity

🚀 Jamison Battle: A Name Built for Greatness 🚀 A player who’s been flying under the radar but keeps making waves—Jamison Battle is grinding with both the Raptors 905 and the Toronto Raptors this season. 🔥🏀 I designed this experimental logo concept to explore what a potential brand identity could look like for a player with one of the coolest names in the league. The JB monogram is built with a stencil style, inspired by military typography—symbolizing strength, precision, and resilience. Look closer, and you’ll see the 77 subtly integrated into the B, repping his current number with the Raptors. What do you think of this design? 👀 Drop your thoughts below! ⬇️ #JamisonBattle #NIL #BrandIdentity #Raptors905 #TorontoRaptors #AthleteBranding #LogoDesign #ContenderStudio #sportslogos #sportsdesign #sportstemplates #Sportsmarketing #athletemarketing #athleteeconomy #ProAthlete #SportsBiz #SportsIndustry #SportsBusiness #canadabasketball #AthleteEntrepreneur

@zach_edey , standing at 7’4”, has transitioned from a dominant college career to making a significant impact in his @nba rookie season with the @memgrizz Memphis Grizzlies. His journey is a testament to his skill, dedication, and the pride of his Chinese-Canadian heritage. 🏆 Collegiate Achievements: National Player of the Year: Edey made history by becoming the first player since UCLA’s Bill Walton to sweep every major National Player of the Year award in consecutive seasons (2023, 2024) Senior Year Performance: Averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game, leading @boilerball Purdue to the @ncaa NCAA Tournament championship game. His 37 points in the final were the most since 1978. Record Holder: Became the first player to lead the nation in both total points and total rebounds since Hank Gathers in 1988-89 🔥 NBA Rookie Impact: Drafted: Selected 9th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2024 NBA Draft. Season Averages: In his rookie season, Edey is averaging 11.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game, showcasing his seamless transition to the professional level. Notable Game: On January 25, 2025, he contributed 19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 2 steals in a win against the Utah Jazz. 🎨 Brand Identity: This concept for a NIL brand identity reflects his Chinese-Canadian roots. This custom "ZE" logo incorporates Kanji and Asian-inspired typography, paying tribute to his heritage while embodying his strength and presence. Zach Edey’s story is one of talent, heritage, and rising prominence in the basketball world. His achievements on the court and his thoughtful branding off it make him a standout figure in sports today. #ZachEdey #NBA #NCAA #ChineseCanadian #Basketball #AthleteBranding #BoilerUp #purdue #boilerball #NBACANADA #CanadaBasketball #NIL #sportsdesign #sportsbranding #sportslogos #memgrizz #BigMemphis

With the MLB season coming to an end and the @dodgers victory over the @yankees in the @mlb World Series, I wanted to share some recent baseball design work. I worked with Ryan, one of the head coaches of the U-18 @tigershpp Mississauga Tigers, a premier rep league team here in Canada. His mission was to diversify himself and his brand to help the next generation of players reach that next level. Through our brand strategy, we were able to uncover the mission for RAW Baseball. @raw_baseball provides experienced coaching to dedicated aspiring US collegiate/professional baseball players in an authentic and positive environment. Helping them feel dominant and humble in victory. This logo identity reflects the scrappy nature of baseball and the ability to take raw talent and elevate the game to the next level. A fun project to work on and a homerun for the client and creative. . . . #sportslogos #sportsdesign #sportsbranding #sportsmarketing #logo #logodesigner #baseball #canadabaseball #baseballcoach #athletebranding #NIL #MLB #BatterUP

Last night was a special night for the Toronto @raptors organization as they retired their first jersey for Half Man Half Amazing the legendary @mrvincecarter15 Vince Carter. As a kid growing up Carter really put the city on his back and represented Canada on the world stage for a long time. It was a bitter moment when he left and it took a long time before the people gave him back the respect and honor as a player he deserved. It’s such a great moment and a better ending for his story to have his name and number immortalized forever as a raptor. The Carter effect is alive and well and not only did Vinsanity grow the game and name here in Toronto and Canada but globally. He inspired a generation of people on and off the court and remains an icon here in Toronto! VC will always be Air Canada especially now hanging in the Arena! #15forever #vincecarter #aircanada #halfmanhalfamazing #torontoraptors #canadabasketball #vinsanity #nba #nbacanada #basketball #sportsmarketing #sportsbiz