College Football Sponsorship
Elevating game-day through strategic brand presence.
Branding | Illustration | Print & Digital Layout
Challenge
As a sponsor of the FARGODOME and NDSU Bison Football, Gate City Bank needed a way to stand out beyond traditional stadium signage. The goal was to create fan-focused experiences and merchandise that would increase engagement while strengthening the bank’s connection to the community.
Solution
I designed a series of fan giveaways, promotional materials, and campaign assets that brought the sponsorship to life throughout the football season. Custom merchandise, original illustrations, and supporting advertising helped create a more memorable presence both inside and outside the stadium.
Results
Designed 6 exclusive giveaway items distributed throughout the football season
Created a cohesive campaign spanning merchandise, stadium, print, and digital touchpoints
Strengthened fan engagement and supported brand visibility across the region's largest sporting events
Winter hat with custom sweater pattern, incorporating a bison motif to match the team's mascot.
Can koozie designed to evoke the look of fan apparel worn during games.
Creating a Cohesive
Game-Day Experience
Developing custom designs created unique gifts tied to each home game, featuring original illustrations, typography, and references to Bison fan culture. Practical and fun, they excited fans and extended the brand beyond the stadium.
Design Process: Bandana
The concept of the bandana design was developed to connect brand goals with fan culture. A Western theme reflected current trends, and replacing the cowboy’s horse with a bison tied the design directly to the team’s mascot.
Sketchbook design concepts.
Finalizing idea with digital sketches.
Final digital drawing for main image of design.
Complete bandana design.
Fan Corner Branding
Branded shirts, giveaway items, and fan corner exhibit design.
Digital Reach
Complementing the in-stadium and print efforts, digital ads promoted NDSU debit cards and a special checking account offer. Designed for clarity and impact, they extended the sponsorship online and drove measurable account growth.
Print Advertising
A series of newspaper and magazine ads promoted the game day giveaways, encouraging attendance and building anticipation for each home game. These ads aligned event promotion with brand messaging, reinforcing Gate City Bank’s role as a community supporter.
