It is estimated that more than half the world population - some 3.5 billion people - watched part of the FIFA World Cup in 2018. Football is unquestionably the world's most popular sport, with a dedicated fan base and truly international reach. It is also a significant industry, with European football alone being estimated to hold a value of £22 billion in 2016. How did football evolve to be such a significant part of our cultural landscape, and what role has design played in shaping the sport?
This catalogue - the first of its kind - will explore the design story behind football, unpicking how design has been used to push the game to its technical and emotional limits. From the master-planning of the world's most significant football stadiums to the innovative materials used in today's boots, the graphic design of team badges and the grassroots initiatives pushing back against the sport's commercialization, this book will provide a rare insight into the people and processes that have made football what it is today.
The book will be divided into five chapters, taking readers on a journey from the large-scale impact of the world's great stadia through to digital technologies shaping the sport today. Each chapter will feature both formal and informal design projects, showcasing the incredible relationship between football and its fans.
