UCF SPACE UNIFORM V

In 2021, I had the opportunity to co-design the Nike Space Game football uniforms. That season, we were tasked with honoring the 40th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Program and celebrating the many UCF alumni who have contributed to the program over the decades

CLIENT

UCF Athletics

ROLE

Senior Designer

YEAR

2021

TYPE

Uniform Design

Strategic Approach

🎯 OBJECTIVE

As with every Space Game, the goal was to honor the space program and its deep connection to UCF. For this year’s uniform, we needed to bring multiple stories together into a single design—celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Program, spotlighting the Discovery Shuttle, recognizing the many UCF alumni who have worked (and continue to work) in the program, and honoring Nicole Stott, UCF alum and NASA astronaut.

⚡CHALLENGE

The biggest challenge was weaving all of these stories into one uniform. Each element carried its own meaning and connection to UCF, and the design needed to give each story space without one overpowering the others.

🚀 APPROACH

We traveled to Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral to research firsthand—getting up close to real shuttles, learning more about the program, and immersing ourselves in the world of space exploration. Experiencing it in person and working with tangible references sparked many of the ideas that were later translated directly into the final uniform design.

MISSION V

All stories, combined as one.

The helmet became a storytelling canvas. The center stripe features the names of over 100 UCF alumni who contributed to the Space Shuttle Program. The front bumper includes the 321 Cape Canaveral area code, while the back bumper honors the Challenger and Columbia missions and the brave lives lost. A chrome facemask finishes the helmet, referencing the reflective visors worn by astronauts in space.

The uniform carries that story forward. The collar design mirrors the nose of the space shuttle, with wing elements extending upward through the neckline. Sleeve details pull from the side profile of the shuttle, layered with the classic UCF Space pattern beneath. Jersey numbers were built to replicate the Shuttle’s Thermal Protection tiles, with all 135 shuttle missions embedded into the design. The nameplate references the 1992 astronaut class patch—Nicole Stott’s class—while the pants pattern is inspired by the shuttle’s wings.

Close-up of an American football helmet featuring Nike logos, a blue number 321, and a faceguard, worn by a player in a white jersey.
American football player in uniform and helmet standing in front of an American flag.
Back of a football helmet with the name 'NAUTS' in red and the number 40, American flag sticker, and team logo, with an American flag in the background.
An American football player in uniform stands in front of an aircraft with a checkered pattern, with an American flag in the background.
Back view of a football player in a white jersey with 'CITRONAUTS' on the back, standing inside a museum or hangar with vintage aircraft and an American flag in the background.
An American football player in a white uniform with black and gray details, wearing a helmet with a face mask, pointing forward.
An American football player in a white uniform and helmet pushing against a wall inside a facility.
An American football player in uniform standing with arms crossed in front of a spacecraft.
A football player in a white uniform and helmet, holding a glowing blue neon light rod.

UCF vs Memphis

10.22.21 | Final score 24 - 7

Three astronauts in orange space suits with helmets standing outdoors, holding signs with celebratory messages and decorative drawings.
A football player in uniform standing on a football field in a stadium, wearing a helmet and gloves, with a large scoreboard in the background.
Back of football player wearing a white jersey with the name 'Coles' and a black and white patch on the shoulder, standing on a field at night with a bright light shining and a full moon in the sky, with other players and people blurred in the backgr
A football player wearing jersey number 18 with a helmet, standing on the field with a scoreboard showing 25 seconds remaining in the game.
American football players on the sidelines during a game, with one player sitting and looking towards the field, wearing a white jersey with the number 15, surrounded by teammates and a coach in a stadium filled with spectators.
Two football players in uniform, wearing helmets, walking on the field during a game.
An American football player wearing a white jersey with the number 9, a white helmet, and black face mask, standing on the field during a game.
Football players running onto field through tunnel with smoke, with Fireworks in the background, under a sign that reads 'GOD FORFAUCH'.
Football players in white uniforms walking through a tunnel with a coach or staff member leading them, in a stadium.
Black and white photo of an American football game at night, with players on the field, a crowd in the stands, and a scoreboard overhead.
Crowd of football fans cheering in stadium during game, with players on field and goalposts in background.
Cheerleaders performing at a nighttime sports event, wearing UCF uniforms and black skirts, with a stadium and crowd in the background.
Group of cheering people at a nighttime sports event, with young women and men showing enthusiasm, some holding signs or wearing sports jerseys.
Close-up of a football player's uniform with a NASA-themed space exploration patch on the shoulder during a game.
American football game at night, with players in blue and white uniforms lined up on the field, spectators in the stands, and coaches and officials watching from the sideline.
A professional football player with a beard and short hair, wearing a white jersey with black and blue accents, standing on the field during a night game with stadium lights and blurred spectators in the background.
American football team standing on the field with their backs to the camera while fans watch from the stands at night.
Black and white photograph of American football players on the field during a game, with one player in the center making an intense facial expression, sticking his tongue out and wearing a helmet. Other players are visible in the background.

Impact, Insights & Contributors

📈 RESULTS

The response from fans, Space Program alumni, and internal staff was overwhelmingly positive. The uniform honored the stories we set out to tell while delivering a high level of execution on the field. The project went on to earn Uniswag’s 2021 Uniform of the Year, recognizing it as the best uniform in Division I College Football, and it also led to interviews with multiple networks to share the story and process behind the design.

💡 KEY LEARNINGS

We often aim to simplify narratives by focusing on a single story, but this project challenged that mindset in the best way. It became a lesson in how to thoughtfully combine multiple narratives into one cohesive product without losing clarity or impact.

It also reinforced the value of stepping outside of digital research. While online references are effective, there’s something irreplaceable about engaging with physical history. Visiting Kennedy Space Center—being present, seeing the real artifacts, and absorbing the environment—sparked ideas in real time and pushed the design further, letting that experience become the path to creative inspiration.

🤝 TEAM

Jimmy Skiles & Eric DeSalvo // Creative Direction

Emma Schneider // Graphic Designer

Conor Kvatek, Terrance Coakley, Julian Bright, Mark Godin // Photographers

Dalton Conrad // Cinematographer

Skylar Kaplan // Motion Designer

🎨 MY CONTRIBUTIONS

I co-led the design direction and execution of the uniform alongside Emma Schneider, guiding the project from initial concept through final production. I also served as an in-game photographer, capturing sideline close-ups and the fan experience on game day.

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