Designer Behind Nike's Nigerian World Cup Kit Realizes a Striking Crest for Budding Club

Best known as the man behind Nigeria’s instantly-sold-out World Cup 2018 kits, Matthew Wolff has lent his considerable skill to a new kit design, this time for California’s ambitious Oakland Roots SC.

In an interview with the team, Wolff explained that the design inspiration came primarily from the sense of community fostered by Oakland itself, a sense of unity engendered by the Roots themselves. “A soccer club is a reflection of its community, and the crest illustrates that reflection,” he explained. Wolff also cited the recent film Blindspotting as an indication of the melting pot culture fostered by the city, which influenced his output.

Appropriately, a variety of colors are present in both the Roots’ kit and crest design, along with a host of thoughtful subtle touches. For instance, the crest is circular as a nod to the “O” in Oakland, while the rich hues are a clear reference to the multicultural backgrounds of the city and the team, underscored by tree root imagery. Wolff spent about three months on the project, eventually crafting a bespoke alphabet to spell out player names and numbers.

Shop Wolff’s crest and kit designs via the Oakland Roots web store.

Elsewhere, Nike’s 2020 kit design for Nigeria slightly departs from Wolff’s 2018 creation, but retains core details.