From Sketch to Stadium: Designing Manchester United’s Hall of Fame

Manchester United & Topps

Since we started working with Topps in 2023 on various trading card collection designs, we’ve had the opportunity to take on some incredible projects. While every collaboration with Topps is a joy, every now and then, a project comes along that feels just a little more special.

As our partnership with Topps strengthened, they developed a clearer understanding of who we are as a design studio and what they could expect from us. That’s why, in 2024, we received an exciting request: to help design the Hall of Heroes inside the official Manchester United Museum.

The Brief

The brief from Topps and Manchester United was straightforward: create a space that not only celebrates the club’s incredible history and legendary players but also highlights the unique products and design techniques that Topps brings to the table.

Building on our initial sketches, we focused on three key elements: a visual identity, four card designs, and a concept for the wall that followed Manchester United’s brand guidelines while still feeling unique and eye-catching.

First idea's

The four cards formed the foundation for the hall design. Each card displayed the number of matches a player had played for United. The more matches a player had, the larger and more decorative their card became. This approach allowed us to showcase every player who had ever represented Manchester United in a clear and engaging way.

Both Topps and Manchester United were very pleased with the initial concept designs. The next challenge was to scale these designs effectively. To achieve this, we developed a design system based on a grid tailored specifically to the layout of the walls. 

From concept to design system

This system allowed us to integrate the four card designs chronologically, ensuring a seamless and structured representation. By implementing this scalable system, we ensured that the design not only reflected the legacy of Manchester United but also showcased the creative expertise of Topps. The result is an engaging and immersive experience that continues to celebrate both the club’s rich history and the craft behind sports card design.

It was an absolute honor when Topps and United invited us to witness the final realization of the Hall of Heroes in person. As if that wasn’t special enough, we were also treated to a private tour of the rest of the museum, an unforgettable experience.

People often say that the journey is more rewarding than the destination. But as a design studio, seeing our work displayed inside the stadium of one of the biggest football clubs in the world is truly something else. It’s a dream moment for any designer.

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