Visual Identity: DesignStudio
Font Production: T1 Foundry / Type Department
Typeface Design: Valerio Monopoli
Striking, dynamic, and full of energy – T1 Foundry x Type Department produces a customised typeface that skill-fully represents the Chinese League of Legends Pro League.
Chinese League of Legends Pro League (LPL) is the country’s leading top-level professional league for the global e-sport, housing 17 teams. With an innovative and explosive style of play, the league has its sights on becoming the best esports league in the world. As such, it was time that LPL’s visual image accurately represented their signature tenacity, whilst also appealing to international fans. Looking for a powerful brand refresh, they approached the global branding agency DesignStudio.
In turn, the London-based team devised a design system stemming from two key behaviours — Tension and Eruption — alongside a new slogan: ‘Crazy is Our Game.’ The visual system and brand assets unify calm sophistication with moments of hyper-energy and volume.
As part of this new dynamic visual language, DesignStudio reached out to us to aid in developing a customised typeface — one that would embody the energy and expression of the team. Working closely with DS’ design team and type designer Valerio Monopoli, we produced an altered version of T1 Foundry's striking display sans-serif T1 Korium.
We strived to balance legibility with the attitude and edge of the team, ensuring it could serve as a key player of the overall rebrand and appeal to fans and players alike. With sharper angles, smooth tapering strokes, and a clean, rectilinear look, the resulting typeface is packed with dynamism.
“Working with Type Department & T1 Foundry to create a customised typeface for Riot Games LPL has been brilliant,” they say, reflecting on the project. “From day 1 they were responsive, open, and collaborative, working closely with our design team to achieve a beautiful result.
They helped craft the perfect amount of detail and characteristics to ensure it maximised readability for an international audience while maintaining the attitude and edge needed to bring the rest of the visual identity to life."
LPL team:
@elisesantangelino
@frompamm
@chrysostomosnaselos
@c_van1
@tomasgecim
@roshvn
@vitorcervi
@keeper.design
@biancakehoe_
@father_insta
