The Feather

As a Graphic Design major, much of my work is influenced by my own experiences. Having rowed competitively for eight years, I recognized an opportunity to combine my design skills with my connection to the sport by creating an apparel brand geared toward the rowing community. This led to the development of The Feather, a brand I designed to bridge the gap between style and performance in an area where much existing rowing apparel falls short. The Feather incorporates key elements of rowing culture while using eye-catching visuals to highlight meaningful terminology from the sport.

In building this brand, I made several intentional stylistic choices that shaped the look and flow of the designs. The first was using a more geometric graphic style to create striking, visually intriguing forms. I also integrated rowing terminology directly into the graphics to capture my target audience’s attention and create designs that resonate with those familiar with the sport. My color palette was chosen for both contrast and cultural relevance, with red and green referencing port and starboard. Furthermore, placement was another crucial consideration; strategic sleeve and back placements allowed longer, narrower graphics to reflect the sides of the boat referenced often within the sport. Large and long back placement allowed the design to take over and create the most eyecatching piece of apparel.

Through this project, I learned the importance of cohesiveness in every aspect of a brand. Designing for a niche community requires careful attention to detail, intentional decision-making, and a strong understanding of the culture being represented. I also realized how deeply my artistic work is shaped by the people, environments, and experiences around me. Ultimately, I am proud to have created The Feather, a cohesive, distinctive apparel line that fills a clear need for rowing gear that is both functional and appealing on and off the water.