TYPOGRAPHY
2026 Winter Olympic Athlete ID’s
Research and refining a typography system used to help define NBC Sports’ 2026 Winter Olympics Athlete IDs.
For NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, I contributed to the development of the athlete identification system used across broadcast graphics. Working within the established Olympic brand direction, I was tasked with researching and testing typeface options for American athlete IDs to help define the visual language used throughout coverage.
Defining Athlete Identity for Olympic Broadcast
OVERVIEW
THE PROBLEM / DESIGN CHALLENGE
How Do You Build a Typeface System for the Biggest Stage in Sports?
Olympic athlete graphics need to feel premium, legible, and consistent across every sport and broadcast format. The challenge was to identify typefaces that aligned with NBC’s Olympic creative direction while also performing across a wide range of athlete names, layouts, and motion applications. Each font needed to balance personality with readability and function within a cohesive broadcast system.
PROCESS
Exploring Type Through Research and Iteration
Template System
I researched thousands of typefaces and narrowed the field to 15 potential options that aligned with the creative team’s direction. Through collaborative review sessions, that list was reduced to five finalists. From there, I created multiple athlete ID mockups using real athlete names to test hierarchy, spacing, readability, and font pairings in context.
Narrowing the System
After multiple rounds of testing and review, the final selection centered on the Avenir Next LT Pro family paired with Agenda One Condensed. Together, the typefaces provided the right balance of modern athletic energy, legibility, and flexibility for use across NBC’s Olympic broadcast package.
FINAL DESIGN
A Broadcast-Ready Typographic System
The finalized athlete ID system established a clear typographic hierarchy that could scale across numerous sports, athlete names, and graphic applications. The chosen type pairing delivered a polished and cohesive visual identity that aligned with NBC Sports’ Olympic branding while ensuring readability in fast-paced broadcast environments.
