05/32 – Los Angeles Aztecs
Born Warriors
Hopping in to the first team in Pacific Division of the West Conference – the Los Angeles Aztecs.
One of the perennial powerhouses, the Aztecs have been to 12 championship games, including 9 of the last 10 – and won 5 of those games, including 4 in a row. Because of their outright dominance, the Aztecs are the ultimate heel and has become one of the most loathed franchises in the league.
Visual Direction
The name "Aztecs" is adopted from the ancient Mesoamerican civilization of central Mexico and their militaristic forces and rituals that made them one of the most decorated warriors in history. These societies heavily valued military prowess – young males would receive military training from an early age and the most skilled combatants would be decorated with markings that signified their triumph on the battlefield.
One of the most feared Aztec warriors was the eagle warrior, identified with feathered eagle helmets often depicted with in open-beak design. Eagle warriors demonstrated bravery and military success and have since been recognized as a symbol of Aztec culture and Mexican tradition.
Execution
The primary mark for the Los Angeles Aztecs illustrates a red eagle warrior with an open-beak feathered helmet and gold trim. This logo is appropriately worn on either side of the team's actual helmets (among other locations).
In the secondary slot is a Chīmalli mark, or an Aztec shield, with an "LA" lockup dominating the design and a macuahuitl, or club, angled behind it. The composition breaks up the shield in a dual-color design, similar to the featherwork that Aztec artists would construct.
The partial mark lifts the "LA" from the secondary shield and allows it to stand on its own. It wouldn't be a Los Angeles sports team without an iconic "LA" lockup, would it?
The typography is inspired by the sharp angles and cuts used throughout ancient Aztec artwork. The main "Aztec" wordmark incorporates geometric stylings while the city name is laid out in a more condensed square design – both sets featuring letterforms with sharp wedge serifs and angled cuts. The jersey number set adopts the construction of the latter as its proportions lend itself better to the dimensions of the jersey top.
Taking the Gridiron
The Los Angeles Aztecs' restored brand identity system nods to the cultural references of ancient societies and gives this decorated team a suite of bold new brand marks.
Football Helmet Mockup by SportsTemplates
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