Golden Wolf x UEFA : Art and Illustration : Soccer Bible

The good guys over at Golden Wolf, a supremely talented bunch and contributors to the 'Mavericks and Disruptors' Issue of the SoccerBible Magazine, recently collaborated with a project for UEFA that was delivered in truly inspiring fashion. We caught up with them to get the back story to both them as an agency and the project in question.

Are you an agency of football lovers and appreciators? Can you give us a brief introduction to Golden Wolf?

Totally! We’re a really eclectic mix here in the studio, with people from all around the world who all share a passion for football and sports in general. You’ll usually find us playing 7-a-side in Shoreditch on a Monday night and we’re are currently approaching the business end of our FIFA 15 tournament.

Golden Wolf is the sister studio to ilovedust, a design and illustration agency, and regular SB contributor. We’re a creative animation production company based in London, a group of directors, designers, producers and animators from around the world who are passionate about animation in all its forms. We love what we do and always strive to bring something to the table that’s refreshing, original and cool.

Earlier this year we worked on a Global Campaign for Gatorade. For us this was a true football pilgrimage, in which we travelled around Europe to shoot at four of the biggest clubs in world football: Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona and the Old Lady of Turin, Juventus.

We had the opportunity to meet and work with Messi, Pirlo, Özil, and Anfield's magician, Coutinho. The touch and execution of these players first hand was unreal to experience when standing alongside them on the pitch. Everyone on the project, from the team to the players themselves, were all great to work with, making it exciting both as creative partners and football fans.

Can you tell us how this project came about and the relationship with UEFA?

The UEFA TV Production team reached out to us earlier this year to expand upon the branding campaign for the UEFA Youth League. Whilst working on that project, the team also asked us if we’d be interested in providing some graphics for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award and we of course said yes. 

What was the brief?

Before the awards are announced, there’s a presentation that includes a supercut of the most outstanding moments each of the nominees have had throughout the past season. The UEFA TV Production team had the idea to interject a superhero element, representing each of the nominees as a superhero with their own unique powers. Our brief was to come up with a way of depicting these iconic players in a way inspired by comic books.

How has the project been received?

Really well! Knowing that it was going to be shown to the players themselves we had to get it right! It was a really great project to be a part of and the UEFA TV Production team were a pleasure to work with.

Do you have many more football inspired projects coming up?

Of course, but our lips are sealed for now! We also have the semi-finals of our FIFA 16 Tournoi to look forward to!

Hanging with bated breath on the outcome of said FIFA tournament, you can find out more about Golden Wolf here. A striking illustration of supreme size, Golden Wolf have also contributed a design for Issue 4 of the SoccerBible Magazine. More than your fill of Friday inspiration from these guys, it's a right old dollop of goodness. Game on.