George Brown Polytechnic's School of Design has partnered with the Toronto Raptors to design a limited-edition t-shirt that brings the intersection of sport, culture, and education to life. This unique initiative provided students with tangible, real-world experience working with a major professional brand. The winning design by Bachelor of Brand Design student, Bahar Banihashemi, showcases the creative talent emerging from the school's design community.
"It was such a cool experience working with one of the most recognized brands in sports," shared Banihashemi. "The Raptors have this incredible character for a mascot that fans love, and I saw so much potential there to create my design."
"Working with faculty and getting feedback from our creative community really elevated the whole process," she reflected. "Being surrounded by creatives with different design perspectives is honestly my favourite part of being at George Brown it's opened my eyes and sharpened my skills in ways I never expected."
Student impact
This collaboration provided students with more than just a design project; it served as a masterclass in professional brand partnership. Participants applied the critical skills they developed through their coursework, including creative strategy, brand alignment, and promotional design, to this challenge while working with one of Canada's most recognizable sports franchises.
"Offering design students real-world opportunities to work with clients is essential to their growth as creative professionals," said Kristine Do, Professor & Brand Design Program Co-ordinator, and faculty lead for this challenge. "Projects like this challenge students to stretch their creative thinking, strengthen collaboration skills, and apply classroom knowledge in meaningful ways. Seeing their ideas come to life instills a sense of pride and accomplishment and better prepares them for their future careers as capable, creative professionals."
Beyond the t-shirt
This collaboration is just one example of the power of partnerships George Brown fosters to create real-world opportunities for students. George Brown became the official post-secondary partner of the Raptors in April of 2024.
"We're incredibly excited to showcase the remarkable talent our students have across our campus stores," said Ryan Sargent, George Brown's Director of Business Services and Procurement. "Featuring student designs like Bahar's collaboration with the Raptors gives our community the chance to wear and celebrate the creativity happening right here at George Brown."
The limited-edition t-shirts will be available December 1 at George Brown Campus Stores and select Real Sport Apparel locations. Limited quantities are available while supplies last.
