Painting the Corner: From Screen to Field

A Passion Project Turns into a Creative Journey

In the second installment of "Painting the Corner," we explore how a passion project can evolve into something truly remarkable. Sarah Allis, a well-known figure on Guardians Twitter, has gained a following for her insightful sports takes. However, her journey took an unexpected turn when she began creating designs centered around city connect jerseys.

The concept of city connect jerseys has been gaining traction in recent years, with both the NBA and MLB introducing these special editions to highlight the unique identities of their cities. The MLB rolled out these jerseys over several years, and the Guardians were among the last teams to unveil their designs. This gap between the initial launch in 2021 and the Guardians’ reveal in 2024 provided Sarah with the perfect opportunity to channel her creativity.

Since 2023, Sarah has been producing digital designs focused primarily on the Guardians and Cavaliers. As a self-taught graphic designer, she picked up this skill during her first marketing job after college. Her fascination with the idea of using city connect jerseys to showcase different aspects of Cleveland and express pride in the city led her to draw from her lifelong experience as a Clevelander.

Viral Success and Expanding Horizons

During the 2023 season, Sarah found inspiration in the spirit of Cleveland fans, leading her to design Major League-inspired jerseys. These designs became a viral sensation, giving Sarah the confidence to push her creative boundaries further.

She delved into the history of Cleveland, referencing lesser-known nicknames and pop culture icons associated with the city. One of her favorite designs was the North Coast jersey, which featured a subtle wave pattern reminiscent of the sandstone design on the current city connect jerseys. She used the sandstone color to incorporate the famous Berea sandstone into her work. Every detail in her designs is carefully thought out and intentional.

For the Forest City design, Sarah incorporated a pine needle pattern and a tree line on the sleeve. She also paid homage to the original Cleveland Forest City baseball club logo for the cap, anchoring the jersey in the rich history of baseball in Cleveland. With the recent film featuring Superman being shot in Cleveland, Sarah created a Superman design in the summer of 2024. She honored the creators of Superman, who are from Cleveland, by incorporating the iconic hero’s design without being too overt. Opting for a darker color palette, she still maintained a comic feel by using cell-shading dots typical of American comics. The red peak on the back of the jersey mirrored Superman’s suit, drawing from his traditional blue body suit and red cape design.

Expanding Her Reach

Once the official city connect jerseys were released, Sarah shifted her focus to Cavalier designs. However, an incredible opportunity soon presented itself.

Those not on social media or unable to attend games at Classic Auto Group Park might not be aware of how deeply involved the Lake County Captains are with the greater Cleveland community. As the High-A affiliate for the Cleveland Guardians, the Captains consistently engage local companies, organizations, fans, and artists throughout the season. The 2023 season was no different.

What began as a fun creative challenge to improve her skills and connect with fellow Cleveland fans turned into a dream come true.

Collaborations and New Designs

In a partnership with the Cleveland Monsters, Sarah was contacted to design a jersey for the Caps that incorporated the Monster’s logo. She also had the chance to create an original design for Lake County. Refining her original Forest City design, the Captains wore the jerseys for Forest City day at the ballpark!

A Creative Legacy

From pop culture inspirations to on-field designs, Sarah’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. She continues to create new designs for both the Guardians and the Cavaliers. Her work can be found on her Twitter and graphic design Instagram. Her Instagram features additional Guardians designs, including one based on the city flag and another paying homage to the Sixth City nickname. It also showcases some of her Cavalier designs, including jerseys inspired by the local restaurant scene and clean WNBA-inspired looks.

Every one of Sarah’s designs is not only creative but also deeply intentional. She researches the city’s history and puts in significant effort to ensure her designs accurately represent its identity. Despite the challenges of expressing creativity through a medium like sports jerseys, Sarah continues to find innovative ways to capture the many facets of Cleveland’s rich heritage in fresh and functional designs.

I look forward to seeing what brilliant ideas Sarah comes up with next.