Author
Nina Stankovič
The Netherlands is known for its orange colour. When the Dutch team steps onto the field, there is no doubt about who they are – for both fans and opponents. A similar example is Italy, recognized by their blue jerseys, Brazilians by their yellow, and Spaniards by their red. These colours are not just part of the jerseys; they have become symbols of national identity and pride. Dutch fans proudly wear orange, Italians blue, and Brazilians yellow because these colours represent their country and connect them with sporting successes.
The Netherlands is known for its orange colour. When the Dutch team steps onto the field, there is no doubt about who they are – for both fans and opponents. A similar example is Italy, recognized by their blue jerseys, Brazilians by their yellow, and Spaniards by their red. These colours are not just part of the jerseys; they have become symbols of national identity and pride.
Slovenian sports jerseys are currently not strong and recognizable enough. Blue and green on a white background, along with the depiction of Triglav, are steps in the right direction but insufficient for a truly strong visual impact. Although we have internalized these elements, the result is not striking enough to stand out among a crowd of other teams.
Visual identity is not merely an aesthetic element; it is crucial for building collective spirit and national belonging. A strong visual identity helps create a sense of community and pride that transcends sports fields. When our athletes compete, fans need to feel that they are part of something greater, something recognizable and clearly defined.
Slovenia has fantastic and truly exceptional athletes who achieve outstanding results. Our cyclists, basketball players, footballers, volleyball players, handball players, climbers, sailors, kayakers, judokas, alpine skiers, ski jumpers, and many others are among the best in the world. Our fans are passionate and dedicated – proof of this is that practically 1% of our nation watched the football match between Slovenia and Serbia live in Munich. This is an extraordinary and practically unique achievement in the world. These fans deserve to feel connected and proud through a strong visual identity.
Every athlete who wins a medal or breaks world records contributes to forming a positive image of Slovenia in the world. The visual identity of our national team must reflect this greatness and pride.
Even if we have not chosen the colours of our flag – which is shared by 18 countries – we should enhance the existing green and blue into a more recognizable and strong visual concept. Slovenian sports organizations and jersey designers should strive to create a recognizable colour scheme that becomes synonymous with our country. The visual identity should be clear, strong, and something our fans will proudly wear and that will evoke pride at every glance.
If we want our sports achievements to truly shine and connect our nation, it is important that the visual communication of our national team reflect our proud identity. Only then can we achieve that fans identify even more with their sports heroes and proudly wear the colours that represent everything good and special in our small, yet great Slovenia.
Fans are a crucial part of the visual identity of the national team. Their dedication and passion must be supported by clear and strong visual communication that allows them to feel connected to the team and the country. With improved and recognizable visual identity, fans will more confidently wear the colours of their national team and spread Slovenian pride at every step.
Our athletes already achieve extraordinary success despite coming from a small country. These successes are an inspiration for the entire nation and can serve as a basis for creating a strong visual identity. Every athlete who wins a medal or breaks world records contributes to forming a positive image of Slovenia in the world. The visual identity of our national team must reflect this greatness and pride.
The visual communication of the Slovenian national sports team is crucial for building national identity and pride. Although we have already made some steps in the right direction, we need to strengthen and make our visual image more recognizable.
Slovenia needs a strong, bold, and recognizable visual identity that will enable our athletes and fans to proudly identify with it. Only then can we achieve that every success of our athletes shines even more and that fans proudly wear the colours of their national team. Slovenia has all the conditions to become a visually recognizable sports giant – we just need a bit of courage for a stronger and more distinctive identity. In addition, yes, we need a national fan colour!