Strategy
One Brand, Two Cities, Two Custom Designs.
The Brief
Paylocity is one of the largest human capital management companies in the United States, and its Washington, D.C. sales team had a function at the end of July, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup season. They wanted a custom jersey carrying the Paylocity logo and symbols representing D.C., in a way that the individuals receiving them could wear beyond the event. The design had to follow Paylocity's brand guidelines exactly, and it had to be attributed to D.C. clearly enough that anyone seeing it would understand the reference. Every jersey needed to be personalized uniquely to the person receiving it, in addition to fitting a wide range of body types across the team. The same was requested for the Baltimore team, ensuring that the symbols and references could easily be attributed to Maryland.
Our Approach
We approached this order with the level of excitement that the World Cup brought to cities across the nation, and created designs that would delight those receiving them.
Week 1
Understood the brand before we designed.
We met with each team to understand their vision, then studied the brand assets, guidelines and standards closely so that every design decision would align accordingly.
Week 1
Researched what makes each city unique.
Our design team gathered the landmarks and symbols particular to each region, then narrowed them to the ones that looked most striking when repeated across a jersey.
Weeks 1 and 2
Presented four directions to each team.
We designed four jersey directions for each team, in home and away colorways the way a club would, and let each team choose the design they were most excited about wearing.
Weeks 2 to 4
Produced, inspected and delivered.
We partnered with a manufacturer that specializes in sublimated jerseys, approved a pre-production sample, inspected the finished items closely, and delivered them to the client.
Curation
Designed Around the City Each Team Represents.
For the D.C. team we went with a dark colorway, using a custom pattern built from the monuments around the city. For the Baltimore team we used Maryland themes and patterns, with the Maryland blue crab and the state's initials repeating across a geometric pattern, set on white. Both jerseys carry the Paylocity logo on the left chest, the wordmark and tagline across the back, and each individual's custom number beneath it. We were intentional about keeping the shoulder and trim colors consistent, to ensure the two designs reflected one company while each pattern stayed unmistakably unique to its own city.
Production
Every Element Checked Before a Single Jersey Was Made.
Our team intentionally chose materials that carried the brand's bright palette, matched Paylocity's colors exactly, and kept the detail in each pattern visible without competing with the logo. We confirmed that the proof, and then the finished jerseys, aligned with the brand guidelines. Once the client approved, we worked with the manufacturer to produce a pre-production sample, and once that was finalized full production began. Nothing left the factory without being inspected, and every jersey was examined once more at our fulfillment center.
The Standard
Held across both the dark and the white design.
Each one drawn to hold its detail at full size.
In sizes across the full range the teams needed.
And every piece checked again before delivery.
Experience
Ready Early and Handed Over in Person.
The jerseys were completed ahead of schedule, so we offered to deliver them six days before the teams needed them. The excitement from the team was immediate and evident.
That is super exciting and yes, I would love to get them ASAP.
Sales Director, Paylocity