As a new season gets underway, it’s the perfect moment to give your game-day media a quick update. At ScoreVision, our creative team has a front-row seat to what’s trending in sports content—from high school gyms & college arenas to the pros.
This week, we’re spotlighting the latest graphic design trends shaping the look and feel of sports media. After diving into social feeds and taking a behind-the-scenes look at what schools and teams are creating, here are the top four trends we’re seeing right now:
Bold fonts help bring high contrast to designs, making it easier to instantly direct your audience’s focus to key moments and messages. This is especially important during high-energy game-day productions when information needs to be clear and immediately noticeable to fans, athletes, and staff. Bold type helps names, numbers, or calls-to-action stand out even when viewed from farther away—an essential factor in large sports facilities. Additionally, this style is optimized for LED displays: broader, heavier characters maintain clarity and crispness at a distance or on screens with larger pixel pitches (such as 6mm to 10mm), where thinner or narrower fonts can lose definition or appear faint. Leveraging bold typography is not just about aesthetics—it’s a practical choice for maximizing readability and boosting visual impact throughout your venue.
What it looks like:
Large, high-contrast fonts that dominate the screen
Wide, condensed, or stretched lettering to fit dynamic layouts
Custom typefaces or varsity-style fonts with flair
Where it shows up:
Player intros, MVP slides, countdowns, quote cards
In-venue hype moments and Instagram graphics
The ’90s are back! We’re seeing this nostalgic influence everywhere, with designers layering retro-inspired textures and effects onto today’s digital templates for a powerful blend of old and new. There’s something about these gritty finishes—think halftones, scuffed overlays, or even paint strokes—that can anchor a program’s branding in tradition while keeping visuals fresh and current. For teams and schools, it’s a creative way to pay homage to the past and connect with your community’s shared memories, all while driving fresh excitement on game day. Make sure to choose your textures thoughtfully. On high-resolution screens with a fine pixel pitch, almost any texture can come through with clarity and detail. But if you’re working with a broader pixel pitch, like a 6mm or 10mm display, subtle details can get lost or look muddy, so stick with bolder, more defined patterns that translate well to your LED boards and make your graphics pop no matter where your fans are seated.
What it looks like:
Subtle, gritty textures, halftone effects, paint strokes, or worn-paper overlays
Often layered behind player photos or stat callouts
Where it shows up:
Game day matchup graphics, coach quotes, rivalry promos
While mostly modern and youth-driven, it’s no surprise that this look has become a top trend across sports media. Neon hues, glowing strokes, and vibrant light effects have surged in popularity over the past two years, showing up in everything from social posts to animated stadium graphics. These visuals inject energy and excitement into any event, helping your content stand out in a crowded arena and keeping fans engaged from pregame to the final buzzer. Whether you’re using electric gradients for halftime stats, illuminating sponsor recognition, or accentuating player-of-the-game highlights, these effects immediately capture attention and energize the environment. Plus, the flexibility of tools like Canva makes it accessible for anyone—even those new to design—to experiment with neon, glows, and overlays. With just a few clicks, you can bring a fresh, contemporary edge to your graphics and truly light up the fan experience in your venue.
What it looks like:
Where it shows up:
Makes every player feel like a pro. Even in high school or club settings, this approach elevates the athlete and gives media teachers a creative format to work within. By spotlighting individuals with bold visuals, dynamic poses, and dramatic lighting or effects, you bring collegiate or professional-level excitement into every event. This not only boosts athlete morale but also reflects positively on your program, creating content that families, fans, and communities are proud to share. Plus, for media teachers and student teams, these templates and techniques open doors for hands-on learning in sports production, graphic design, and storytelling—helping students gain confidence and professional skills as they take ownership of high-profile game day content.
What it looks like:
Where it shows up:
Whether you're designing for the gym, the field, or the fans at home, these trends are a great way to keep your graphics feeling fresh and relevant this season. From bold fonts to gritty textures, electric colorways to spotlight moments, there’s no shortage of ways to elevate your media and bring new energy to your game-day content.
Got students creating incredible graphics? Need an easy way to showcase their work? ScoreVision makes it simple to upload, manage, and display media from anywhere with an internet connection. It’s a powerful way to highlight student talent and bring your entire production together.