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Lets Welcome Li Ning Sports USA
Oh man… every once in a while you get a client who finds you from a google search and you think “oh my goodness this is unbeleivable.” This is exactly how I felt after Jay called me up one afternoon looking for a graphic designer in Portland. He said something like “we are lookin for some really good graphic design and new website - can you help with that?”
The rest is history.
For those of you who don’t know, Li Ning made worlwide headlines when the company founder, former Olympic Champion, Mr. Li Ning lit the Olympic Torch in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games held in Beijing, China. They continue making headlines as they emerge in the US market place with their retail store opening in Portland Oregon. - read more at the OregonLive Article.
photo by:
Over 2 years Jay Li and the Li Ning team grew from a small office in the Perl district to a US Head quarters with over 20 staffers and numerous top talent contractors such as myself. It is rare in a world of competive Sporting Goods industry that one person could have so much creative freedom (in some ways there is probably good reason for that - but who am I to argue). I had a blast doing comps using images of NBA All Star Baron Davis (flames never looked so good), montaging Kung Fu sacred symbols like dragons and pagodas, oh man… good times.
Li Ning is not just another sporting goods company. They make concious efforts to retain their cultural roots. They focus on sports like Badminton, Tai Chi, Table Tennis and Kung Fu as well as embrace traditional North American sports like Basketball.
There is so much more I can go on for 3-4 posts, but I will spare you, but not without highlighting some of the cool backend mojo. We did some major EDI/ERP integration with the ecommerce - trying to automate as much of the site as possible. Although many images were supplied, so much of this website and online branding was done with this same computer I am writing this post with. So much fun - great web team - and I wish Li Ning major success in the US.
Thanks again Google for sending Jay Li my way - and on the reverse of that - thank you Jay for believing in us.
Visit the new website: http://www.li-ningusa.com
If you are a fan of Baron Davis - you should pick up our new Baron Davis vinyl toy
