Toronto Raptors Redesign
This is a personal project and not affiliated with the Toronto Raptors.
Role
Creative Director, Designer
Tools
Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate
Year
2025
I’ve always been a big fan of the Toronto Raptors’ logo and branding history. From the iconic Dino logo to the claw, We The North, the chevron, and the vibrant color schemes, the Raptors have built a strong visual identity over the years. Like many, I was captivated by the claw logo when it first debuted—it had that sleek, modern appeal that defined many contemporary designs at the time.
However, I think it’s time to evolve. While the current branding is clean and minimalist, there’s room to inject more personality and dimension. We can modernize the logos without oversimplifying, incorporating fresh graphics and playing with the visual identity to make it feel more dynamic. A great example of this kind of thoughtful rebranding is the Minnesota Timberwolves, who updated their logo with a modern approach that retained depth and character.
Personally, I’d love to see a return to purple—it’s bold and unique, and I think it could revitalize the Raptors’ look. While red, black, and white are classic, they’re starting to feel a bit overused. Adding a touch of gold to the palette could also elevate the brand, giving it a fresh, sophisticated edge.
The design blends classic and modern elements, featuring a simple yet menacing depiction of a dinosaur. It incorporates the full Toronto Raptors color palette—purple, red, black, gold, white, and silver—while maintaining balance and harmony. Gold accents are strategically applied to seal and enhance the logo.. The logo is presented in a round format for versatility, with grey used subtly to complement the design without overpowering other elements.
I initially explored using the script lettering for the logo instead of the athletic/collegiate font. While it was the version I started with, I ultimately decided that the script lettering works better as a secondary wordmark.
