Port City Roller Derby, ABC Creative partner on new logo

OSWEGO — Port City Roller Derby skates into its third season with a new logo and look thanks to ABC Creative, which donated its services to keep the league rolling.

ABC Creative Interactive Developer Nick Machia and Account Manager Jamie Leszczynski — who bouts for Port City Roller Derby under the name J-Rock-It — show off a shirt with the league’s new logo, designed and donated by the agency.

When the community-based not-for-profit Oz Roller Girls Inc., which runs the league, wanted to honor the Port City’s nautical heritage with an active new look, league member and ABC Account Manager Jamie Leszczynski (aka J-Rock-It) successfully pitched her agency to provide the pro bono work.

ABC Creative Interactive Developer Nick Machia and Account Manager Jamie Leszczynski look over some of Machia’s designs for the new Port City Roller Derby logo. Leszczynski, a longtime member of Oswego’s original roller derby league as jammer J-Rock-It, convinced her agency to donate its work for the non-profit league’s new look.

After receiving the go-ahead, she tapped the talents of Interactive Developer Nick Machia to bring the logo to life. Leszczynski and the league came up with colors and ideas to incorporate into potential designs and Machia drafted four unique concepts for the league to review.

“The winner includes plenty of nautical references in honor of Oswego’s rich shipping history,” Leszczynski said. “It also carries over the league’s vibrant green and powder blue colors. Tube-topped, tattooed and ready to roll, the logo’s centerpiece derby girl has a rugged and retro flavor.”

Machia calls his design “aggressive, but approachable,” which works for the family-friendly imagery the league was going for.

For more information about ABC Creative’s idea-based logo and branding services, visit www.abcideabased.com, follow them on Twitter at @abccreative or check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/abccreativegroup.

The next chance to see the logo in action is June 15, when Port City Roller Derby’s Breakwall Bombshells host the Albany All-Stars in Oswego’s Crisafulli Rink.

Doors will open at 5 p.m., with a 6 p.m. whistle for a Lagoon Squad junior derby intrasquad scrimmage and the main event starting around 7:30 p.m.

Port City Roller Derby is produced by Oz Roller Girls Inc., a member-run nonprofit organization incorporated in 2011 and dedicated to athletic competition, empowerment and supporting its community.

PCRD always seeks skaters, refs and other volunteers for its adult (18 and over) and juniors (ages 10 to 17) teams, and will provide training.

For more information, visit www.portcityrollerderby.org or email portcityrd@gmail.com