[Art] Cool illustration ideas for sports days and athletic festivals

Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

Especially if you’re good at drawing, with sports day season approaching, your school might have asked you to design the cover for the sports festival pamphlet, right?

Designing illustrations that many people will see is tough!

You accepted the request but have no ideas… it happens all the time.

In this article, we’ve put together some cool illustration ideas related to school sports days!

Use the ideas here as inspiration and create your own original piece!

[Art] Cool Illustration Ideas for Sports Day and Athletic Festival (1–10)

sneakers

A dynamic design! Here are some sneaker ideas.

Many schools likely hold sports days and athletic festivals with aims such as improving students’ physical fitness and fostering group behavior.

By featuring sneakers—athletic shoes—as the main motif, you can convey a fresh, energetic feel.

The mood can also change depending on the color scheme and sneaker design.

If there’s a specified sneaker model, highlighting its distinctive features in the illustration can create a design that students will feel attached to.

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anthropomorphism

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—Snake—#Illustration #illustration snake #OriginalMaleCharacters
♫ Original Song – Honrowa [Dawn Fantasy] – Honrowa

Let’s draw using your favorite motif! Here are some ideas for anthropomorphism.

Anthropomorphism refers to expressing non-human things—such as animals, plants, objects, or concepts—by attributing human characteristics and emotions to them.

This time, let’s try drawing an anthropomorphized design.

In the video, a coiled, spiraling snake is anthropomorphized into a man wearing a kimono.

The color and shape of the eyes make use of the snake’s distinctive traits.

What’s more, the white kimono seems to express the mysterious allure and charm associated with a white snake.

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Sky and the Whale

Ignite your imagination! Here are ideas featuring the sky and whales.

Are you one of many who can’t decide on a design? These are dynamic design ideas we highly recommend.

A student wearing a headband and gym uniform is looking up at the sky from inside a stadium.

In the clear blue weather, a whale is swimming upward between large white clouds.

The text is rendered in blue and white, giving the overall design a cohesive and striking color scheme.

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[Art] Cool Illustration Ideas for Sports Day/Athletic Festival (11–20)

Thunderclap and Lightning

It looks like it’s glowing! Here are some ideas for a thunderbolt-inspired design.

Many of you might be thinking about creating designs for school sports days or athletic festivals using animals with a cool image as motifs.

This time, let’s try combining a striking slogan with an animal motif.

Since the team’s theme color is yellow, a design with lightning striking against a black background leaves a strong impression.

By being creative with the color scheme, it can even look as if it’s truly glowing.

Definitely give it a try!

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Shin Godzilla-style

A design finished in the style of the film Shin Godzilla, radiating overwhelming presence, is an approach that adds dramatic intensity to the sports festival.

By unifying the overall palette in red and black and infusing the background with quietness and tension, it leaves an impression that sets it apart from an ordinary event.

Layering student silhouettes and moments from the competitions creates an atmosphere as if they are confronting a colossal challenge.

Place a short message in the center to deliver a powerful impact.

Brief, sharp phrases like “Are you ready?” or “Run at full speed” are effective.

This bold, confrontational design draws out anticipation and passion, elevating the atmosphere of the entire event as a memorable poster.

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mutō

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A hundred flowers in full bloom

If you want to go bold with a high-impact design, why not incorporate the vibrant splendor of “a hundred flowers in full bloom” into your sports day or field day visuals? The sample image features a monochrome design inspired by five types of flowers, but it would also look great to make them colorful by using class colors.

With graphic design, you can apply it not only to pamphlets but also to T-shirts and merchandise.

Considering decorative typography for the “Hyakka Ryoran” (a hundred flowers blooming in profusion) theme will make it look even more intricate and polished!

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miyabi

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Night Parade of One Hundred Demons

If you want a cool or dark vibe, designing a Hyakki Yagyō is recommended.

Hyakki Yagyō refers to a procession where a wide variety of yōkai roam in a line.

Thanks to anime and manga, many people may associate it with being “strong” or “cool.” If you’re unsure how to depict it since these creatures don’t exist in reality, try referencing the Hyakki Yagyō scroll paintings or the illustrations of manga artist Shigeru Mizuki.

The sight of various yōkai forming a procession can also convey a message of unity and solidarity.

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yamamoto

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