THE DESIGN MUSEUM // 85-87 LA MARZOCCO

FOOTBALL: DESIGNING THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

Football is without doubt an art form. The combination of technical skill, mental problem solving, and physicality make it one of the ultimate spectacles. So, when major aspects of footballing history went on display, we couldn’t resist a visit…

WORDS & INTERVIEW JAI MCINTOSH PHOTOGRAPHY THE DESIGN MUSEUM

Football belongs to everyone. A slightly odd, overly tribal game in which 22 people chase a ball around a field with the two aims in mind: score a goal, do not concede a goal. It is brilliant. Clearly, the Design Museum agrees.

The most recent exhibition, Football: Designing the Beautiful Game, has been on display at the Design Museum since early April and finishes at the end of August. Chronicling the rise of football from its humble beginnings to the overlord of world sport, the exhibition contains some of football's most iconic memorabilia such as the original 1930 World Cup Final ball and Pele’s 1958 Brazil shirt.

Football is always on display, and yet, in terms of intellectual musings, football intellectualism is often limited to statisticians and the tactics board of the overly vocal individual with a coaching badge or two. This exhibition, however, has displayed a new way of understanding the cultural significance of football. In typical EJ fashion,

we went and spoke to the assistant curator Rachel Hajek to find out that little bit more about this endeavor.

JAI How did football evolve into such a significant part of our cultural landscape?

RH It costs almost nothing to play football. It doesn’t depend on expensive equipment and can be played anywhere. The only essential requirement is a ball, and this can be fashioned from any number of humble materials. This is one reason for the game’s immense popularity. Secondly, fans have been and continue to be hugely important in making the sport such a significant part of our cultural landscape. There is a level of fan engagement in football that you do not get in any other sport. Finally, the establishment of tournaments such as the FA Cup and World Cup, form the backbone of the industry and are the source of its wealth, impact and reach. They function to draw audiences and even have the capacity for nation-building. JAI How has the development of stadia enhanced football’s role as a major sporting spectacle?

RH The popularity of football as a spectator sport puts specific demands on stadiums. Sightlines, acoustics and flow are important, as well as a sense of procession, ritual and communion. Architects have increasingly seen the stadium as an opportunity for experimentation and architectural expression, exploring the relationship between the stadium and its surrounding landscape. Remarkable stadiums have been built by renowned architects, adding another layer to the experience of going to a match. For example Allianz Arena in Munich by Herzog & de Meuron, San Siro in Milan, adapted by Ragazzi and Partners, and Braga stadium designed by Eduardo Souto de Moura.

JAI Football has always transgressed its on-field boundaries, a game bigger than 90 minutes. Yet, how has the development and popularity of football games influenced the way in which football is perceived and played?

RH Football possesses an extraordinary power to connect and bring people together. It allows fans to dream, inserting themselves into the field of play. Design has created numerous opportunities for this beyond the game itself, through sticker collecting, tabletop games and e-sports. In this sense, these designs allow for us to play and think about the game in multiple ways.

JAI What are the three must-see artifacts on display?

RH We have around 500 objects in the exhibition so it is nearly impossible to say what is a must-see, but there are many ‘star’ objects. I think the two balls used in the very first World Cup final in 1930 are quite special. As is Pelé’s shirt from the 1958 FIFA World Cup, and the large-scale banners created by Peter Carney.