Vintage Sports Picture Frame: Design Preview

Vintage Sports Aesthetic

For the final project, my plan for the aesthetic will be vintage sports. The vintage sports aesthetic captures the nostalgic feel of classic sports memorabilia, drawing from the styles, colors, and materials of past decades. It often features muted, faded colors like deep reds, navy blues, and mustard yellows, giving everything a warm and aged look. Instead of bright whites, off-whites and creams are used to mimic the natural fading of old prints and fabrics.

 

Typography, which is how written language is arranged to look visually appealing, plays a big role in this aesthetic, with bold block lettering, script fonts, and fonts that resemble classic team logos or old newspaper headlines. The graphics often include vintage logos, hand-drawn elements, or iconic imagery from past sports eras, such as retro mascots or traditional team emblems. One image that is important to me is shown above by The Salt Lake Tribune (2), which is when Tom Brady won one of his seven Super Bowls. The materials used in vintage sports design contribute to its old-school charm. Aged wood, distressed leather, and textured fabrics like wool and felt bring to mind old varsity jackets, game-day pennants, and worn-out equipment bags. There are also stitched details, embroidered patches, and slightly worn textures that add authenticity. Common imagery includes black-and-white or retro photographs of legendary athletes (as seen in the featured image by WallpaperCave (1)), vintage trading cards, ticket stubs, and retro sports gear like wooden baseball bats and leather football helmets. Scoreboards, classic signage, and old stadium aesthetics also play into the look, reinforcing the connection to a specific time period in sports history.

 

Lighting is often warm and soft, which enhances the nostalgic effect. In displays, subtle backlighting or spotlights help highlight key elements, such as framed jerseys, iconic photos, or memorabilia. The overall goal of the vintage sports aesthetic is to put off a sense of history, passion, and a timeless appreciation for the game, making others feel as though they have stepped back into a golden era of sports.

 

Project Overview

With all the information from above kept in mind, my final project will be creating a vintage sports-themed framed picture with subtle LED backlighting. A sketch of this product can be seen below in image (3). The LED strip will be lined along the interior perimeter of the frame, providing lighting that is adjustable which will enhance the aesthetic without overpowering the photo itself. The lights will be battery-operated, using replaceable batteries, and will be controlled via a remote for basic brightness and color adjustment, providing the dynamic aspect to the final project.

Inspiration and Existing Designs

I was inspired to do this project by looking at various sports memorabilia displays and modern artwork that includes lighting to illuminate it. A specific example of this is classic sports framing, which involves a framed sports print or jersey that has a simple, clean presentation with a wood or metal frame. Also, when I took a trip to the movie theater recently, there were backlit displays for movie advertisements, creating a dramatic effect that enhances the image. Another example of an inspiration is vintage aesthetics that use warm colors, distressed wood, and aged materials. This is typical for vintage sports decor, which can be seen in a lot of local sports bars.

 

There are many existing designs for LED-lit picture frames, although most represent the modern aesthetic with a sleek and high-tech look. My design is different because it combines a vintage aesthetic with subtle, adjustable lighting that focuses on the photo more than the lighting itself.

 

Project Vision and Specifications

My main goal with this final project is to evoke nostalgia with the framed picture and try to make it seem as if it were an artifact from a historic sports era. The frame will have a rustic, aged look, possibly using metal or wood with a distressed finish. The lighting on the interior of the frame will be soft and enhance the picture without being distracting to the art piece.

 

The following summarizes the specifications for my project:

• Frame: A shadowbox frame with vintage-style metal or wood with a distressed finish
• LED Strip: Battery-operated, remote-controlled, with both color and brightness adjustment
• Battery Pack: Placed in a discreet location but accessible for easy replacement
• Dimensions: The picture and the frame will be 11 x 14
• Power source for the lighting: Replaceable batteries, either AA or AAA

 

Alternate Aesthetics and Approach Changes

My alternate aesthetics all included the same final product of a picture frame. This was because I have an empty space on the wall in my room that I would like to fill, and I thought this would be a great project to do so. When I was initially thinking about the design process and other aesthetics my project could fit into, I first considered the modern sports aesthetic. This aesthetic is quite the opposite, which would include a clean, glossed frame with brighter LED lights. I was close to going with this one, however, the materials would be more expensive and would not fit the decor in my room, which was one of my goals. Another aesthetic that I considered was the industrial locker room style for the picture frame. Somewhat similar to the vintage sports frame, this one would have exposed rivets and a worn finish. I think it would have looked great, but I wanted to add more touch with lights and make it less tough-looking. One more aesthetic that was on the table of options during my brainstorming was using a cyberpunk aesthetic. This would have changed the picture frame to have a modern appearance, similar to the modern sports aesthetic I was also considering. The cyberpunk picture frame would have had a futuristic-looking frame, LED lights that are brighter, and a more recent sports photo. A sketch of what the final product would look like for this aesthetic can be seen below in image (4). These aesthetics surprisingly did not change my initial design, except it directed me to lean toward a wooden frame rather than a metal frame. This is because I did not want my aesthetic to get confused for a different one, such as the industrial locker aesthetic.

Project Timeline

I have separated the fabrication steps into the different aspects of the project, which are the frame, LED installation, battery and remote setup, and then the final assembly. Below are the steps in order, which are also outlined in image (5) below where I have the entire schedule laid out. It includes a week off for spring break and some additional time in case I need to order more materials or something goes wrong in the fabrication phase. On the bottom of the timeline graphic, a preliminary materials list can be found. This will help me keep track of what I need and what I already have, so I can stay on top of the materials I need to purchase in the next week before spring break.

 

1. Frame:
   1. Purchase the wooden frame
   2. Route a groove along the inner edge for LED placement
   3. Add a distressed finish
2. LED Installation:
   1. Verify the LED strip functions well before applying
   2. Attach the LED strip with adhesive backing
   3. Wire the strip to the battery pack and ensure the connection is secure
3. Battery and Remote Setup:
   1. Mount the battery pack in a discreet, yet accessible location (possibly the side of the frame, wired through a hole in the rear of the frame
   2. Ensure the remote sensor is properly positioned and will function
4. Final Assembly:
   1. Insert the framed picture
   2. Test lighting, adjust brightness, and finalize placement on my wall

Skill Acquisition and Challenges

While I have experience with basic woodworking and electronics, one skill I believe I need to work on is LED installation techniques to ensure even lighting. I have installed LED lights in my room before, however, one of the colors broke each time when I installed it on the corners of my walls. Since the frame will also have corners, I need to ensure I am being precise and aware that I am not bending the strip to a point where it will get damaged. Another skill that I need to work on is wood-distressing methods. I am familiar with how it works and I have done minimal wood-staining in the past, however, with an important project like this one I do not want to mess it up. In order to achieve a truly vintage look, I will have to prep the wooden frame by creating artificial wear and tear before staining it and applying a topcoat to highlight the naturally aged look.

 

This project combines a vintage aesthetic with subtle modern technology, creating a functional and visually appealing display. The final product will be a framed sports picture that adds warmth and nostalgia to any space while offering customization of lighting and brightness to the user.

 

References:

• WallpaperCave, n.d., https://wallpapercave.com/jerry-rice-wallpaper
• The Salt Lake Tribune, n.d., https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=4906415&itype=CMSID