About

I’m Alexandru Istratuca, an apparel and graphic designer working across football kit design, 3D apparel visualisation, brand identity, and sports media. My focus is culture-led storytelling, building designs with a clear core idea, where every detail earns its place. I began designing in 2016 after discovering the online football concept community. I had no background in design or computers at the time, I just had sport, curiosity, and the habit of drawing as a kid. I started with simple logo experiments and early kit concepts, posting work online, learning tools, and gradually building a practice that blends research, narrative, and structure. In 2018/19 I designed official match kits for FC Botoșani, working within real constraints like existing manufacturer templates, production limitations, and club decision-making. I proposed multiple variants, refined the selected direction, and supported the handover to Erreà for production through the club’s representative. I also worked as a freelance graphic designer for Qelemes, a French sportswear brand. I produced catalog and product visuals for football kits and training wear, working to deadlines and print limits. Some designs were worn in competition by African clubs including Banjul Hawks (The Gambia) and Teungueth FC (Senegal). Alongside client work, I develop self-initiated projects through alis., a sportswear concept rooted in my own name (ALexandru IStratuca). I’ve designed and produced a physical football shirt sample, handling the pipeline end-to-end, pattern development, panel engineering, fabric and trims selection, mesh and insertions, and embroidery, using a workflow that combines Procreate sketching, Illustrator pattern and vector work, Photoshop presentation, and CLO3D for testing and iteration. In parallel, I create sports-focused content, especially around volleyball. I volunteer with Middlesex University Volleyball, producing match photography, reels, posters, and video posters, helping build a consistent visual presence and grow the page from around 700 followers to nearly 1,300 between September 2025 and February 2026. I’m currently in Year 2 of BA (Hons) Graphic Design at UAL Camberwell, where I’m refining my approach to systems thinking, branding, and design as communication, including ongoing work around projects like Ledger. My work has been featured in Romanian local and national media, and internationally, including features in French and Brazilian outlets. If you want to hire me, collaborate, or talk ideas, feel free to get in touch.