Ballard FC’s annual artist collaboration series continues with “The Meléndez Kit.” Victor Meléndez is an art director, graphic designer and illustrator from Seattle, originally from Mexico City.
Meléndez is an avid sports fan who has done work with the Seattle Kraken, Sounders FC, and the FIFA Club World Cup. This kit gave Meléndez another chance to add his art into the local sports scene. When asked about why he designed this kit, Meléndez said “I love working with local organizations. And this one (Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC) in particular, I really wanted to work with because I love football and used to work here in Ballard and am very familiar with the neighborhood.”
Meléndez’s Mexican heritage is a big part of all of his art and he combines it with the nature of the PNW to create his own unique style. The Meléndez kit features a skull like those found on ofrendas during Día de los Muertos as well as other traditional Latin American symbols.
The clubs took it to the next level in 2026 as this year the kit has an anaglyph design featuring a color shift that can be seen with 3-D glasses. Each kit purchased will come with a pair of unique 3-D glasses featuring Victor Meléndez’s art on the frames. Below, you can see how the kit shows the different aspects of the design when looking through a red or blue lens.
Just like the 2025 Sarah Robbins Kit, this year’s artist collaboration features a lenticular badge that features both the Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC crests.
Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC are the first clubs ever to have a dual badge kit that can be worn as is by both the men’s and women’s teams.
The Victor Meléndez kit is the fifth artist kit in Ballard FC history. Take a look below at the previous artist collaborations.
The artist collaboration series was created to spotlight local artists in our community and celebrate these artists who make our community a more vibrant place.
Meléndez’s work in Ballard can be seen all across Seattle including right off of Market Street, a few blocks from the club’s Team Store.
Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC, like the entire Seattle Soccer community, owes a lot of its success to the Latino population, both players and fans alike. Beto Apolinar and Tiffany Mallick were intentionally chosen as the Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC models for this kit. Apolinar is a two-year Ballard FC midfielder who helped the team win a NW Division Title and Western Conference Championship on their run to the National Final. Mallick is the Vice President for Salmon Bay FC and Ballard FC who was essential in getting Salmon Bay FC started last season and has served as Ballard FC’s Athletic Trainer since 2023. Both Apolinar and Mallick represent the Latino population inside Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC that helps the clubs excel and perform at the highest level.
The Meléndez Kit serves not only as a great design, but as a celebration of the local soccer and Latino communities that make Seattle so great.
Fans can order the Meléndez Kit online or shop in-person at the Team Store. The clubs will also be hosting a meet-and-greet event with Victor on Saturday April 25th from 1:00-3:00pm at the Team Store. Meet Victor, shop the kit, and grab an autograph from the artist himself!
The clubs will wear the kits on June 24th for the Artist Night doubleheader as Ballard FC host West Seattle Junction FC at 4pm and Salmon Bay FC host the Tacoma Galaxy at 7:30pm. Victor will be onsite to be honored at halftime and meet with fans at both matches.
In addition to the kit, Meléndez has designed a dual scarf featuring both crests featured below.
Written by Max Dresbach
