Sky Sports is one of the UK’s breaking sports news powerhouses – but it’s not just the pundits on screen who make it happen. Each transfer and tribute needs visuals carefully curated, which is where Liam Harrison comes in.
Graphic designer feels a small word for what Liam Harrison and his colleagues do at Sky Sports; ‘visual storytellers’ might be a better term. They are essential in bringing sports stories to life for their audience and it takes a mix of a sharp eye for design, careful preparation, and the ability to create stunning visuals in chaos.
“For big sporting events like the Women’s Euros this summer, we have graphics and branding planned months in advance. But for breaking news that happens on the spot, we often have 10 or 15 minutes to come up with something, so you have to be really on it!”
However, just because they have limited time doesn’t mean they can sacrifice the quality of the designs. The team at Sky Sports News is made up of 20 people across the Sky Sports network.
“On ‘Good Morning Sports Fans’, we have around 10-15 requests between 5am and 8am. It can be quite challenging, but the longer you work here, the more you get used to the fast nature of the newsroom,” says Harrison.
Each post is also crafted to exacting specifications – next time you watch Sky Sports, you might notice their design rules. Premier League graphics are in blue, EFL is in red, and each sport has specific fonts and gradients. The team primarily use Adobe Photoshop for their designs, as well as Illustrator for graphics and infographics and After Effects for animations.
However, creative freedom can still flow. One of Harrison’s favourite projects was being involved in designing the set for The Transfer Show live at the Battersea Power Station.
“It was my first time designing a set. Seeing your artwork printed out in real life is a great feeling”.
— Liam Harrison (@LiamsGraphics) June 12, 2024
Another memorable graphic Harrison made was a farewell tribute for Trent Alexander-Arnold when he left Liverpool. It wasn’t breaking news, but Harrison explains how the project inspired him: “I took inspiration from all the murals around Liverpool, which the city’s quite well known for. I created a piece that reflected a brick wall with some of his best moments on it.”
This ones extra special😍 @BCFC @SkySportsNews #BCFC pic.twitter.com/I5d9Cfra9p
— Liam Harrison (@LiamsGraphics) April 8, 2025
Harrison’s own team is Birmingham City. He says there’s not much room for bias in the design world – “you just have to make what gets put in front of you” – but there was one satisfying moment for his own team recently.
“It’s been quite fun this season as I got to make the promoted graphic after we broke the points record.”
The fast-paced nature of the job does come with its challenges.
“Sometimes you have a really good idea for a graphic, but the turnaround is so fast-paced that you only have time to do something really simple. That happens all the time, but you have to learn from it and adapt,” he says.
One of the most rewarding parts of the job is the variety of projects, including commemorations for momentous people.
“I designed a look that celebrated the life of Sven-Göran Eriksson. It was a project that involved several different people – journalists, news editors, presenters, video editors, and more. Those projects are a real team effort.”
The road to this rewarding work isn’t necessarily easy, but Harrison has some simple advice for anyone interested in the industry.
“Keep learning, keep practising, and take yourself out of your comfort zone. I’m 100% self-taught, and I’d never have got where I am today if I hadn’t done work for free and posted on Instagram and Twitter every day. Just keep going.”
In the fast-paced sports media industry, it’s people like Harrison who can remain creative in the chaos, who shape how we see the sports we love.
Sidelines Recommends
How an in-game host is redefining the Mets experience
In a stadium of over 40,ooo people, how do you keep the casual and diehard fans engaged? Sidelines speaks to the New York Mets’ in-game host, trusted with creating a party in the stands. When you think of a Mets baseball game, you might picture home runs, a roaring…
The Oscar winner behind sport’s biggest documentaries
Sidelines speaks to film producer James Gay-Rees, the man at the forefront of the sports documentary revolution.
No pad? No problem
What if exercising on your period didn’t have to be uncomfortable? This is how a new wave of design is trying to make it happen.
