The Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), a major event in the competitive League of Legends calendar, has unveiled a new visual identity for its 2024 tournament. Designed by Studio Dumbar/DEPT, the rebranding highlights the event’s focus on innovation and its role as a cornerstone of global esports.
The MSI logo has always symbolized the intensity and prestige of the competition. The 2023 design embraced the theme “Defy” with bold, angular typography and compact design elements that projected a rebellious, high-energy vibe. Its cyberpunk-inspired red-and-black palette, aggressive typeface, and gritty textures paired with manga-style visuals created a bold, raw identity that resonated with MSI’s competitive spirit.
The 2024 logo takes a different approach, built around the theme “Become the Unknown.” It features fluid, almost liquid-like letterforms that suggest transformation and evolution. The typography is tightly spaced, with letters that appear to merge and shift, evoking a mysterious, otherworldly energy. This concept ties into “The Aberration,” a spectral and enigmatic motif central to the new branding, symbolizing the unpredictable nature of esports competition.
The redesigned emblem remains a key element, preserving its flame-inspired form while integrating it into the numeral “24.” This seamless integration gives the logo a fresh, modern feel while maintaining a sense of familiarity. The tagline “BECOME THE UNKNOWN” is presented in a blocky, contemporary typeface, emphasizing the theme of discovery and transformation that defines the 2024 tournament.
The color palette maintains MSI’s iconic red-and-black scheme, providing continuity with previous designs. However, new gradient effects within “The Aberration” add a holographic, pulsating quality, contrasting with the stark base colors. This interplay of light and shadow gives the design an ethereal and dynamic presence, perfectly capturing the tension between the familiar and the mysterious.
The rebranding prioritizes versatility, ensuring the logo works across various platforms, including digital media, merchandise, and promotional materials. Its simplified structure and bold typography make it impactful and easy to recognize, whether displayed on screens, banners, or jerseys.
This updated identity reflects MSI’s ongoing commitment to staying fresh and dynamic in the fast-paced esports world. By embracing a design that captures the excitement and unpredictability of competitive gaming, MSI reinforces its legacy as one of esports’ most celebrated tournaments, blending tradition with forward-thinking creativity.
