Blending Old and New: Neil Jamieson’s Vintage-Inspired Finale Poster for the London E-Prix

As the landmark 10th season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship draws to a close, so does the Andretti Formula E team’s yearlong community collaboration project with local artists in each race market. Entering the final race weekend in London, the Indianapolis-based team has worked with award-winning illustrator Neil Jamieson to produce the race poster for the London E-Prix. The International Exhibition and Convention Centre in the Custom House area of Newham, East London, has played host to Formula E’s British event since Season 7, offering the world’s first-ever indoor-outdoor circuit. A home race for Jake Dennis, the British driver has had plenty of success at the 20-turn, 2k circuit in the past, achieving two victories, five podiums, two pole positions, three fastest laps and most notably his Driver’s World Championship title at Season 9’s event. In his poster design process, Jamieson wished to merge visual themes of vintage racing and Andretti’s rich heritage and history with the modernness of the progressive and sustainable all-electric racing series.

Tell us about yourself – where are you from, what do you do?

My name is Neil Jamieson, I’m the creative director of The Sporting Press and an award-winning illustrator and designer from the UK. Previously working as an art director at Sports Illustrated and as Creative Director at ESPN, I’ve designed magazine covers and social media campaigns for some of the biggest editorial brands in the world including Time, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The Guardian. I’ve been fortunate enough to win an ASME, Emmy and SPD award and have led design teams at People Magazine, Money, Field and Stream and more. I started The Sporting Press to focus on sports creative in 2018 and now the studio regularly works with partners including England, Chelsea, FIFA, UEFA, Puma, Mclaren, Hagerty and more. I live with my wife and sport-obsessed daughters in Connecticut, USA.

What do you enjoy about being an illustrator and designer?

It’s the stories! Sport has the most compelling storylines, based in tradition, ancient rivalries, and new heroes. Every generation, every season, every match or race creates a new chapter in this never-ending arc, and to help tell those stories visually is the most exciting part of my job as an illustrator. Whether it’s building the hype before the event or celebrating or commiserating afterwards, I’m all in!

We chose you and your work to represent London – what does it mean to be English?

I’m a proud English man – even though I got my U.S. citizenship a few years ago having moved to the States in the early 00s – and I blindly follow English sports quite fanatically. Cricket, rugby, football, racing… whatever the sport I’m normally up at a ridiculous hour yelling at the TV while my family sleep! I just got back from following England at the Euro’s in Germany and experienced the glory and heartbreak firsthand of what it means to be an English sports fan. When I was asked to work on this Andretti piece celebrating all things London, it turned my patriotism up to 11!

Do you like motorsport? What does it mean to work with the Andretti team?

I love all things motorsport. Of course, for the events and the adrenaline of race weekends, but as a designer the visual language of motorsport is a constant source of inspiration for me. I remember watching the 1974 Claude du Boc F1 documentary “One By One” (later released as “The Quick and the Dead”) when I was a student at St. Martins School of Art and it changed my life. The color, the noise, the danger, the typography, the vintage aesthetic – all of its features inform my work to this day.

What was your design process for this poster?

I was keen to channel that vintage “One By One” aesthetic with this piece. The idea was to feature the drivers as heroes surrounded by the energy of the city. There’s something fun about using a vintage painted look-and-feel to tell the story about this most modern of sports. That celebration of old and new is really interesting and helps tell the story of Andretti and the future of motorsports.

Talk to us about the poster design – why did you include those colors and elements?

See above! I just love the idea of embracing Andretti’s racing heritage with this vintage look while celebrating Formula E’s role of representing the future of motorsports!

For Andretti Formula E fans visiting London for this race, what places should they visit and what food should they eat?

I was a student in London when you could find a pint at my local in Hackney for 50p on student nights, though I’m not sure that helps much in 2024. When I was back in London in 2022 with my kids, we loved getting to climb the Monument in the ancient city of London, which is now this amazing mix of mega modern skyscrapers and Dickensian alleyways. The Indian food around Brick Lane is a must, and spending an afternoon wandering the Tate Britain is a great way to get out of the rain and celebrate the best of British art and design.

We would like to offer our appreciation to Neil for his eye-catching illustration of our 2024 London E-Prix race poster and recommend you explore his fantastic work further by visiting his digital profiles below:

Instagram: @The_Sporting_Press // Website: NJamieson.com

For the final time in Season 10, join us in supporting both Andretti Formula E drivers Jake Dennis and Norman Nato as they tackle the unique ExCeL London indoor-outdoor circuit in two races this weekend in the English capital.