Assassin's Creed games depict stunning feats of physical agility and endurance, so it probably doesn't come as a surprise that the Ubi Workshop was inspired by the franchise when designing its line of athletic gear, the Assassin's Creed Kinetic Collection, for the Ubisoft Store. We spoke with Yann Putod, graphic and product designer for Ubi Workshop at Ubisoft Montreal, to learn more about what went into designing the new items, and how the Assassin's Creed team was involved.
Tell us a little a bit about your road to becoming a designer. What's your background? Were you always attracted to fashion design?
Yann Putod: I studied product and graphic design in fine arts school in France. I have always liked to draw and build products. Before working for Ubisoft, I spent five years designing eyeglasses at a small independent studio in Annecy, France.
The idea of videogame-related athletic gear is still relatively new, with our first round of the Kinetic Collection released last year. Where do you start on a project like this? Where do you draw inspiration from?
YP: I've wanted to create a sports collection for the Assassin's Creed brand since I joined Ubi Workshop. It is a brand that bridges the past and present, and I find that the collection fully represents the brand. It all started with a simple idea, "What would modern Assassins wear?"
For the inspiration, I did some research on sport brands, and I worked to adapt it to the Assassin's Creed universe.
How difficult is it to balance form and function with these designs, and then add Assassin's Creed styling on top of that?
YP: The function of the collection is determined by the cut; it is made to accommodate movements and ensure that the wearer is comfortable. The Assassin's Creed style was brought through in the colors, patterns, and the discreet crest that marks the collection. The goal was to achieve a modern and refined style, and after several iterations, I think we found the perfect balance.
What motivated you to use such vibrant red, white, and black colors in the Kinetic Collection?
YP: We wanted to limit the number of colors to maintain a clean look, and they refer directly to the saga. Red is the color present on each Assassin's outfit, while black and white symbolizes the duality of the saga.
What are some of the challenges you face through the design process?
YP: We wanted a technical collection with the best materials. It was a long process to select the fabrics that met our requirements. One of the challenges has also been to find a balance of colors for each garment so that they look like a complete set when you wear them together.
Do you work with the Assassin's Creed team? How much input do they give on these designs?
YP: We built a relationship of trust with the Assassin's Creed production team. They let us explore this new approach in total autonomy. They approved our designs without any drastic changes. They shared with us the archives of Assassin's Creed assets, which allowed us to find a lot of inspiration. A big thanks to Aymar Azaizia, transmedia and business development director, and Antoine Ceszynski, brand project manager.
What goes through your mind when you see the final product?
YP: I am extremely proud of the results, because from the first mockups to the final products, we kept the style and spirit we wanted. I want to thank Dominique Létourneau, product manager, who helped me finalize this second Assassin's Creed Kinetic Collection.
For more information on Assassin's Creed, be sure to check out our previous coverage, and for more Assassin's Creed-related goods, visit the Ubisoft Store.
