National Specialty Theme & Logo Concept

The Golden Retriever Club of America recently put out a call for theme ideas for the 2027 National Specialty. As both a GRCA member and a designer, I saw this as a challenge worth taking on. Whether my concept was chosen or not, the project aligned perfectly with the kind of work I do, so I dove in during my spare time.

I began by researching the Ocala, Florida area. After exploring several ideas, I landed on my favorite, Walk of Champions. This phrase is the name of a park in Ocala that celebrates champion horses, it felt like a natural fit. The theme also speaks to the spirit of the National Specialty event, where people from across the U.S. and Canada come together with their dogs to compete in hopes of becoming champions themselves.

While the request was just a theme concept, not graphic design, with the theme in place, I decided to take things further and designed a logo featuring a Golden Retriever silhouette in warm, sunny colors, accented with palm trees for visual interest and regional flair. To help bring the concept to life, I extended the branding into merchandise and flags, creating a cohesive and realistic vision for the event branding.

I later received word that a different theme had been selected. While mine wasn’t chosen, I believe my work stands on its own and is strong enough to be included in my portfolio.